VISIT OUR SHOW ROOM AT BISLEY CAMP TO VIEW OUR FULL STOCK.

A .451” C Ingram percussion sporting match rifle retailed by J Grainger & Son of Toronto.  Finely scroll engraved lock with half cock safety is signed C. INGRAM and has full, dense coverage of fine scroll engraving with Dragon and Serpent engraved on the hammer. Well figured Walnut half stock with chequered wrist and fore end is mounted with steel furniture including patch box engraved with a Lion in a jungle scene and a running Stag to spur trigger guard which is also finely scroll engraved to the tail. Heavy octagonal barrel with windage adjustable aperture front sight has screw adjustable ladder rear sight with adjustment for windage and elevation with a long range target rear sight fitted to the hand. Top flat engraved with the retailers name J GRAINGER & SON TORONTO. Underside with full length rib and original wooden ram rod. A top quality small bore match rifle made by a famous maker and retailed in Canada for a match rifle shooter in the early days of the DCRA where target shooting was as popular in the commonwealth countries as it was in England with many matches at the time being shot against ‘The mother country’. The Canadians took up target rifle shooting early and sent many teams to compete at Wimbledon and Bisley at the NRA matches of the time and continue to do so to this day. In fine condition with lovely figured stock, Exc bore and mechanical order, barrel with much original blue, brown finish. A fine example of a match rifle from the height of the volunteer movement and the early days of competitive shooting within the empire.

.50” US carbine centre fire (50-50 Maynard) Belgian made Spencer repeating carbine by Union Armoriere Belge Liege. Spencer seven round tube magazine fed, rolling block under lever action fitted with Stabler’s patent cut off to allow single loading is struck with Victorian Liege proof marks and stamped to the top flat UNION ARMORIERE BELGE LIEGE. Plain back action lock to the right side and sling bar and ring to the left. Walnut stock with regulation pattern iron furniture has tube magazine in the butt numbered to the gun. The barrel rifled with six grooves is struck with Belgian black powder proof marks and is fitted with a ladder rear sight. Originally made in the States as a rim fire weapon the Spencer was a very popular arm during the civil war and one of the few reliable repeaters being widely know in the south as ‘That damn gun the Yankees load on a Sunday and shoot all week’. These rare Belgian made carbines were manufactured by Falisse & Trappman in 1873 and conform to the exact design of the US issue arm other than the fact they are chambered for the centre fire version of the .50” cartridge which is the same as that adopted for the trap door carbine being tested for the US army. Less than 1000 carbines were produced at the Liege factory and it is possible that these carbines were made for the Mexican government to supplement their stocks of US rim fire carbines after the out break of the civil war cut off the American source of supply to the Mexicans. In very good condition with very good bore and mechanics, nice stock and much finish to the metal work with all matching numbers through out. An interesting carbine and unusual for a Spencer to be found in an obsolete centre fire calibre.

A nice .41” London proofed Colt Silver plated No3 or Thuer derringer pistol with blued barrel. Frame with varnished walnut grips is marked to the left side 41 cal. The blued London proofed barrel is roll engraved to the top -COLT- with silver plated brass fore sight. Made from 1875 until 1810 with around 45,000 being made the Colt was the smallest of the rim fire pocket derringers but packed a fair punch from its slow moving but heavy lead bullet. In very good condition with 90+% original plating to the frame and nice deep blue finish to the barrel which has an excellent bore, nice grips and very good mechanical order. A very good example of a popular little self defence gun from the London agency of most famous gun maker of his time.

A rare .758” Ordnance issue Pattern 1842 Sea Service Minie Rifle Musket, second pattern with P53 lock. Lock marked with Crowned VR to the rear and 1856 TOWER to the front next to Board of Ordnance Crowned broad arrow ownership mark and military inspectors mark. Walnut stock with regulation pattern 42 sea service furniture including Lovell’s bayonet catch to the nose cap is struck to the right side with WD over broad Arrow with military inspectors stamps behind the trigger guard tang. 30 ¼” long barrel rifled with three grooves on the Minie principal is struck with military Tower proofs over stamped with sold from service marks and is fitted with sea service Minie ladder rear sight graduated to 1000 yards. Correct ram rod and sling swivels. Originally converted from smooth bore P42 sea service muskets for issue to the crews of royal naval vessels rather than the Marines who were armed with a 39” barrel rifled version of the P42 around 25,000 of these short rifles were issued. Once the usable smooth bore weapons had been converted by 1852 new weapons were made from scratch to the pattern using the P53 lock and barrel pins rather than the keys used on the converted weapons this 1856 made rifle is one of those new made arms. Despite the relatively large number issued very few of these or indeed any of the British military .701” or .758” early Minie rifles have survived and today they rarely come onto the market. In good used service condition with very good three groove bore, nice well marked stock, lock and barrel exterior with light pitting but still having clear military marks. A very rare British military service rifle for the specialist collector.

54 Bore Tranter double trigger revolver retailed by Manton & Co. London & Calcutta. Deep charcoal blued foliate engraved frame with rammer to the left side marked Tranters Patent is serial numbered to the right side next to the spring retained arbour latch. The top strap engraved MANTON & Co. LONDON & CALCUTTA. Five shot blued London proofed cylinder with ribbon engraving to the front. Finely chequered walnut grips with scroll engraved blued steel butt cap has been drilled through to take an officers lanyard in the manner of the time for holster carry. Octagonal blued barrel rifled with 5 broad grooves has a windage driftable front sight and is struck with Victorian London commercial proof marks with scroll engraving to the muzzle and breach areas. The Tranter was the first of the practical single/ double action revolvers that offered the user both the speed of double action fire for close quarter combat and the accuracy of deliberate single action fire for use in long range engagements where speed was not so critical. This combined with the very effective large and heavy .45” calibre bullets fired made the double trigger Tranter very popular with British officers serving all over the world who purchased these superior arms out of their own pockets rather than carry the less powerful, single action Colt Navy revolver then issued by the Board of Ordnance. However the development of the superior Beaumont Adams double action lock which is more or less that still used in revolver manufacture today quickly made the Tranter revolver obsolete and so today the double trigger is quite a rare model of military service revolver. In very good condition with good bore, tight lock up and 90% original deep blue finish to the metal work. A nice example of a later model Tranter service revolver which would have seen military service.

A fine .65” Volunteer Paget cavalry carbine by Allport. Stepped flat flint lock with ring neck cock and half cock safety to the rear is engraved with a large crown under the pan. Walnut stock with regulation brass furniture and sling bar to the left side has single rammer pipe for the captive ram rod. Smooth bore 16 inch barrel with standing rear and blade front sight is struck with Georgian Birmingham commercial black powder proof marks. Adopted in 1812 the short and handy Paget carbine designed by Lord Paget of Waterloo fame was the primary issue weapon to both the line cavalry regiments and the many volunteer Yeomanry cavalry regiments that saw wide service all over Europe during the Napoleonic wars. This example being made to the ordnance pattern by Allport at the order of one of the volunteer units who were raised to defend England from the threat of French invasion. The Paget remained in service until finally replaced by the percussion Victoria carbine in the late 1830’s. In very good condition with fine sharp stock, vey good bore and excellent mechanical order. A fine example of one of the rarest of the flint lock cavalry arms used by the British through out the Napoleonic wars.

.577/450” Martini Henry MkI service rifle by Enfield 1873. MkI action with large cocking indicator and screw retained gun metal axis pin is engraved to the right side with Crowned VR over ENFIELD 1873 and I over broad arrow ordnance ownership mark. Walnut stock with regulation iron furniture including a chequered butt plate and MkI clearing rod is struck to the right side with WD ENFIELD roundel over 1^st class arms mark. Enfield military proofed barrel with MkI shallow V notch rear sight graduated to 1300 yards. The first purpose built breach loading arm issued to the British army the Martini Henry was also the first of the small bore .450’s in service and went through four different marks over the years with the MkI guns that were only produced for a couple of years being the rarest of the models. These early rifles were the ones issued to the troops for the Zulu wars with the first battalion of the 24^th carrying the MkI when they left England for foreign service and the second battalion that left the year after being armed with the up dated MkII rifle. Since the conversion to MkII standard was simple and could be carried out in the field by unit armourers nearly all of the MkI guns on issue were upgraded and re marked as MkII rifles and today hardly any unmodified MkI’s exist. In good condition with very good bore and mechanics, nice sharp well marked stock and most blue finish remaining. A rare ordnance issue MkI martini retaining all the original MkI parts and features.

Cased 54 bore Beaumont Adams double action service revolver retailed by George Higham of Warrington. Deeply blued frame engraved to the right side ADAMS PATENT with cylinder lock to the rear and arbour pin retaining screw to the front. The top strap engraved GEOe HIGHAM WARRINGTON. Chequered walnut grip with steel butt cap. Octagonal barrel rifled with three broad grooves is struck with Victorian Birmingham commercial black powder proof marks with patent rammer to the left side and dove tail mounted windage adjustable front blade sight. Five shot Birmingham proofed cylinder serial numbered to the revolver. Contained in an earlier case relined in blue baize and partitioned to take the revolver with Adams trade label to the lid and a brass escutcheon to the out side engraved W H HEDGES 1846. Complete with an original James Dixon pistol flask (spring missing) and reproduction oil bottle, nipple key and cleaning rod. A heavy and reliable double action revolver the 54 bore Beaumont Adams was very popular with army officers who valued the fast double action allied to the huge knock down power of the .45” projectile. Contained in an earlier case with what seems to be an original Adams trade label, possibly a case owned by Mr Hedges who had it re fitted to take his new pistol in place of what would have originally been a single shot percussion pistol of similar size. The pistol in very good condition with good bore and mechanics retaining 70%+ original deep blue finish in a very nice contemporary case at a good price that would justify obtaining the accessories needed to complete the set.

A fine and very rare .577” Greens Brothers patent capping breach loading carbine by Isaac Hollis and sons. Scroll engraved pattern ‘53 detented lock with rope border engraving signed ISAAC HOLLIS & SONS with scroll engraved hammer. Walnut military pattern full stock with two Enfield Baddeley pattern barrel bands is chequered to the wrist and fore end and fitted with scroll engraved iron furniture including trigger guard with chequered finger spur and engraved fore end cap with vacant silver escutcheon to the front of the rear sling swivel. The five groove progressive depth rifled barrel with Green Bros patent bolt action breach is fitted with a carbine length military pattern ladder rear sight to 900 yards and is struck with Birmingham black powder proof marks for 25 bore or .577” calibre. The top of the scroll engraved bolt is engraved GREEN BROTHER’S PATENT No 562. Jag headed clearing / cleaning rod under the barrel. Developed by brothers C.E. & J Green and submitted for the British army breach loading rifle trials that led to the adoption of the snider in army service the conversion consisted of removing the breach plug and replacing it with a screw in bolt action breach that fired a combustible paper cartridge similar to the one used by the Westley Richards monkey tail rifle. The green was considered an accurate and reliable system but like the Monkey tail was dropped from the trials when it was decided to adopt a self contained brass cartridge rather than a capping breach loader. In very good condition with good five groove bore and excellent mechanics, tight lock up and excellent stock with much original finish to the metal work. A very fine, best quality example of one of the rarest of the early British breach loading mechanisms in the very rare carbine form.

A very good and interesting cased London proofed double action 11mm pin fire revolver retailed by the London armoury Company. Border engraved iron frame with chequered walnut grips is struck with Liege proof marks to the right side with loading gate to the rear of the cylinder and military lanyard loop to the butt. Six shot cylinder struck with a single liege proof mark and each individual chamber struck with Victorian London black powder proof marks. The sighted octagonal barrel is struck with both Liege and London proofs and is roll engraved to the left flat LEFAUCHEUX Bt ACIER FONDU with spring retained cartridge ejector rod to the right side. In its original green baize lined case with London Armoury Company, James Kerr trade label to the lid containing an interesting early brass combination tool screw driver / cleaning kit with the rod sections and cleaning jag stored in the handle. A large framed military pattern pin fire revolver made in Belgium and retailed in London by the famous LACo based in King William Street these big revolvers were very popular with soldiers on both sides in the American Civil war, particularly the confederates and the LACo supplied many such arms as well as P53 rifles until the Union blockade and the British governments decision to support the north put an end to the sales to the south via Caleb Huse the confederate buyer in London. After the lucrative sales were stopped the LAC were left with many pin fire revolvers in stock which had to be sold on the home market and presumably this cased revolver was one of those that were left in stock. In very good condition with 50% original deep blue finish, good mechanics with tight lock up in a nice LAC case with good Jas Kerr label, an interesting and unusual pistol to be found with British proof marks retailed by one of the major London suppliers of the time.

An unusual dealer conversion of a Colt .31” pocket pistol to .320” British centre fire calibre. Iron frame with brass trigger guard and back strap is struck to the left side COLTS PATENT with the right side of the flash guard machined to allow the loading of cartridges from the rear. Five shot cylinder with good stage coach hold up scene is machined away from the rear to remove the percussion nipples and create a bored through cylinder to accept brass cartridges. A removable spacer with rear sight to the top is placed between the frame and the cylinder to act as the back plate / cartridge retainer. Barrel with wind driftable front sight is engraved to the top flat ADDRESS COL COLT NEW YORK CITY with rammer and front rammer catch removed at conversion. A typical dealer conversion of a percussion Colt to fire the new self contained cartridges coming into existence in the 1870’s to a fairly standard pattern of conversion but unlike most other examples that were converted to fire the early rim fire cartridges this one takes the then very new centre fire round. Although seemingly a strange choice of calibre the .320” British round was also adopted and retailed by colt as the .320” Short Colt which is presumably why it was selected by the gun smith who did this conversion. In good condition with good bore and nice cylinder scene, all matching numbers including the wedge and fading blue finish to grey patina. Cylinder slightly over turns but this appears to be due to the geometry of the long pawl needed to make this particular conversion work and may well be why not many pistols of this pattern were made or at least survive today. An interesting pistol, this is the only Colt percussion revolver I have ever seen converted to the British CF revolver cartridge and one of the few centre fire revolvers allowed off ticket in the UK.

11mm Italian M1870/87 Vetterli-Vitali service rifle. Swiss designed Vetterli bolt action with magazine cut off adapted to take the Vitali magazine conversion with safety catch to the right side. Walnut stock with regulation steel furniture is struck to the right side with TORINO 1889 Italian issue roundel along with various inspection and unit markings. Barrel with large tangent rear sight graduated to 1800 meters is marked to the Knox form with TORINO next to Italian military proof marks. Initially made as single shot rifle on the Swiss designed action but firing a slightly larger and more powerful centre fire version of the Swiss rim fire military round of the day they were latter upgraded by the fitting of the Vitali magazine to keep pace with the rapidly advancing arms being issued to the armies of Italy’s neighbours in a volatile Europe at the end of the 19^th centaury. In good condition with good bore and good mechanics, a good very well and clearly marked stock with metal finish to a nice blue / brown. A good example of the regulation arm of the major Mediterranean power of the time that is recognised as one of the most accurate of the black powder repeaters.

.577” best quality Pattern 1856 two band military target rifle by D GRIERSON with detented lock and break off breach. Scroll and foliate engraved detented Enfield pattern lock with half cock safety is engraved D GRIERSON to the front. Walnut full stock with engraved steel furniture of rifle regiment P56 pattern is chequered to the wrist and fore end having a vacant silver escutcheon to the top of the hand. Two barrel bands, the front incorporating the sling swivel and correct jag head ram rod. The barrel which is rifled with three broad grooves on the Enfield principal is struck to the under side with Birmingham Victorian commercial proof marks and is fitted with a break off breach having standard military pattern bayonet bar to the front right to take the Yatagan sword bayonet. Ladder rear sight calibrated to 1100 yards. Made for a Victorian target shooter or gentleman volunteer of the 1850’s / 60’s to the general pattern of the ordnance issue P56 two band rifle as issued to the rifle regiments at the time so as to be eligible for use in the service rifle competitions of the day but fitted with the latest and best features available such as the detented lock, break off breach and stock chequering. In very good condition with very good almost excellent bore, nice sharp stock and good mechanics. A very nice example of a best quality commercial P56 rifle from the height of the days of the volunteer movement and the famous Wimbledon target matches of the Victorian age.

Cased 80 bore Coopers patent under hammer pepperbox revolver. Foliate engraved action engraved COOPERS PATENT to the left side has ring trigger and patent under hammer that fires the bottom barrel as the barrels are rotated by pulling the trigger. Walnut bag grip with engraved back strap. Birmingham proofed barrels of 80 bore calibre are smooth bored with English Square headed revolver pattern nipples to the rear. In its original green baize lined case with vacant brass escutcheon to the lid containing an original steel 80 bore scissor mould, English Victorian shell pattern pistol flask, ebony handled nipple key, a tin of F Joyce and Co. percussion caps and a brass and ebony ram rod. The first of the successful percussion repeating pistols the pepper boxes were very popular but were soon superseded by the newly invented revolvers of the 1850’s that had the fire power of the pepper box but in a much lighter and more compact arm. However the Coppers patent pistol with it’s neat under hammer system was reliable and very intimidating to face up to and so remained a popular self defence weapon for a considerable time.  In good condition with good bores and mechanics with fading finish to the metal work in a nice dealer case with good accessories, a nice set for the early pistol collector.

A 42” Brown Bess Short Land Pattern musket by MEMORY with WINDUS EIC inspectors mark to lock circa 1775. Lock of slightly banana pattern with swan neck cock is engraved MEMORY (Michael Memory 1749 to 1780 at 50 Prescot street, London, maker to the east India co.) with a crowned W inspection stamp which was used by Windus from approx 1873 to 1877. Windus went on to develop the Windus pattern musket for the east India Company with its 39” barrel which was in turn adopted by the British army as the famous India pattern Bess. Walnut stock with regulation brass furniture including four ram rod pipes and shield shaped escutcheon to the wrist engraved 7. Butt plate tang struck with Irish registration mark. 42” smooth bore barrel struck with London commercial proof marks. A commercial musket made to the Ordnance pattern for issue to a volunteer unit this musket appears to have been purchased and inspected by the East India Company although not marked with the company logo. It may well have been purchased from Memory who was a company contractor to make up the arms for a ship that was sailing for India or could have been supplied by the EIC to a volunteer unit in Ireland as it is known the EIC supplied many weapons over the years to fill short falls in ordnance stocks. In good condition with nice clean stock, good bore and good working order. Pre India pattern muskets are rarely seen and this is a nice example by one of the major ordnance and East India company contractors.

A rare service restocked .75” East India Company Victoria carbine with side action lock and Brunswick pattern furniture (Type 2 restocked in service with type 3 stock and furniture, see D F Harding small arms of the EIC Vol 2 page 240). New series EIC side lock with bun nut retained hammer, border engraving and EIC rampant Lion mark. Walnut stock with two barrel retaining keys has swivel ram rod and improved pattern of one piece nose cap and rammer pipe of heavier design than the ordnance original with Brunswick pattern brass furniture. Side bar later removed in service for use as artillery carbine. London proofed smooth bore barrel of full musket bore (.75”) has standing rear and blade front sights. As originally built the EIC Victoria carbine used a light pattern of stock and Manton’s furniture which proved prone to breakage in service. After the adoption of the Type 3 carbine most type 2 weapons like this were officially re stocked and fitted with improved brass furniture of the type adopted by Lovell for the Ordnance board Brunswick rifle, the distinguishing feature of the re stocked guns being a combined nose cap and front pipe while the true type 3 guns had separate components. In their improved form the Victoria carbines saw long service in India with most like this having the side bar removed latter in life when they were re issued to the Artillery regiments. In good condition with good bore, nice stock having old repair to the under side of the lock and much original finish. A good and rare cavalry arm of a pattern very rarely seen on the market that saw service with both the Cavalry and Artillery arms of the companies armies in India.

A nice pair of English 54 bore side hammer pocket pistols circa 1840. Scroll engraved box lock actions with bun nut retained dolphin head hammers. Chequered walnut bag grips with vacant silver oval escutcheon to the rear. The heavy octagonal smooth bore barrels are Birmingham proofed with brass tipped swivel ram rods to the under sides and windage driftable brass front blade sights with fixed v notches to the rear. A very pretty pair of medium size big bore man stopper pistols made by the Birmingham trade around 1840 and sold with out a retailers name but of very good quality. Designed to be carried in the coat pockets of a traveller or gentleman about town to provide effective close range personal defence at a time when the forces of law and order were often patchy at best. In good condition with good bores and mechanics, nice finely chequered grips and metal work to a blue / grey with age. A nice pair of pistols by one of the better Birmingham makers of the day.

A large .500” English percussion single shot travelling pistol with belt hook. Scroll engraved box lock action with side hammer has a sprung belt hook to the left side. Walnut stock with engraved white metal butt cap is chequered with vacant silver escutcheon to the rear. Birmingham proofed smooth bore octagonal barrel with chambered breach has a full length under rib with swivel retained rammer and brass bead fore sight with V notch to the rear. A classic big bore pocket or travelling pistol from the mid Victorian age designed as a close range man stopper at which it would have been very effective. In good condition with nice grip, good bore and mechanics with mellow brown patina to the metal work. A nice and unusually large example of the type of arm very popular with the gentry of the age.

.577” Ordnance issue Second model Pattern ‘53 Minie rifle. Lock engraved 1855 over TOWER with ordnance broad arrow ownership mark next to military inspection stamp and with Crowned VR to the tail. Walnut stock with regulation brass furniture and three spring retained barrel bands is stamped to the right side with BO broad arrow British military ownership mark next to opposed arrows sold from service stamp, with early swelled throat pattern jag head ram rod. Barrel rifled with three grooves on the Minie principal is struck with Tower military proof marks next to sold from service stamps and various Birmingham military inspection marks and has ladder rear sight to 950 yards which is also Birmingham inspected. An improved model of the Minnie rifle the 2^nd model rifle was developed as a direct result of reports from troops using the first pattern guns in the Crimea and as well as the spring retained barrel bands featured an improved heavier hammer for reliable ignition of the caps and a heavier built stronger stock that was better suited to bayonet fighting. In very good condition with nice well marked stock with small chip to the front of the lock, very good bore and barrel with much finish turning to blue, brown. A nice early British military issue P53 from the time of the Crimean war.

A very rare .451” Whitworth hexagonal bore New Zealand issue service rifle. Lock of P56 form engraved with a Coronet over W (The Whitworth trade mark) to the tail and marked THE WHITWORTH COMPANY LIMITED to the front. Walnut stock of military pattern with steel furniture including trigger guard with sling swivel through the rear of the tang and two barrel bands, the front incorporating a bayonet bar. The barrel rifled with Whitworth’s patent hexagonal rifling is fitted with reverse a pattern ladder rear sight graduated to 1300 yards to the right arm of the ladder and 1 to 4 degrees of elevation to the left and is struck with Birmingham black powder commercial proof marks for 52 bore next to serial number in the Whitworth D range for manufacture in 1864. Military pattern fore sight and correct pattern ram rod. Made in limited numbers to a contract issued by the New Zealand Ordnance to supply military match rifles to the army they were used for target shooting matches by serving soldiers rather than being issued for front line use and conform to the target shooting rules of the time having military pattern full stocks and a means of attaching a bayonet to the front band. Around 15 of these rifles are recorded all in the C & D serial number ranges and while there have been suggestions over the years that they were used as sharp shooter rifles during the Maori wars in the manner the confederates used them in the civil war there does not appear to be any documentary evidence of such use, although the accurate Whitworth would have been well suited to the role and may have been used unofficially for the purpose. In good condition with good stock, very good hexagonal rifled bore and Exc mechanics with much blue, brown finish to the metal work. A very rare issue military target rifle made by one of the most famous of the great Victorian gun makers / inventors for a rare British military contract in the colonies.

A fine .451” Hexagonal bore Best quality Whitworth military match rifle. Lock with Wheat Sheaf & Coronet over W, Whitworth trade mark to the rear is engraved WHITWORTH RIFLE Co MANCHESTER to the front under the safety bolt. Best quality walnut full stock is chequered to the wrist and the fore end with iron furniture and three barrel retaining bands engraved to the trigger guard tang BEST. 33” Whitworth hexagonal bored match barrel with patent breach is struck with Victorian Birmingham black powder proof marks with windage adjustable front sight, barrel mounted Whitworth reversed pattern ladder mid sight graduated to 1100 yards and serial numbered to the rifle with tang mounted rear long range vernier aperture sight graduated in degrees of angle. The most accurate long range rifle of its day the best quality Whitworth match rifles were used by the NRA to shoot the Queens finals in the early years of the organisation and were bought by target shooters and gentleman volunteers of the target shooting movement for use in the military match rifle long range shooting competitions of the day. The Whitworth used a mechanically fitting hexagonal bullet to achieve the fine long range accuracy for which the rifles were know and still perform well in long range matches today with originals being highly prized. In very good condition with fine sharp stock, excellent mechanics and very good hexagonal bore with much finish to deep brown patina with age. A fine best quality match rifle by the foremost inventor and rifle maker of his time Whitworths rarely come on the market today.

.450/577” Military contract Martini Henry Artillery carbine by BSA 1895. Mk3 Martini artillery action with small cocking indicator to the right side is marked to the left side B.S.A & M.Co 1895 III beneath piled arms BSA trade mark with Birmingham proof marks to the action body and block. Walnut stock with regulation steel furniture including carbine pattern nose cap and sling swivels with bayonet bar to the front band. The right side of the butt struck with a BIRMINGHAM SMALL ARMS CO LIMId roundel. Barrel rifled with Henry patent rifling is fitted with a carbine ladder rear sight to 1000 yards and is struck with Birmingham proof marks for the period. The top of the knox form stamped with a crest in the form of a stylised castle within a multi pointed star, possibly for issue to one of the South American states although it is not a crest I have been able to identify. Made to the regulation British army pattern for sale to a foreign government who had decided to arm its troops with the same pattern of arms as the then most powerful army in the world BSA as one of the major arms manufactures of the day filled many such contracts at the time as they had large stocks of left over parts from the army contracts that were now surplus after the adoption of the .303” rifle by the British. In very good condition with nice wood, much blue finish to the metal work and a good bore. A nice and interesting example of a now hard to find Martini carbine.

A rare .54” calibre rim fire British Military issue Starr carbine struck with US army inspection marks. Starr patent rotating block action with external hammer is marked to the tang STARRS PATENT SEPT 14^th 1858. Back action lock engraved STARR ARMS Co. YONKERS N.Y. Walnut stock and fore end with regulation iron furniture including a spring retained barrel band is struck to the left side with two sharp US military inspection stamps within lozenges and L.F.R. with WD under broad arrow to the right side. Five groove rifled barrel with carbine ladder rear sight is marked to the top STARR ARMS YONKERS NY. With US inspectors mark L.F.R to the left side next to British army sold from service opposed broad arrows and S. Originally issued to the union army as a percussion arm during the civil war the second model Starr carbine was adapted to fire the new rim fire cartridges that were invented towards the end of that war. The British ordnance board were at the time looking to adopt a breach loading carbine for issue to the cavalry regiments and purchased examples of many new designs. The Starr performed well in tests and the board purchased several hundred of the carbines for a user trial, this union army marked carbine being one of those presumably released to the British after the end of the civil war when the American arms companies were trying to sell off the large number of un issued surplus weapons now flooding the home market. In very good condition with excellent bore and mechanics, much blue to the barrel and colour hardening to the lock and barrel with fine stock having sharp US Union army and British military Ordnance inspection and ownership marks. A fine example of a rare British issue cavalry carbine with Civil war connections.

A good .577” British Military issue fourth model LACo. Pattern 53 rifle Musket 1862. Lock with Crowned VR to the tail is engraved L.A.Co 1862 next to Crowned broad arrow ordnance ownership mark. Walnut stock with regulation brass furniture is struck to the right side with feint LONDON WD roundel struck through with opposed broad arrow sold from service marks and engraved to the butt plate tang V NT9. Three groove rifled barrel with ladder rear sight graduated to 1000 yards for the J2 military powder marked LAC is struck with rubbed Tower ordnance military proof marks. Correct ram rod and three barrel bands of the Baddeley patent used on the 4^th model ordnance rifles. Along with the Enfield made rifles these LAC guns have fully interchangeable parts and are to this day considered the best shooters of all the P53’s. Nearly all of the Ordnance owned 4^th model guns were not issued on delivery but kept in store and converted to Snider breach loading rifles before being sent out to the regiments. Unaltered muzzle loading Ordnance LAC P53’s are as a result rarely seen on the today. In  good condition with good lightly cleaned over stock, Exc mechanics and fair bore bore with much original finish turning to plumb brown with age, a nice and very scarce ordnance issue LAC P53.

An unusual .577” P53 type three band Enfield 3^rd model volunteer rifle with 36 1/2” barrel. Plain swivel link lock with 3^rd model hammer. Walnut stock with regulation brass pattern 53 furniture with three screw clamping barrel bands. Birmingham proofed barrel rifled with three grooves of the Enfield pattern has a ladder rear sight to 950 yards. Made to the exact pattern of the military issue pattern 1853 rifle musket but fitted with a short 36 1/2” barrel that falls between the regulation infantry rifle barrel of 39” and the two band short rifle barrel length of 33”. This was presumably a special order by a target shooter seeking to own a rifle with the best attributes of both of the rifles then on issue to the military. In good condition with very good bore and mechanics, nice stock with old repair to the toe of the butt and much finish to the metal work. A good example of a volunteer military pattern rifle of the 1850’s.

.450/577” British military issue Mk2 Martini Henry service rifle Enfield 1879. Action engraved to the right side with Crowned VR ENFIELD 1879 over broad arrow ordnance ownership mark and II, the left side struck with Enfield military proof marks. Walnut stock with regulation Mk2 steel furniture and cross pin retained Mk2 fore end. Barrel rifled with Henry patent rifling is struck with Victorian Enfield military proof marks and is fitted with a ladder rear sight graduated to 1300 yards. A genuine Mk2 rifle made as such at the factory rather than being an up graded Mk1 the mk2 was the standard arm of the British army through out the Zulu wars. In good condition with good bore and mechanics, nice clean stock and much finish to the action and barrel. A nice regulation service rifle of the British army at the time of the Zulu wars.

A good quality reproduction pattern 1805 second model sword bayonet for the Baker rifle. Ribbed brass hilt with hand guard and spring catch to the back. Straight blade marked OSBOURNE & GUNBY to the top with a spurious crown inspection stamp to the right side. In a brass mounted leather scabbard. A very good copy of a baker rifle bayonet that is virtually indistinguishable from the real thing but a lot cheaper! An ideal display piece or re enactors arm.

A pattern 1845 presentation infantry officer’s sword to Cadet Charles D Bevan by Henry Wilkinson. Brass infantry ‘Gothic’ pattern hilt with wire bound sharks skin grip and VR cipher to the bowl. Etched fullered blade with proof mark to the right side is marked HENRY WILKINSON PALL MALL LONDON to the left. The left side of the nicely etched blade inscribed PRESENTED TO GENTLEMAN CADET CHARLES D BEVAN ON OBTAINING HIS COMMISSION FROM THE ROYAL MILITARY ACADEMY DECEMBER 1854 FOR HIS EXEMPLARY CONDUCT WHILE AT THE INSTITUTION. Regulation pattern all steel scabbard with two hangers. A standard pattern infantry sword presented to Charles Donnithorne Bevan RA at the famous Woolwich artillery academy on his graduation in 1854. He is recorded as serving in the army until 1862 leaving with the rank of Captain serving in the 3^rd brigade, Royal Artillery and died on the 8^th of June 1864 aged 27. In good condition with nice well etched blade with some areas of staining / pitting, very good hilt with nice grip and good scabbard that has been cleaned over. An interesting sword and worth some more research to establish the fate of its owner after he was commissioned.

Pattern 1853 second model Yatagan Artillery bayonet in steel scabbard. Fullered Yatagan blade marked to the left side with makers name CHAVASSR. Pressed leather chequered grips to the hilt with release catch to the right side and forward extension mortise to the slot to fit the bayonet bar of the Enfield or Snider artillery carbine. In its correct steel artillery pattern scabbard engraved D 23 RA 27 for issue to the Royal Artillery regiment. In good condition with nice clean blade, grips with typical service wear and scabbard with light scattered pitting across the surface and two small dents. A nice example of a rare variant of the British military Yatagan bayonet.

.577/450” British Ordnance issue Martini Henry C pattern MkIV service rifle.  Mk4 action engraved to the right side with Crowned VR over ENFIELD 1887 IV I with broad arrow ownership mark. Walnut stock with regulation iron furniture marked with various Indian army issue and inspection stamps next RAWUL PINDI roundel. Barrel with ladder rear sight to 1300 yards has C pattern ramp fore sight and is struck with Enfield military proof marks. Originally designed as a .402” replacement for the .450” Martini’s in British service the long lever Mk4 was overtaken by events and the army adopted the .303” Long Lee Metford for front line service but the large number of .402” Martinis that had been made were left in store at considerable expense to the exchequer. It was decided to re bore the rifles to the old .577/450” calibre and then issue them to the Indian army where the long lever designed for use in hot climates to allow better extraction would be of benefit. Eventually the Indian army required more weapons and these C pattern guns designed to take only the knife bayonet were made from scratch rather than converted from the .402” actions and widely issued. In good condition with very good bore and tight lock up, metal work with much blue finish remaining. A nice example of a regulation arm of the British army in India and the last of the line of the Martini’s.

8 X 60mm Portuguese Kropatschek bolt action service rifle. Mauser 71 pattern bolt action with tube magazine under the barrel has cut off lever to the right side and is engraved G E W.F.G. STEYER 1886 and M1886 with crowned LIo to the centre. Walnut stock with regulation iron furniture. Octagonal to round barrel with ladder rear sight to 2000 meters is struck with Portuguese royal crown to the knox form and has a windage driftable front sight. One of the earliest of the small bore black powder repeating military rifles adopted when first issued it put the Portuguese army years ahead of its neighbours and potential enemies who like the British at the time were armed with single shot large bore weapons but the relatively weak action of the Kropatschek was not suitable for use with the powerful new smokeless rounds that were soon adopted by the other European nations and so the rifle quickly became obsolete. They were however an accurate rifle and some saw service in reserve units up to the end of the first world war. In very good condition with nice clean stock with good bore and very good mechanics. A nice example of one of the early bolt action service rifles adopted in Europe.

A good .75” Pattern 1839 percussion smooth bore musket by Lacy & Co. London. New manufactured bevel edge lock of converted flint lock pattern with heavy hammer is engraved LACY & Co LONDON. Walnut stock with regulation pattern 39 brass furniture including three rammer pipes, side plate and long tang trigger guard. Smooth bore barrel of .75” calibre with standing rear sight is struck with London Victorian proof marks and is converted to percussion by the screw breach method as used by the east India Company for their B pattern muskets of the time. A typical pattern 39 military musket of the mid Victorian age made for a volunteer soldier of self defence of a ship or estate, very similar to the British military arm but fitted with a back sight and lacking the Lovell’s bayonet catch being made to take the earlier common bayonet as used on the Brown Bess series of muskets. In very good condition with fine stock, excellent mirror bright bore and much original finish to the barrel. A very good military musket by a London maker in fine condition.

A fine .450 X 3 1/4” BPE Alex Henry falling block sporting rifle with right hand lock. Plain ‘cranked’ plate right hand lock engraved ALEXr HENRY. Birmingham proofed plain steel falling block action marked to the top with Alex Henry action patent number. Walnut straight hand stock with steel furniture is chequered to the wrist with vacant silver oval escutcheon to the under side. Key retained chequered walnut fore end. Barrel by Adams and Tate is struck with Victorian Birmingham black powder proof marks and fitted with 100 yard express rear sight having a folding leaf for 200 yards. Engraved to the top ALEXr HENRY 12 SOUTH St ANDREW St EDINBURGH PATENT No. 1688. Chambered for the powerful 3 ¼” express cartridge firing a relatively light 350 grain bullet at high velocity using a 100 grain plus powder charge flat shooting game rifles like this Henry were very popular with Victorian sportsmen and were used all over the empire on large non dangerous game as well as on deer in Europe and by some on soft skinned dangerous game such as lion and tiger in India and Africa although experienced big game hunters preferred the .500” or .577” rifles for such game. In very good condition with good Henry rifled bore, nice sharp stock and much blue, brown finish to the metal work. A fine example of a classic express rifle by one of the best makers of the Victorian age.

.450/577” Martini Henry sporting rifle. Plain regulation Mk2 Martini action with large cocking indicator. Walnut stock with iron furniture is chequered to the wrist with sling eye for the fitting of a sporting sling with ‘shepherds crook’ hook. Screw retained chequered sporting fore end with horn cap. Barrel rifled with Henry’s patent rifling is fitted with a sporting ladder rear sight with the short carbine length ladder. A typical English trade rifle made for use by an officer or colonial official serving in the empire who required a light weight sporting rifle for use on non dangerous game that used the easily obtained British service cartridge that could be obtained any where in the world that the British army had a presence at the time. In good condition with good bore and mechanics, good sharp stock with small chip from the horn fore end cap and metal work with much finish turning to a pleasant plum brown. A typical English made Indian or African hunting rifle from the hey day of the empire.

.450/577” British military issue Mk2 Martini Henry service rifle Enfield 1878. Action engraved to the right side with Crowned VR ENFIELD 1878 over broad arrow ordnance ownership mark and II. Walnut stock with regulation Mk2 steel furniture and cross pin retained Mk2 fore end. The butt stamped to the right side with ROYAL MANUFACTORY ENFIELD roundel over II and 1^st class arms mark next to FORT WILLIAM roundel over 2^nd class arms mark. Barrel rifled with Henry patent rifling is struck with Victorian Enfield military proof marks and is fitted with a ladder rear sight graduated to 1300 yards. A genuine Mk2 rifle made as such at the factory rather than being an up graded Mk1 this was the standard arm of the British army through out the Zulu wars. In good condition with excellent bore and mechanics, nice clean stock and much finish to the action and barrel. A nice regulation service rifle of the British army at the time of the Zulu wars.

.58” Belgian Pattern 1857 percussion Minnie rifle. Back action lock of regulation French form is dated 1858. Walnut stock with regulation iron furniture and three spring retained brass barrel bands the centre one having a sling swivel. Four groove Minnie rifled barrel with serial number 1687 to the barrel tang is fitted with folding rear sight. Made in Belgium to the French pattern these rifle muskets saw wide service through out Europe and were bought in great numbers by both sides in the American civil war where they gave good service in the north until replaced in the front lines with Springfield and Enfield rifles while in the south they saw service until the end of the war. In good condition with good bore, nice clean stock and fading blue to the metal work. A nice example of a classic European service rifle of the Crimean war era and one of the most popular rifles used in the civil war in the states.

.38-56” Winchester model 1886 under lever big game rifle with scarce long 28” factory barrel. Large frame steel action engraved to the tang MODEL 1886 with patent dates to trigger guard tang and loading gate to the right side. Straight hand figured walnut stock with crescent steel butt plate and fore end with iron nose cap. Octagonal barrel roll engraved WINCHESTER REPEATING ARMS CO.  to top flat with patent dates, calibre 38-56 WCF at breach and buck horn rear sight. The largest and the strongest of the Winchester under lever rifles the 86 was designed by the prolific John Browning as a repeating big game rifle to compete with the big bore single shot ‘Buffalo’ rifles popular in the west at the time. The 38-56” is in fact just the 45-70 government round necked down to take a .38” (.379/380”) 250 grain bullet propelled by 56 grains of black powder. As such it was the smallest and least powerful of the black powder rounds offered in the 1886 but was very flat shooting and accurate being ideal for all North American game at the ranges shot at in the wooded areas of the continent which combined with it’s large magazine capacity and low recoil made it a very popular rifle in it’s day. In very good condition with good bore and mechanics, nice sharp stock and finish to a pleasing brown patina with age. A nice big frame Winchester in an interesting calibre with the scarce factory order long barrel option.

.40-82” Winchester model 1886 under lever big game rifle. Large frame steel action engraved to the tang MODEL 1886 with patent dates to trigger guard tang and loading gate to the right side. Straight hand walnut stock with crescent steel butt plate and fore end with iron cap. Octagonal barrel roll engraved WINCHESTER REPEATING ARMS CO.  to top flat with patent dates and calibre 40-82 at breach fitted with Winchester flip over express sight graduated to 300 yards. Designed by the famous gun maker John Browning to fire the most powerful cartridges of its day the 1886 was made to compete with the big bore single shots such as the sharps that were very popular at the time. The 40-82 cartridge was specifically designed to fit the 86 action and is the longest case that will physically fit the frame, the small calibre and large powder charge giving a very high velocity flat shooting cartridge similar to the English express rifle concept. Many of these 1886's were rebored to the more popular 45-70” calibre in latter years and few are seen today in this off ticket calibre. In very good condition with good bore, metal work turning to nice blue brown colour. Nice sharp stock with much original finish and good working order with tight lock up. A good example of a rare Winchester big game gun in a popular calibre of the day widely used by American and European hunters alike.

.65” percussion East India Sea Service pistol re stocked for service with the Nizam of Hyderabad’s forces. East India company new series pistol side lock with bun nut retained hammer is engraved with the EIC rampant lion mark. Stock of Indian armoury manufacture in the style of the EIC cavalry pistol of the time with a large brass butt cap incorporating a lanyard loop and sheet brass fore end cap with riveted rammer retaining spring. Smooth bore barrel of .65” calibre is struck with London Victorian proof marks and various EIC inspectors stamps. Originally stocked in the same manner as the board of ordnance sea service pistol for issue to the EIC a large number of these short barrelled pistols were purchased by the Nizam of Hyderabad for use by his army and for reasons that are no longer clear he had them all restocked in an inferior wood and older style discarding the better made British walnut stocks they were originally supplied with (See David Harding small arms of the EIC 1600-1856 Vol 2 page 318). Presumably the Nizam already had EIC cavalry pistols in his inventory and wished to keep a regulation pattern of arm or the stocks of the pistols he purchased were too worn or damaged to be useable and so had to be re stocked. In good condition with good bore and mechanics, good clean stock and much finish to the metal work. An interesting pistol used by the private army of one of the major Indian players in the Raj during British rule.

19^th centaury WD marked Victorian gunner’s cannon priming powder horn. Cow horn flask stamped with broad arrow WD ordnance ownership mark with wooden pouring spout and base with screw stopper. Two brass hangars with platted cord. A large flask with an open spout probably for use by a garrison artillery soldier in a fixed fort location. In good condition with good spout and base, good horn with no splits and good thread to the stopper. WD marked powder horns are rarely seen today this being a nice tidy example of a fairly rare variant.

A British Yatagan bayonet to fit the Martini Henry service rifle. Curved fullered blade marked with broad arrow WD over military inspection stamp to the right side and Slater balance trade mark to the left with Birmingham inspection stamp. Chequered leather compressed grips with spring catch to rear of hilt. In good condition with nice clean blade in its original steel mounted scabbard with all stitching intact. A nice example of a regulation issue sword bayonet for the British military issue martini service rifle.

.450” Westley Richards Monkey tail short rifle / carbine dated 1882. Lock marked WESTLEY RICHARDS & Co. is dated 1882 to the rear within a triangular trade mark. Walnut military pattern stock with key retained barrel having forward barrel band. Steel trigger guard and butt plate with butt trap and chequered match type trigger with replacement clearing rod. Birmingham proofed Whitworth barrel is struck to the breach with the major and minor bore sizes .450 / .483”, fitted with carbine ladder rear sight and wind driftable brass fore sight. Engraved to the rear of the sight WHITWORTH PATENT and to the top of the Monkey tail lever MANUFACTURED BY WESTLEY RICHARDS in front of triangular trade mark. Most successful of all the capping breach loaders the Westley Richards monkey tail was a very accurate weapon and remained in production long after the adoption of the centre fire breach loading rifle with this example being made 10 years after the British army had adopted the Martini Henry. The monkey tail was very popular with the Boers who valued both the accuracy of the arm and the fact it could be muzzle loaded in the absence of cartridges which could be vital in the sparsely populated interior of Africa where powder, lead and caps could be obtained easily and the rifle kept working. These short rifles adapted to be carried on a horse were the most popular Boer issue of all the patterns. In good condition with nice stock, most finish to the metal work turning brown with age, good mechanics and fair bore. A nice example of the best of the early capping breach loaders of the typical Boer pattern.

A best quality .577” Snider Mk3 sporting rifle by Isaac Hollis & Sons London. Scroll engraved lock plate with rope border and scroll engraved hammer is marked I. HOLLIS & SONS to the front with trade roundel to the rear with Hollis monogram encircled with MAKERS TO HER MAJESTYS WAR DEPARTMENT. Walnut sporting stock chequered to the wrist and fore end with engraved steel furniture including steel nose cap and key retained barrel has a vacant silver escutcheon behind the trigger guard tang. Excellent three groove rifled bore with engraved Mk3 Snider breach shoe and block is struck with Victorian Birmingham black powder proof marks and is fitted with a ladder rear sight calibrated to 1000 yards and a windage driftable front sight. Top of barrel engraved I HOLLIS & SONS LONDON with full length rib to the under side with two ram rod pipes and jag headed steel ram rod. A fine quality sporting rifle made by one of the best makers of the Victorian age to take the then regulation British military cartridge that would both be very effective on all species of non dangerous game in England and through out the empire while at the same time having the advantage of easy ammo supply for officers or colonial officials serving any where within the British sphere of influence at the time. In very good condition with excellent bore and good mechanics, very nice well figured stock and much original finish turning to nice mellow blue / brown with age. A fine British sporting rifle from the hey day of the Empire and the Raj in India when officers had the opportunity to hunt all over the world.

A fine cased 38 (.500”) Bore Adams P51 double action ‘Dragoon’ revolver by John Blanch & Son London. Charcoal blued foliate engraved frame marked to the right side Adams Patent engraved to the top strap BLANCH & SON 29 GRACECHURCH STREET LONDON with fine chequered walnut grips and butt trap to the steel cap. Five shot London proofed cylinder serial numbered to the pistol. Octagonal barrel rifled with three broad grooves has windage driftable front sight and is struck with Victorian London proof marks. In it’s original green baize lined case with JOHN BLANCH GRACE CHURCH ST LONDON trade label in the lid containing 38 bore Adams marked mould, correct James Dixon Sheffield powder flask, James Dixon pewter oil bottle, cleaning rod, nipple key, turn screw and a sealed tin of F JOYCE percussion caps. A large frame version of the standard 54 bore Adams double action revolver these bi 38 bores were the magnums of Victorian age designed for use by officers fighting fanatical and often drug fuelled natives in the far flung parts of the empire the massive ½” bullets were guaranteed to stop any adversary in their tracks. In fine condition with 75%+ original deep blue finish, good bore and excellent mechanical order in a good case with a nice set of accessories including the rare 38 bore Adams patent factory mould. A fine set for the advanced collector.

450/400 X 3” Nitro Express Farquharson falling block big game rifle. Scroll engraved Birmingham proofed Farquharson falling block action with tang safety. Walnut stock with iron sporting furniture has horn fore end cap and fine chequering to the wrist and the fore end. Barrel with standing rear sight for 100 yards has folding leaves for 200 & 300 yards and windage driftable front. Struck to the left side with Birmingham proof marks CORDITE 60 GR BALL 400 GR 400EX. The top of the barrel at the breach engraved LYON & LYON 16 CHOWRINGHEE ROAD CALCUTTA, JAS LYON LATE WITH JAS PURDEY AND SONS LONDON, FOR 450/400 JEFFERY CARTRIDGE. One of the first of the all purpose nitro express cartridges the 450/400 3” was introduced as a cordite round for use on all of the worlds big and dangerous game species including the big cats and buffalo with John ‘Pondero’ Taylor writing of it as his favourite elephant cartridge. The Farquharson action was one of the strongest of its day and was well adapted to the new powerful smokeless rounds being very popular with big game hunters in India and Africa both in the hands of sportsmen and professional ivory hunters alike. In very good condition with good bore and excellent mechanics having much finish to the barrel fading to grey / brown with age. One of the very few full bore nitro express elephant rifles that can be collected off ticket in the UK this is a fine example of the classic big game rifle of the late Victorian age when the ‘Great white hunters’ worked.

.577” Ordnance issue Second model Pattern 53 Minie rifle musket. Lock engraved 1857 TOWER with ordnance broad arrow ownership mark and Crowned VR to the tail. Walnut stock with regulation brass furniture and three spring retained barrel bands is stamped to the right side with opposed broad arrow sold from service marks with stockers names GOODMAN and TURNER behind the trigger guard tang and lock fitters name WARD stamped between the side nails. Barrel rifled with three grooves on the Minie principal is struck with Tower military proof marks next to opposed broad arrow sold from service stamps and has ladder rear sight to 950 yards which is also Birmingham inspected. Correct swelled throat pattern military marked 2^nd pattern jag head ram rod.  An improved model of the Minnie rifle the 2^nd model was developed as a direct result of reports from troops using the first pattern guns in the Crimea and apart from the spring retained barrel bands featured an improved heavier hammer for reliable ignition of the caps and a heavier built stronger stock that was better suited to bayonet fighting. In very good condition with nice stock, very good bore and barrel with much finish turning to blue, brown. A nice early British military issue P53 rifle musket.

.526” Double barrelled Jacobs’s rifle with very rare Sword bayonet. Back action locks are engraved Swinburn & Son 1860. Walnut stock with iron furniture including trigger guard with finger spur, patch box to the right side engraved JACOB’S RIFLES and single barrel band to the front. Double barrels of .526” calibre rifled with four deep grooves to fire a mechanically fitting balls on the principal used in the service Brunswick rifle have three folding leaf sights for 100, 200 & 300 yards with tall ladder sight to a full 2100 yards. Heavy headed ram rod to the under side with a bayonet boss to the front of the right barrel to take the impressive sword bayonet. Bayonet with chequered leather grips has heavy pattern pierced grip with double socket to fit the barrels and fullered straight blade. Designed by General John Jacob his famous double barrelled rifles saw limited issue in India with Jacobs own regiment that was named after him ‘Jacob’s Rifles’ where they saw wide service in the many small wars fought on the continent under the leadership of their dashing commander. Today the Jacobs rifle is a very rare gun and the bayonet even more scarce. In good condition with very good bores, nice stock and good mechanical order, the barrels with much finish remaining turning blue / brown with age, good clean bayonet. A very rare rifle and bayonet to the most famous of the Indian regiments of the time and a rare chance to obtain the rifle with it’s very scarce bayonet.

.451” Lancaster oval bore muzzle loading military match rifle by Charles Lancaster. Border engraved lock marked to the front LANCASTER. Figured walnut stock with iron furniture including two barrel bands is chequered at the wrist and is fitted with original brass tipped, steel match ram rod designed to avoid wear to the bore during loading of the rifle. Match barrel of .451” calibre rifled with Lancaster’s patent smooth oval bore rifling is fitted with a ladder rear sight graduated to 1250 yards and is engraved to the breach LANCASTER'S PATENT. Designed by the famous London gun maker Charles Lancaster his oval bore rifling was like many patent designs of the day was designed to reduce as far as possible the effects of the black powder fouling on accuracy and in this it was so successful that combined with its superior accuracy it was almost adopted as the standard rifling pattern for the British army at the time. Unfortunately for Lancaster the work on the Enfield rifle was too far advanced for it to be cancelled although his oval bore rifle was adopted for use by the sappers and miners in their carbine, however his rifles were very popular with the volunteer rifle men of the day and this example was made for a target shooter of the Victorian age for use in the military match rifle competitions of the time. In very good condition with fine oval bore, nice sharp stock with good chequering and much original blue finish to the metal work. A fine example of a percussion muzzle loading target rifle by one of the best of the London makers of Victorian times.

.577” London Armoury Co. Jas Kerr best quality Mk3 three band snider rifle. Best quality border engraved lock with Crowned VR to the tail is engraved 1863 over LACo. Walnut stock with regulation brass furniture is struck to the right side with LONDON ARMOURY Co roundel. London proof marked barrel with ladder rear sight to 950 yards is marked LAC and STEEL. Mk3 locking breach shoe is engraved with Sniders trade mark next to LAC and Jas Kerr 54 King WL ST with London proof marks with a large number 3 indicating this is the LAC No3 or Snider barrel, No1 barrel was the .577” ML barrel and No2 the .451” Kerr Ratchet rifled match barrel that could be interchanged in the stock. London armoury Enfield’s and Sniders are considered the best shooting of all makes with those being retailed by Kerr, the inventor of a patent ratchet rifling for long range match rifles being made to the very highest standard being the rifle favoured by the top military shots of the day at the Wimbledon and Hythe matches. In very good condition with good bore, nice sharp well marked stock and much finish to the barrel turning to a nice blue, brown colour with age. A nice quality London made Snider rifle by the best military rifle maker of the time retailed by the most famous of the London target rifle companies.

An exceptional .451” best quality Whitworth hexagonal bore sporting rifle by the Whitworth Rifle Company Manchester. Detented sporting size lock with half cock safety catch and dolphin head hammer, rope border engraved with best scroll to the hammer and plate which is engraved WHITWORTH RIFLE Co MANCHESTER. Figured best walnut stock with steel furniture including foliate engraved round patch box, engraved spur trigger guard with pineapple finial engraved to the rear with serial number 872 for manufacture in the first year of production 1860. Finely chequered at the wrist and the fore end with horn fore end tip and steel mounted cross key barrel retainer. Vacant silver escutcheon to the rear of the trigger guard tang. Hooked breach barrel rifled with Whitworths patent hexagonal rifling is fitted with an early ‘express’ type rear sight with folding leaves for 100 and 200 yards with long range ladder rear sight having slider marked H & C calibrated on the right side for conical bullets and the left side for the Whitworth hexagonal mechanically fitting bullet, the first up to 1100 yards and the latter up to 1200 yards, fine bead sporting front sight mounted in windage adjustable dove tail. Breach with Whitworth flats is engraved with a scene of a resting deer, under side engraved with serial number 872 is struck with Birmingham commercial black powder proof of the Victorian age for 52 bore or .451” calibre with WHITWORTH PATENT engraved to the top in front of the rear sight.  Whitworth sporting rifles using the hexagonal bore are very few and far between and this one is of the very best quality made by that firm. In fine condition with good hexagonal bore, lovely finely chequered well figures stock with best quality fittings and most deep blue to the metal work. A lovely, graceful and perfectly balanced Victorian sporting rifle by the most famous inventor of his day in fine condition and much rarer than the usual military or match Whitworths encountered today.

.577” Ordnance issue Second model Pattern 53 Minie rifle. Lock engraved 1856 TOWER with ordnance broad arrow ownership mark with Crowned VR to the tail. Walnut stock with regulation brass furniture and three spring retained barrel bands is stamped to the right side with feint 2^nd class arms mark and marked to the butt plate tang Ds 609 possibly for issue to the famous South African unit Driscoll's Scouts. Barrel rifled with three grooves on the Minie principal is struck with Tower military proof marks next to opposed broad arrow sold from service stamps and has ladder rear sight to 950 yards which is also Birmingham inspected. An improved model of the Minnie rifle the 2^nd model was developed as a direct result of reports from troops using the first pattern guns in the Crimea and apart from the spring retained barrel bands featured an improved heavier hammer for reliable ignition of the caps and a heavier built stronger stock that was better suited to bayonet fighting. In very good condition with nice stock, very good bore and barrel with much finish turning to blue, brown. A nice early British military issue P53 rifle musket.

8 X 60mm Portuguese issue Kropatschek bolt action service rifle. Mauser 71 pattern bolt action with tube magazine under the barrel has cut off lever to the right side and is engraved G E W.F.G. STEYER 1886 and M1886 with crowned LIo to the centre. Walnut stock with regulation iron furniture is struck with military roundels to both sides of the stock. Octagonal to round barrel with ladder rear sight to 2000 meters is struck with Portuguese royal crown to the knox form and has a windage driftable front sight. One of the earliest of the small bore black powder repeating military rifles adopted when first issued it put the Portuguese army years ahead of its neighbours and potential enemies who like the British at the time were armed with single shot large bore weapons but the relatively weak action of the Kropatschek was not suitable for use with the powerful new smokeless rounds that were soon adopted by the other European nations and so the rifle quickly became obsolete. They were however an accurate rifle and some saw service in reserve units up to the end of the first world war. In very good condition with nice well marked stock having an old repair to the toe, good bore and mechanics. A nice example of one of the early bolt action service rifles adopted in Europe.

.32” Rim fire Remington No4 rolling block rook and rabbit rifle. Small frame Remington rolling block action with straight hand walnut stock and sporting fore end. Octagonal barrel with fixed rear sight is marked to the top flat REMINGTON ARMS CO ILION N.Y. A perfect scaled down rolling block this would have been made as a boy’s gun or as a light weigh sporter for a farmer or land owner wanting to pot the odd rabbit. In good condition with good bore and excellent mechanics with tight lock up. Nice figured stock. A pretty little gun with only 50,000 being made between 1890 and 1933 mostly in .22”rf making these off ticket .32”s rare on the market today.

10.4 X 42mm Rim fire Swiss Vetterli model 1871 bolt action service rifle. Action with Henry type lifter and tube magazine is marked to the left side SIG, bolt with distinctive bulbous striker cover which houses the short main spring. Barrel retained by three bands has a tangent rear sight to 1200m. Walnut stock with square cut chequering to the fore end has regulation pattern steel furniture, replacement clearing rod. The first repeating bolt action rifle in the world to be adopted by a national army it was designed by Fredric Vetterli who worked for the famous Swiss arms company SIG. While it fired a very low powered cartridge by the military standards of the day it was years ahead of its time and gave the Swiss army a huge advantage in fire power over the other nations who were at the time just beginning to adopt single shot rifles such as the British Martini Henry which was adopted 2 years after the Swiss armed their troops with the Vetterli. The Swiss continued to use the rim fire round until the rifle was replaced in front line service by the Schmidt Rubin in 1889. In good condition with good bore and mechanics, nice chequered stock and metal with much original finish remaining, a good example of a significant military rifle.

An unusual .43” commercially marked Mauser 71/84 magazine fed bolt action service rifle. Standard military pattern 71/84 action with tube magazine marked to the left side WAFFENFABRIK MAUSER OBERNDORF a/NECKAR DEUTSCHES REICH with magazine selector switch to the rear. Standard Mauser 71/84 bolt with flag safety. Walnut stock with regulation steel furniture including three barrel bands. Blued barrel with regulation rear ladder sight graduated to 1500 meters marked to the left side of the knox form with serial number next to bore measurement 10.95 in the standard German military style. A regulation issue 71/84 of the pattern issued to the imperial German army of the day this is the first commercial Mauser of this pattern I have ever seen, it conforms to the exact military pattern in all respects except for the lack of German military marks. In very good condition with good bore, nice sharp stock and very good mechanical order with miss matched bolt. An interesting gun for the specialist Mauser or volunteer rifle collector.

A good British Yatagan bayonet for the P56 short rifle or Snider. Curved fullered blade marked FH in roundel. Chequered leather compressed grips with spring catch to the right side. Steel mounted leather scabbard. In good condition with nice clean blade, good scabbard with all stitching intact. A nice example of a regulation issue sword bayonet for the two band rifle.

British Yatagan bayonet for the P56 short rifle or Snider. Curved fullered blade stamped to the right side with Solingen knights head trade mark . Chequered leather compressed grips with spring catch to the right side the top of the tang impressed JL. In good condition with nice clean blade, A good example of a regulation issue sword bayonet for the two band rifle.

British military issue Land transport Corps ‘Gladius’ pattern side arm. Heavy single edged spear point blade struck with crowned ordnance inspection stamp to the left side and Solingen helmet manufactures mark to the right. Brass hilt with guard of the Roman type Gladius pattern as used on French and Russian arms of the period but unique to the LTC weapon in British service struck with issue number 32. A very handy and usable short sword these were issued to members of the Land transport Corps serving in the Crimea where they would have been useful around camp for wood cutting etc as well as their intended use to defend the user’s wagons while delivering stores to the front line troops. A rare side arm in very good condition with nice clear ordnance marks.

A 54 bore (.45”) English turn off percussion pocket pistol. Scroll engraved slab sided action with central percussion hammer and fixed trigger with guard. Walnut slab grip with white metal escutcheon inlet into the back. Turn off smooth bore barrel with key peg to the under side, the barrel and action both struck with Birmingham commercial Victorian black powder proof marks. A typical trade percussion self protection pistol that would have been carried by a traveller of the early Victorian age. In good condition with good bore and mechanics with finish turning to brown.

A fine .75” pattern 42 musket by Holland of London. Pattern 42 lock plate marked HOLLAND LONDON. Walnut stock with regulation brass furniture has been impressed between the side nails with a large crown by the original volunteer unit or regiment that purchased the gun. The .75” smooth bore barrel is struck with London Proof marks and is fitted with a front sight / bayonet lug. Made for a volunteer unit or possibly for use on guard duty at a large estate or factory the gun is in superb untouched condition. Barrel with most finish turning to blue brown has an excellent almost mint bore, Very good sharp wood with clear marks. A real sleeper this is a fine musket made in the early days of one of the finest London gun smiths who became Holland and Holland.

A fine .577” Snider sporting rifle by W.W. Greener of Birmingham.  Fine quality carbine size lock with sporting hammer is border engraved with small scroll work around then pin holes and is engraved to the front end W.W. GREENER. Walnut half stock with iron furniture including trigger guard with scroll finger grip is finely chequered to the wrist and the fore end and has a single barrel retaining key. Barrel rifled with five grooves of Enfield pattern is fitted with a standing rear sight calibrated for 100 yards with folding leaves for 200 and 300 yards and is struck with Victorian Birmingham commercial proof marks. Snider Mk2 shoe breach with cupped hammer is Birmingham proofed and engraved with SNIDER PATENT either side of the Snider arrow trade mark. A purpose built best quality sporting rifle by one of the best and most famous Birmingham makers made to fire the then regulation service cartridge for sale to an officer or colonial official serving abroad who wanted a good sporting rifle for use on local game where he was stationed but at the same time be sure of being able to get a good supply of ammunition locally. In very good condition with fine bore, Exc sharp wood work, good mechanical order and nearly all the deep blue finish to the metal work. A very nice elegant sporting rifle from the great days of the British gun trade in fine condition.

.577/450” British Ordnance issue Martini Henry B pattern MkIV service rifle.  Mk4 action engraved to the right side with Crowned VR over ENFIELD 1886 and off set IV I with broad arrow ownership mark. Walnut stock with regulation iron furniture marked with various Indian army issue and inspection stamps next to sharp RM ENFIELD roundel. Barrel with ladder rear sight to 1300 yards has B pattern ramp fore sight and is struck with Enfield military proof marks. Originally designed as a .402” replacement for the .450” Martini’s in British service the long lever Mk4 was overtaken by events and the army adopted the .303” Long Lee Metford for front line service but the large number of .402” Martinis that had been made were left in store at considerable expense to the exchequer. It was decided to re bore the rifles to the old .577/450” calibre and then issue them to the Indian army where the long lever designed for use in hot climates to allow better extraction would be of benefit and these B pattern rifles were built on the .402” Martini Enfield actions already made at the factory after the small bore project was abandoned. In good condition with good bore and tight lock up, metal work with much blue finish remaining. A nice example of a regulation arm of the British army in India and the last of the line of the Martini’s.

A fine cased first pattern Adams pattern 1851 54 bore revolver. Foliate engraved frame with border line marked on left side ADAM’S PATENT No 8958R with retailers name to top strap DEANE ADAMS & DEANE, 30 KING WILLIAM STREET LONDON BRIDGE. London proofed octagonal barrel. Five shot clock wise rotating cylinder serial numbered 8958R with London proofs and border engraving. Fine chequered walnut grips with shell engraved butt trap. Original green baize lined case with C & J W HAWKSLEY adjustable pistol flask graduated from 3/8 to 5/8 dram, 54 bore mould with R ADAMS 28 NOV 1851 registered trade mark in roundel to the left side next to 54, Nipple key, Turn screw, Cleaning rod, Hawksley oil bottle and Joyce 250 cap tin. This early model 51 Adams has no provision for a rammer the patent Adams ball or bullet from the supplied mould having a greased wad on the ‘tail’ which sealed in the tapered chambers when pushed in by the users thumb. In very good condition with 80%+ original blue finish, Exc mechanical order with fine grips and nice original accessories in a good case. The double action only large calibre Adams revolvers were designed for close fast shooing and were very popular with British officers involved in the many small wars in Africa and India where the knock down power was needed when engaging fanatical tribesmen of the region. A fine set in very good condition from the hey day of the British empire.

£3450

7.5 X 53mm Swiss issue Schmidt Rubin service rifle. Blued action with straight pull bolt. Walnut stock with finger grooves to the fore end and various Swiss military inspection marks. Barrel with Swiss military inspection and owner ship marks has tangent rear sight to 2000 meters and two barrel bands. Twelve shot magazine with cut of switch to allow single shot loading while keeping the rounds in the magazine in reserve. The first small bore, magazine fed repeating rifle issued any where in the world the Schmidt Rubin rifle was years ahead of it’s time and was the fore runner of all the magazine fed bolt action rifles that were used by the worlds armies up to the end of the second world war. The 7.5mm cartridge went on to become the basis of the .303” round that was latter adopted by the British army in the 1890’s. In very good condition with excellent bore, nice sharp well marked stock and military blue finish, a very nice example of a very historic and interesting weapon, Choice of 4 rifles available.

.43” Egyptian Remington Rolling block short rifle. Egyptian pattern iron rolling block frame. Walnut stock with regulation iron furniture including two barrel bands is struck to the left side with a feint Egyptian military issue roundel. Barrel marked .43E to the left side is fitted with a ladder rear sight and block front. A very strong action the Remington rolling block was well suited to handle the most powerful military rounds of the day and was widely used both in South America, the Scandinavian countries and the Middle East where the simple reliability of the arm made it very popular with the regions armies. The Egyptians adopted the Remington in their own bottle necked .43” round that was similar in performance to the German Mauser 11mm and issued both full length 3 band infantry rifles and the short two band rifle such as this one. In good used condition with good bore, some scattered pitting to the exterior and nice stock with one small chip to the left rear.

A large English 54 bore turn off percussion pocket pistol with concealed trigger. Box lock action with scroll engraving to the side plates with folding trigger and dolphin head hammer. Finely chequered walnut bag grip with un marked white metal escutcheon to the rear. Birmingham proofed turn off 54 bore smooth bore barrel with key wedge to the under side. Pocket pistols of this pattern are unusual in such a large form as this and it certainly would have been a very effective self defence weapon for a gentleman at short ranges. In good condition with nice grip, good mechanical order and metal work with much finish to pleasant blue, brown.

A rare and early .577” Pritchett Pattern 53 short rifle with key retained barrel. Carbine size lock of patt 53 type with swivel link is engraved R T PRITCHETT. Walnut stock with iron furniture including two ram rod pipes and two barrel retaining keys. Butt plate tang engraved 62. Three groove rifled barrel with break off breach is engraved LONDON with London commercial proofs on the under side. Ladder rear sight to 1000 yards. An early transitional gun this P53 or fore runner of the pattern 56 retains many features of the Patt 51 Minie rifle with it’s ram rod pipes and barrel keys but also incorporates the lock, rear sight and reduced calibre of the P53 as well as the desirable break off breach common on high quality sporting rifles of the time. In Exc over all condition with very good stock, metal work retaining much original blue and good bore. A fine early small bore Minie rifle by a famous London maker made to the most advanced pattern of the time for a volunteer soldier or target shooter.

11mm Italian M1870/87 Vetterli-Vitali service rifle made for the ‘Tiro a Segno Nazionale’ state shooting organisation. Swiss designed Vetterli bolt action with magazine cut off adapted to take the Vitali magazine conversion with safety catch to the right side. Walnut stock with regulation steel furniture is struck to the right side with Italian issue roundel and unit markings. Barrel with large tangent rear sight graduated to 1800 meters is marked to the Knox form with TORINO 1890 with Italian military proof marks and the crossed rifle symbol of the ‘Tiro a Segno Nazionale’ the Italian NRA of the day. These rifles were made to special order for the organisation and were carefully inspected during manufacture so as to ensure the most accurate rifles possible for use in the service rifle matches that were staged across Italy. In good condition with very good bore, nice well marked stock and good mechanical order. A rare military rifle with interesting history to it.

.310” Cadet ‘The Deer Stalker’ take down Martini sporting rifle with detachable lock retailed by R B Rodda of Calcutta. Martini small frame Francotte detachable lock action with cocking indicator to the right side of the block has a cleaning hole in the rear of the action to allow the barrel to be cleaned from the rear once the action is removed. Right side of the frame has the action / barrel take down lever to the front the left side is engraved with a wood land scene featuring a stag and engraved THE DEER STALKER R.B. RODDA & Co CALCUTTA next to Francotte trade mark in roundel. Walnut stock with steel furniture is chequered at the wrist and to the fore end. Octagonal barrel with standing rear sight calibrated for 100 yards has two folding leaves for 200 and 300 yards with calibre .310” marked to the right side flat and bead fore sight to the front. Made by the Liege manufacturers Francotte for sale through the biggest of the Victorian gun dealers in India this little martini would have been sold to a British officer or colonial official for small game shooting and would have been effective on most of the local species up to and including small deer at short ranges with the take down barrel making it a handy rifle to store and transport in a trunk or suit case. In good condition with good bore and tight lock up with some surface pitting and much finish to the metal work, a pretty little rifle from the height of the raj made to take the popular Australian cadet cartridge that has a fine reputation for accuracy if a little under powered for deer stalking!

£675

.41” Rim fire Remington model 95 over under derringer. Super imposed barrels with ejector to the left side are marked on the top rib REMINGTON ARMS CO. ILION NY making this a third model made between 1888 and 1911. Nickel plate finish with ivory grips. Designed by William H Elliot the model 95 was made from 1866 until 1935 and with a total of over 150,000 being made. A popular and easily concealed self defence weapon the derringer was popular with both law men and out laws of the old west as a hide away gun being made and used until well into the 20^th century. In good mechanical order with about 30% finish remaining and nice mellow grips.

A very rare .577” three band Minie rifle to the Victoria Volunteers by Isaac Hollis & Sons. P53 swivel link lock with border engraving is engraved ISAAC HOLLIS & SONS MAKERS TO HER MAJESTY'S WAR DEPT. Walnut stock with rare bronze furniture of the pattern developed for the Victoria Volunteers inc. long trigger guard tang with sling swivel through the rear and the butt plate tang engraved F 477 V.V. Barrel rifled with three grooves is struck with Birmingham commercial black powder proof marks with ladder rear sight to 1100 yards having a gold aiming line inlet into the slider and a dove tailed windage adjustable front sight. Snap cap on chain fixed to the front of the trigger guard in the fashion usually adopted on the two band short rifle. Ordered by the state of Victoria to arm the soldiers of the famous Australian unit the Victoria Volunteers who also widely used the Oval bore sappers and miners carbine these Hollis guns are of a unique pattern combining features normally found on the two band short rifle with the long barrel and the three barrel retaining bands of the regulation issue P53 arm along with features from the target rifles of the day such as the drift able front sight that allowed for windage correction. In good condition with good bore and nice sharp stock with much original finish to the metal work. A rare model of military issue rifle to a famous unit rarely seen on the market.

£1495

.577/450” Martini Henry Mk2 rifle by Thomas Turner. Action with large Mk2 cocking indicator is engraved to the right side THOMAS TURNER FISHER STREET BIRMINGHAM next to Martini entwined M trade mark, left side struck with serial number and MARTINI’S PATENT. Walnut stock with regulation steel furniture. Birmingham proofed barrel with ladder rear sight to 1300 yards is marked to the top T TURNER. Right side of stock with pin marks from a removed prize rifle presentation plaque. A regulation Martini by one of the largest of the Birmingham makers originally presented as a prize presumably in one of the many volunteer shooting matches of the early Victorian age. In very good condition with good bore and mechanics, nice stock and much finish to the metal work.

.577” Ordnance issue third model P53 rifle musket, Tower 1860. Lock struck with Crowned VR to the tail with 1860 TOWER in front of the hammer. Walnut stock with regulation brass furniture struck to the right side with Ordnance factory Pimlico roundel dated 1860 with inspection marks behind the trigger guard and V Cw 12 69 to the butt plate tang. Barrel with ordnance proof marks over stamped with military sold out of service marks is retained by three third pattern screw barrel bands and has a ladder sight graduated to 950 yards. Adopted by the British army after the second model with its spring clip retained barrel bands proved to be unsuitable for service the third patterns along with the Baddeley band equipped 4^th models remained the front line infantry rifle of the British army until replaced by the breach loading Snider conversion in the mid 1860’s. Nearly all the Enfield and LAC made rifles on hand were converted leaving only a few Tower marked examples of the muzzle loading third models unconverted today. In good condition with nice sharp well marked stock, Lock with surface pitting and barrel with good bore having much blue, brown finish to the out side. A classic infantry rifle of the mid Victorian age.

.40-60” Marlin model 1881 lever action rifle. Slab sided top eject lever action with side loading gate. Very scarce factory 24” octagonal barrel with buck horn sight marked to top flat MARLIN FIRE ARMS CO. NEW HAVEN CT. U.S.A. and 40 cal at rear of barrel. The short 24” barrel was a factory special order for the model 1881’s the standard length being 28” with the shorter and handier barrel becoming much more popular in the latter model 1889 and 92’s. Straight hand walnut stock and full length tubular magazine. The first of the Marlin produced lever action rifles these top eject guns were designed by Andrew Burgess with assistance from John Marlin and were very popular as they could handle big game cartridges up to and including the .45-70. 6261 were made in 40-60 calibre which was a popular flat shooting round sufficient for use on all non dangerous U.S. game. In good condition with nice wood and much original finish to the action and barrel. Good bore and tight action, ejector mechanism missing. A nice clean example of an early lever rifle not often seen on the UK market in a nice old calibre.

.577” British Ordnance Naval MkII** Snider sea service rifle with New Zealand issue marks. Lock with crowned VR to the tail has an ordnance owner ship mark to the front next to italic 1862 to indicate Liege contract manufacture. Walnut stock with regulation navy brass furniture is stamped to the right side with broad arrow ordnance roundel dated 1862 with military inspection marks behind the trigger guard tang and NZ Broad Arrow 88 632 for issue to the New Zealand Navy brigade. Correct military inspected clearing rod serial numbered to the rifle. Military proofed five groove heavy barrel is retained by two barrel bands and has a ladder rear sight to 1000 yards with bayonet boss to the front right to take the regulation issue navy cutlass bayonet.  MkII** snider shoe with correct cupped face hammer is marked with military proofs and broad arrow WD government ownership marks next to Enfield inspectors marks and is struck to the top ring NZ 88 632. Converted from Pattern 58 Navy rifles the five groove barrelled navy snider’s were issued to the ships companies of Her Majesty’s ships and to the royal marine contingents that served on them as well as the many Naval Artillery units that saw service supporting the army in engagements all over the empire. After service in the Royal Navy many of these Sniders like this one were re issued to the New Zealand Naval Brigade after the British Navy were re armed with the new Martini Henry rifles. In good condition with good five groove bore, nice well marked stock and much finish turning to a pleasant blue, brown with age, very good working order with tight lock up. A nice piece for the British military or Empire navy collector.

£1125

.577” Volunteer Tower Marked Snider Mk2* three band service rifle. Lock with Crown to the tail is marked TOWER 1875 with flat faced Mk2* hammer. Walnut stock with regulation brass furniture has three barrel retaining bands. Barrel rifled with three grooves is struck with Victorian Tower commercial black powder proof marks with ladder rear sight to 950 yards and Mk2* Snider breach shoe. Made to the ordnance pattern for sale to Volunteers and target shooters of the Victorian age these Sniders were popular all over the empire where service ammunition and spare parts could be easily obtained on the local market. In good used condition with good bore and nice stock. Old service re blue to the barrel and shoe, A nice example of a regulation commercial rifle at a good price.

.577” Ordnance issue P53 third model Minie rifle musket. Swivel link lock marked TOWER 1858 with crowned VR to the tail and ordnance ownership mark. Regulation walnut stock with brass furniture is struck to the right side with a feint WD broad arrow next to opposed arrows sold from service mark. Butt tang marked V E19 55. Ordnance Tower proofed barrel with ladder rear sight to 1000 yards retained by three third pattern screw bands. Original round head pattern ram rod. The regulation arm of the British army from the end of the Crimean war until replaced by the Snider breach loader in the late 1860’s the third model was produced as a direct result of troops reports form the Crimea on shortcomings of the 2^nd pattern. In good condition with nice stock and much blue, brown finish to the metal work.

Cased 54 bore Beaumont Adams revolver by the London Armoury Company retailed by FREDc T BAKER of FLEET STREET LONDON once the property of A C HOWARD ESQ. Blued frame marked to the right side ADAMS PATENT with serial number and patent registration is engraved to the top flat FREDERIC T BAKER 88 FLEET St LONDON with rammer to the left hand side. Five shot London proofed cylinder serial numbered to the gun. Three groove rifled octagonal barrel struck to the right side with LAC trade mark within crowned shield. Finely chequered walnut grips. Contained in its original green baize lined case, brass disc inset into the lid engraved A C HOWARD ESQ with 54 bore bullet mould, Sykes patent pistol flask, pewter oil bottle, turn screw, cleaning rod with worm and a tin of Joyce percussion caps. Popular with officers of the British army due to their big bore and fast firing double action mechanism combined with the accuracy of the single action feature these big revolvers saw service all over the empire. In good condition with very good bore and mechanics, metal work with pleasing blue, brown aged patina and a nice case with a full set of original accessories.

£2950

A rare service restocked .75” East India Company Victoria carbine with side action lock and Brunswick pattern furniture (Type 2 restocked in service with type 3 stock and Manton’s furniture, see D F Harding small arms of the EIC Vol 2 page 240). New series EIC side lock with bun nut retained hammer, border engraving and EIC rampant Lion mark. Walnut stock with two barrel retaining keys has swivel ram rod and improved pattern of nose cap and rammer pipe of heavier design than the ordnance original. Side bar later removed in service for use as artillery carbine. London proofed smooth bore barrel of full musket bore (.75”) has standing rear and blade front sights. As originally built the EIC Victoria carbine used a light pattern of stock and Manton’s furniture which proved prone to breakage in service. After the adoption of the Type 3 carbine most type 2 weapons like this were officially re stocked and fitted with improved brass furniture of the type adopted by Lovell for the Ordnance board Brunswick rifle although a few like this example retained their original Manton pattern furniture after conversion. In their improved form the Victoria carbines saw long service in India with most like this having the side bar removed latter in life when they were re issued to the Artillery regiments. In good condition with good bore, nice stock with small chip to the rear of the lock and much original finish. A good and rare cavalry arm of a pattern very rarely seen on the market that saw service with both the Cavalry and Artillery arms of the companies armies in India.

Rare .36” Enfield inspected Egyptian Army contract Colt Navy Revolver. Steel frame with brass trigger guard and back strap, the grip stamped to the left side with British Royal Ordnance factory Enfield inspectors stamp in roundel. Six shot London proofed cylinder with feint traces of cylinder scene that have been linished of in service as is usual with these colts. Octagonal barrel with Colts progressive rifling is struck with London proof marks and is roll engraved to the top flat ADDRESS COL. SAML COLT NEW YORK U.S AMERICA. Purchased by the Egyptian army after the Navy was adopted by the British army for cavalry issue these guns were made at Colts U.S. factory as the London factory had been closed by this date but the guns were all London proofed after import by Colt and then further inspected by the staff at the royal Manufactory Enfield at the insistence of the Egyptian government. They were then marked with the unique roundel found on the grip to indicate they had passed this British military inspection before they were shipped to Egypt. (See Col Colt London by J Rosa page 122). In good condition with very good bore and tight lock up, all matching numbers through out including the wedge. Metal work to grey finish with nice Enfield cartouche to the grip, small sliver out of the right grip that has been repaired in service. A nice and rare military issue Colt.

£2350

.577/450” Mk2 Volunteer Martini Henry service rifle by The London Small Arms Co. Action with large Mk2 cocking indicator is struck to the right side with Martini Logo over LSA Co 1877 with entwined LSA logo above the cocking indicator. Walnut tiger stripped stock with regulation iron furniture has cross pin retained fore end. Barrel rifled with Henry patent rifling is fitted with a ladder rear sight marked to 1300 yards and is struck with Victorian black powder commercial proof marks to the knox form. A standard Mk2 gun made by the LSA Co for sale to a volunteer soldier or target shooter of the Victorian era. In very good condition with nice sharp stock, good bore and tight action with much original finish to the metal work.

.577/450” British Ordnance issue Martini Henry C pattern MkIV service rifle.  Mk4 action engraved to the right side with Crowned VR over ENFIELD 1887 IV I with broad arrow ownership mark. Walnut stock with regulation iron furniture marked with various Indian army issue and inspection stamps next to feint RM ENFIELD roundel. Barrel with ladder rear sight to 1300 yards has C pattern ramp fore sight and is struck with Enfield military proof marks. Originally designed as a .402” replacement for the .450” Martini’s in British service the long lever Mk4 was overtaken by events and the army adopted the .303” Long Lee Metford for front line service but the large number of .402” Martinis that had been made were left in store at considerable expense to the exchequer. It was decided to re bore the rifles to the old .577/450” calibre and then issue them to the Indian army where the long lever designed for use in hot climates to allow better extraction would be of benefit. Eventually the Indian army required more weapons and these C pattern guns designed to take only the knife bayonet were made and widely issued. In good condition with good bore and tight lock up, metal work with much blue finish remaining. A nice example of a regulation arm of the British army in India and the last of the line of the Martini’s.

11 X 50R Chilean Comblain carbine. Action marked to the right side with COMBLAIN BREVETTE over liege inspection mark and serial number. Walnut stock with iron furniture and cross bolted fore end. Four groove rifled barrel with ladder rear sight to 1200 meters is struck to the knox form with makers name G. MORDANT LIEGE next to a crowned NC inspection stamp. Designed by Hubert Joseph Comblain of Liege the Comblain was a very strong falling block action with an exposed hammer and was adopted by the Belgian and Brazilian armies as well as the Chileans. The Chilean gun differed from the Belgian in that it used a larger diameter 11.6mm bullet and had a separate lower tang let into the receiver. In good condition with good bore, excellent mechanics and nice stock. A rare variant of the Comblain design that saw service in South America.

£950

.450/577” New South Wales issue Henry service rifle. Back action lock marked ALEXr HENRY fitted to the left side of the gun to allow easy loading by a right handed shooter. Action marked to the left with HENRYS PATENT and to the right WRA&A Co 1871 for manufacture by Wesley Richards. Walnut stock with regulation iron furniture stamped to the right side with NSW and broad arrow ordnance ownership marks next to rack number 72. Henry rifled barrel with ladder rear sight to 1150 yards is stamped to the top HENRYS PATENT RIFLING. Submitted by Henry for the British army trials for a purpose built breach loader the barrel was chosen to be fitted to the action submitted by Mr Martini to make the famous Martini Henry rifle. British demand for the new rifle was so great that the Australian forces were not due to be issued with their new guns for some years and so New South Wales decided instead to order the Henry rifle to re equip its troops with a modern rifle which was available at once the guns being made by BSA and in this case Wesley Richards. In good condition with fair bore and much finish to the barrel with a nice, well marked clean stock. An interesting colonial issue gun and the rifle that was so nearly adopted by the British army of the Zulu period.

£1450

.577/450” Westley Richards Martini Henry service rifle made for the ZAR. Francotte patent detachable lock martini action with internal cocking indicator is marked to the left side with WESLEY RICHARDS under the triangle trade mark and to the right side with MADE SPECIALLY FOR THE ZAR having quick release action pin to the front. Walnut stock with regulation iron furniture has owner’s initials JRS carved into the wood on the left side in the Boer fashion. Barrel rifled with Wesley Richards nine groove version of Henrys’ rifling is struck with Victorian Birmingham black powder proof marks, it is fitted with a ladder rear sight graduated to 1300 yards and is engraved to the top HENRY RIFLING, WESLEY RICHARDS & Co. with date 1897 within a triangle on the knox form. Made by Francotte and built up by Wesley Richards to fill a large order from the South African Republic who were re arming for the up coming war with the British only 10,000 of these rifles were made and delivered before relations between the two countries broke down and the contract was cancelled by the British just before hostilities started. The improved nine groove rifling made these very accurate rifles which made them very popular with the expert Boer riflemen who used them with great effect against the British. In good condition with good bore and mechanics, much finish to the metal work and a nice set of Boer initials to the stock, a good example of a famous pattern of rifle.

£950

Cased .577 2 ¾” BPE Box lock non ejector double rifle by A. HARTMAN & Co. Box lock action with auto safety and cross bolt triple lock action of the Greener type has border scroll engraving and is marked A HARTMAN & CO. Walnut stock with Prince of Wales pistol grip and chequered fore end is fitted with sling eye behind a vacant silver escutcheon. Damascus twist, browned, heavy nine groove rifled barrels with standing rear sight for 100 yards has leaves to 250 yards and base for ladder rear sight which has been removed by a previous owner as unusable with a double rifle! Birmingham Victorian proof marks for .577” Express and ramp fore sight with folding ‘moon’ sight for use in low light conditions. Contained in a red velvet lined leather case with owners initials J.W.M.D embossed in the lid. Made by the Birmingham trade for sale by Hartman who was a dealer in German East Africa this big and impressive double would have been used on all dangerous soft skinned game such as the big cats and on all but the largest of big game for which the big 4 bores still had to be used in the black powder era. In good condition with good mechanics, lock up and bores. Nice stock and fading finish to the barrels in a nice case. A good and rare Victorian ‘Big Bore’ rifle and the only .577” BPE available to collectors off ticket in the UK.

.577” Mk3 three band Snider service rifle by the London Small Arms Co. Lock with entwined LSA company logo to the tail is marked LSACo. 1871 and fitted with the correct flat faced Mk3 hammer. Walnut stock with regulation brass furniture has three Baddeley pattern barrel bands and original jag headed clearing rod. Barrel rifled with three grooves has a ladder rear sight calibrated to 950 yards and is fitted with a Mk3 BSA marked locking breach block having been struck with Birmingham proof marks. Built to the regulation pattern for a volunteer soldier by the famous London Company who were also contractors to the board of ordnance. In fairly good external condition with some exterior pitting to the barrel, good sharp wood and mechanics but with an excellent shinny bore. A good sound London gun with a bore that will make it ideal for the shooter.

Ordnance issue pattern 1895 bayonet to fit .303” Martini Enfield rifle in scabbard. WD marked triangular blade with blued socket , brass mounted leather scabbard struck with broad arrow WD ownership marks and opposed arrows sold from service stamp. In very good condition in nice scabbard with intact stitching.

.577/450” British military issue Mk2 Martini Henry service rifle by LSA Co 1888. Action marked to the right side with crowned VR over LSA Co 1888 over ordnance broad arrow ownership mark and II with first class arms mark. Walnut stock with regulation Mk2 furniture has LONDON roundel to the right side over MKII and 1^st class arm mark. Military proofed Henry rifled barrel with ladder rear sight and bayonet bar to the front band. A regulation issue Mk2 made by the LSA just before the Martini was replaced in British military service by the LLM, the Mk2 was by that time superseded by the MK3 gun with the hook retained fore end but the military continued to purchase Mk2’s from the contractors as they were in fact cheaper than the more up to date model as made at the royal Manufactory at Enfield lock. In good condition with good bore, much finish to the metal work, fore end cross pin area repaired by the military. A classic British Martini.

.76” East India Company Percussion Fusil with old series side lock type 1, 1840-41. Lock of flint lock form adapted to percussion (EIC A series) is struck with the companies Rampant Lion. Walnut stock with brass furniture Inc the Manton pattern trigger guard is struck to the right side with 14/44 Bengal issue marks. Smooth bore barrel of 11 bore (.76”) calibre has standing rear sight and front bayonet stud / sight. Correct EIC pattern square section button head ram rod. Made for issue to Sergeants of the East India Company’s army in India these Fusils differed from the Ordnance issue sergeants carbines in that they retained the full size musket ball so making the supply of ammunition to the far flung out posts of the empire easier. In good condition with good mechanics and nice stock, metal work with blue finish turning to brown with age. A nice gun and a model of East India Company weapon that was made in small numbers and so not often seen today.

£995

A very rare .31” Allen & Wheelock side hammer pocket revolver. Iron frame with screw arbour pin to the rear and unique trigger guard, loading lever. Five shot cylinder with roll engraved wood land game scene. Octagonal barrel engraved to the left side with address and patent dates ALLEN & WHEELOCK WORCESTER, ALLENS PATENT JAN. 13 1857, SEPT 7 1858. Varnished walnut grips. First of a small series of side hammer revolvers designed by Allen little is known about these rare guns with a total production of less than 1000 guns the delicate mechanism and the trigger guard rammer with limited force to load the balls must have made these guns look very undesirable in comparison to the strong reliable Colt models available at the time. In good condition with good mechanics and bore, nice grips and metal retaining much of an old re blue. A very rare and desirable gun for the collector of early American revolvers or old west pieces.

£1750

A massive .75” officer’s percussion military pistol by Lacy & co. of London. Lock of Lovell’s pattern 42 Musket type and size is border engraved and marked LACY & Co. LONDON under the nipple lump. Walnut stock with regulation brass furniture including a large brass skull crusher butt cap and ram rod pipe for the captive swivel ram rod of the normal cavalry pattern. London proofed smooth bore barrel of .75” Musket bore calibre. Made by Lacy’s to the military pattern but to take the full size musket bore ball rather than the usual pistol or carbine .65” ball this huge man stopper must have been ordered by a large and powerful officer who required the ultimate man stopper for service use but was strong enough to hold the gun up on aim! In very good condition with good bore, nice sharp stock and very good mechanical order. An impressive piece from a good London maker made at the height of the expansion of the empire at the start of Victoria’s reign.

£995

.65” East India Co flint lock cavalry pistol converted in service to percussion. Un marked lock of flint form with bunn nut retained hammer. Smooth bore barrel with brazed percussion lump has swivel rammer. Walnut stock with regulation brass furniture including the large ‘skull crusher type butt cap and EIC pattern fore end cap. Made in London as a flint pistol and latter converted by the company to percussion in service to extend the life of the pistol it has latter had the company logo removed before being sold off as surplus when it was made obsolete by the advent of rifled percussion arms. In good condition with nice wood and good working order. An interesting piece from the Raj that saw long military service in two guises.

.577/450” Mk2 Martini Henry service rifle by Scholefield of London & Birmingham. Plain Mk2 lock with large cocking indicator to the right side and sling loop to the front of the trigger guard. Walnut stock with regulation iron furniture. Barrel with ladder rear sight to 1300 yards is struck with Victorian Birmingham black powder proof marks and is engraved to the top SCHOLEFIELD LONDON & BIRMINGHAM with TRADE MARK to the knox form either side of a Zulu shield logo. Made by the Birmingham trade and retailed by Scholefields for use by a volunteer soldier or target shooter these trade rifles also saw wide use across the empire being especially popular with the Boers of South Africa who valued the long range accuracy of the Martini design. In good condition with good bore and much finish to the metal work. A classic Martini from an unusual and interesting retailer using the Zulu connection to retail his arms.

An iron barrelled flint lock blunderbuss by Richardson with spring bayonet. Carbine size flint lock with elegant swan neck cock marked under the pan RICHARDSON. Walnut stock with tastefully engraved brass furniture including trigger guard with pineapple finial. Heavy octagonal to round iron barrel with bell mouth is struck with Birmingham Victorian black powder proof marks with thumb catch to the tang to release the triangular sprung loaded bayonet that sits on top of the barrel. Designed to intimidate an attacker with the massive diameter muzzle as much as injure them the blunderbuss was a popular weapon loaded with a heavy charge of buck shot and were widely used for self defence for houses as well as the classic image of the stage coach guard facing highway men on the roads of Victorian England. In very good condition with good bore, nice sharp stock, good mechanics and much finish to the metal work. A classic gun from the flint lock age in fine condition.

.500 X 3” BPE double barrelled hammer big game rifle by Manton & Co. Scroll engraved back action locks marked MANTON & Co, engraved rounded body with Jones rotary under lever action. Heavy London proofed barrels with full length rib fitted with standing rear sight with one folding leaf for 300 yards. Seven groove rifling. Well figured stock with cheek piece and chequered pistol grip, lever lock retained fore end. A classic Indian big game rifle by a famous London retailer the .500 with its 350 grain bullet and 140 grains of black powder was used on all species of soft skinned game in India and Africa including dangerous species such as Lion and Tiger. In good condition with good bores and tight lock up, much blue finish to barrels and good wood. A real classic Victorian London game rifle.

.450 X 3 1/4” BPE Top leaver hammer double big game rifle by Lyon & Lyon. Back action locks engraved with Lion to the right and Tiger to the left and LYON & LYON. Chequered pistol grip stock with iron furniture and snap on spring retained for end. Barrels with seven groove rifling have full length rib with one standing and two folding leaf rear sights marked to 300 yards and LYON & LYON London address. Top lever hammer rifles are rare and this example sold through one of the most famous Indian outfitters would have been sold to an officer or game hunter travelling to the continent at the height of the Raj. In good condition with good clean bores, nice engraving and nice sharp stock. The 450” BPE was ideal for use on soft skinned game and was also popular in India for use on Tiger and Leopard.

.380 X 2 1/4” Rigby BPE double barrel hammer rifle by Rigby. Scroll engraved back action bolted locks engraved Jno RIGBY & Co. Chequered pistol grip stock with iron furniture and key retained chequered fore end. Rounded small action with Jones Patent rotary under lever locking. Rigby semi smooth bore rifled barrels with full length rib and standing rear sight. A perfectly balanced little Deer or Park rifle made in the proportions of a fine .410 shotgun these small doubles were popular in Victorian times for all species of English deer as well as for use on medium sized soft skinned game for those travelling to India and Africa. In good condition with much blue to the barrels and sharp chequered stock. A lovely little double rifle by one of the most famous Victorian gun smiths, a pretty decorative piece.

.565” Australian issue reduced bore Lancaster’s oval bore service rifle. Lock with crowned VR to the tail is marked TOWER 1861. Walnut stock with regulation iron furniture is engraved on the butt plate tang VF over broad arrow for issue to Victoria State forces in Australia and is struck with WGM within a diamond surround to the left side of the stock. Correct brass reinforce inlet into the fore end under the rear barrel band. Barrel with London commercial proofs has reverse mounted ladder rear sight to 1000 yards, bayonet boss with forward extension to take the Engineers pattern bayonet and oval bore. Made for issue to the Volunteer engineer units in the colonies these rifles follow the regulation ordnance pattern except for the slightly reduced bore size which was adopted to increase the accuracy of the rifle at the cost of harder loading if the gun became fouled. In good condition with sharp, well marked stock, thinning blue finish to the metal work and fairly good oval bore. A rare military Oval bore rifle issued to a famous colonial unit.

£950

Volunteer .577” P56 Enfield short rifle. Plain border engraved P56 swivel link lock. Nice well figured dark walnut stock with regulation iron fittings and correct ram rod. Birmingham proofed P56 barrel rifled with three broad grooves is fitted with a ladder rear sight to 1100 yards and has a bayonet bar with forward extension fitted to the front right. Made exactly to the Ordnance pattern by a Birmingham contractor who would have been producing for the military at the same time this particular gun would have been sold to a volunteer rifleman who purchased his own rifle for use in the military matches of the day. In good condition with nice sharp stock, good bore and very good mechanics having much blue finish to the barrel. A nice example of a classic two band Enfield muzzle loader, these guns are keenly sought by shooters today who prize their accuracy over the standard three band service rifle.

£795

Cased 54 bore 2^nd model Tranter double trigger revolver retailed by William Moore & Grey of Bond street London. Scroll engraved frame with second model detachable rammer is serial numbered to the right side. Finely chequered walnut grips. Octagonal barrel struck with London proof marks is rifled with five grooves and fitted with dove tailed windage adjustable fore sight. Five shot London proofed clock wise rotating cylinder. In it’s original green baize lined case containing an original pistol size flask,  Adams patent double cavity ball and bullet mould, ebony cleaning rod with worm, nipple key, oil bottle and a tin of Eley percussion caps. Lid with trade label for WILLIAM MOORE & GREY, GUN MANUFACTURERS 43 OLD BOND St LONDON W. The first successful single and double action revolvers offering both accuracy and rapidity of fire along with the large man stopping calibre made these revolvers very popular with British officers and colonial officials serving in the law less reaches of the empire where they saw wide service. In good condition with very good bore and tight lock up with much original charcoal blue finish and nice grips. Good dealer case with vacant brass plaque to the lid with good accessories. A nice example of a cased revolver of the type carried on campaign by the more well to do officers of the army who could afford the best available to them at the time.

An interesting .75” Smooth bore trade pattern 1839 percussion musket built on an Ordnance proofed barrel. Lock of P39 form with crown to the tail is marked TOWER. Walnut stock with cheek piece and regulation brass furniture is modelled on the patt 39 stock but stocked to within ¼” of the muzzle and marked to the right side COOPER & GOODMAN MAKERS BIRMm within a roundel. Ordnance Tower proofed smooth bore barrel with blade front sight. Built on a surplus military barrel by Coopers and Goodman for sale to the general public these trade guns were very popular in South Africa particularly and saw service all over the British Empire in the hands of both farmers, homesteaders and the local militia units raised to keep law and order in the remoter parts of the world. In good condition with nice well marked stock, good bore and very good mechanical order, ram rod missing.

A very rare and fine British military issue Mk1* Two band snider service rifle for issue to the rifle regiments and sergeants of the line. Lock marked 1861 ENFIELD has crowned VR to the tail and broad arrow ordnance ownership mark to the front and is fitted with correct original flat faced Mk1 hammer. Walnut stock with regulation iron furniture is struck to the right side with an ENFIELD cartouche over 1^st class arms mark. Five groove rifled barrel with ladder rear sight is struck with ordnance proof marks. Snider shoe is marked to the bridge I* with WD inspection stamps to the block. Converted from muzzle loading Enfield rifles the Snider was the first breach loading rifle adopted for general issue by the British army and it was always believed only three band rifles were converted to the rare Mk1 pattern with the short rifle conversions only made after the adoption of the Mk2 standard. However it has been recently established from records that a small number of two band trials rifles were made in fact less than 200 and this is one of those rifles (See Skennerton’s ‘.577” Snider-Enfield rifles and Carbines’ for full details). In excellent condition with most finish to the metal work, very good five groove bore and nice sharp stock with clear markings. A chance to own one of the rarest of British military issue arms in fine condition and very good mechanical order.

£1650

A rare and early .577” Pritchett Pattern 53/56 short rifle with key retained barrel. Rifle size lock of patt 53 type with swivel link is engraved R T PRITCHETT. Walnut stock with iron furniture including two ram rod pipes and two barrel retaining keys. Three groove rifled barrel with break off breach is struck with Victorian London proof marks and is fitted with a ladder rear sight to 1100 yards with a bayonet bar to the front right. An early transitional gun this P53 or fore runner of the pattern 56 retains many features of the Patt 51 Minnie rifle with it’s ram rod pipes and barrel keys but also incorporates the lock, rear sight and reduced calibre of the P53 as well as the desirable break off breach common on high quality sporting rifles of the time. In very good condition with good sharp stock, metal work retaining much original blue and good bore. An interesting transitional pattern arm made by a famous London maker for use by a gentleman volunteer target shooter of the Victorian age.

£1075

A scarce .577” Enfield Snider three band MkII* ordnance issue service rifle. Lock with correct MkII* flat faced hammer has crowned VR to the tail and is marked 1864 ENFIELD under the ordnance ownership mark. Walnut stock with regulation brass furniture and sling swivels is struck on the right side with RM ENFIELD cartouche over a first class arms mark with DC in diamond cartouche on the left side to signify issue to Dominion of Canada armed forces. Correct ordnance marked numbered clearing rod. Three groove rifled barrel retained by Baddeley bands is struck with ordnance board military Crowned TP proof marks and has ladder rear sight to 950 yards. TP marked snider shoe by BSA is stamped across the bridge II*. The MkII* Snider is in fact just a MkI that was made to take the square rim Boxer cartridge at conversion rather than being upgraded in service as were the MkI* rifles and retains the flat faced non locking hammer of the earlier rifle. Both patterns were soon replaced in service by the MkII** with its cupped hammer face to lock the breach closed on firing. Few MkII*’s were made and most of those upgraded in service by unit armourers and it is very rare to find an unaltered gun like this today. In fine condition with very good bore, nice well marked stock and much blue finish to metal. A very nice example of one of the rarest patterns of rifle ever on general issue to the British army.

A rare British military issue .577” Snider MkII** Artillery carbine by Enfield. Lock with Crowned VR to the tail is marked with crowned broad arrow ordnance ownership mark and 1869 ENFIELD. Stock with regulation brass furniture has Enfield roundel to the right side and opposed R’s sold from service mark to the hand. Five groove Enfield rifled barrel with ladder rear sight to 800 yards has bayonet bar to the front and is struck with ordnance military proof marks. Ordnance marked II** Snider breach shoe with correct cupped face hammer. Converted by the fitting of the Snider patent breach to muzzle loading pattern 1861 artillery carbines this model retains its full length wood work and its steel clearing rod unlike the cavalry models that were cut down to half stock on conversion and had the rods removed. Today the Artillery models are among the rarest of the Snider models encountered. In good condition with nice stock and much finish to the metal work.

£925

.43” Mauser Mod 71/84 bolt action service rifle manufactured at the imperial AMBERG arsenal. Action marked 71/84 and dated 1887, Walnut stock with iron furniture. Barrel with ladder rear sight to 1600 meters has imperial German proof marks and is stamped to the knox form AMBERG under a crown. The first repeating rifle to be adopted by a major power the 71/84 continued in service until replaced by the small bore G88 with the adoption of smokeless powder with many seeing service in the first world war in the hands of rear echelon troops and a few even being issued to home guards during the last desperate days of WW2. In good condition with nice stock and barrel with blue tuning to grey brown, very good bore and good mechanical order. A nice regulation Mauser of the Kaisers army.

.75” Smooth bore musket bore fusil by JOHN WIGGAN with  Ducal coronet to the stock. The lock of the pattern used by the East India Co. on their A and B pattern muskets and fusils has a bun nut retained hammer is engraved JOHN WIGGAN and 23. Walnut stock with EIC pattern brass furniture including the scroll trigger guard of the fusil is stamped to the right side with 23 and to the left with a large Crown of Ducal form over F. Nose cap with EIC pattern bayonet spring catch. London proofed barrel with standing rear sight is engraved 23 on the tang. Made by Wiggan to the exact specification of the EIC large bore fusil which he made for the company several of these guns with the large crown on the stock are know to exist, we have over the years seen numbers 3, 7 and 17 with this gun being the highest serial number we have observed and all the guns have been in excellent condition. It is believed they were made for a Duke to arm his servants and ground keepers presumably to defend his estates in the event of invasion from the continent or more likely from poachers and thieves from the local area. In very good condition with good bore, lovely sharp and well marked stock and much original finish to the metal work A nice gun with an interesting history that would warrant further research.

£1150

.577” Ordnance issue Second model Pattern 53 Minnie rifle. Lock marked 1857 TOWER with ordnance broad arrow ownership mark and Crowned VR to the tail. Walnut stock with regulation brass furniture and three spring retained barrel bands is stamped to the right side with a broad arrow and WD over struck with opposed arrow sold from service marks next to 2N EW. Military inspection stamps behind the trigger guard tang and correct swollen throat pattern ram rod. Barrel rifled with three grooves on the Minnie principal is struck with Tower military proof marks next to Pimlico ordnance factory refurbishment marks and has ladder rear sight to 1000 yards. An improved model of the Minnie rifle the 2^nd model rifle was developed as a direct result of reports from troops using the first pattern guns in the Crimea and apart from the spring retained barrel bands featured an improved heavier hammer for reliable ignition of the caps and a heavier built stronger stock. In very good condition with nice well marked stock, good bore and metal with much original blue finish turning to brown. Ordnance issue P53’s are few and far between in good condition today.

£1250

£8500

£775

£1950

.38” Rim fire Colt pocket Navy conversion. .38” barrel with Colt’s progressive rifling has New York address to top flat and filled rammer channel. Rebated cylinder with traces of scene. Brass frame marked 36 cal with good wood grips. All parts except old replacement wedge with matching low serial number 967. In good working order, Metal to grey / brown patina, Replacement loading gate. An early Colt pocket converted to rim fire in the formative years of cartridge weapons percussion guns converted to rim fire are rarely seen on the market.