"BRITISH INDIA" ISSUED CAVALRY CARBINE

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$1,250.00 ON HOLD

Quantity Available: 1

Item Code: 2026-860

This probably started life as a regulation British Pattern 1856 cavalry carbine. It was much later modified for use by Native troopers; not to be mistaken for "European" or "White" troopers. The "European" regiments in India would have carried from 1853 to 1866 the regulation Pattern 1856 cavalry carbine with its rifled barrel and full set of British Ordnance proofs.

This carbine was "commercially" (under the eye of the British War Department) re-worked weapon for issue to Native Indian cavalry. This is made manifest by the fact the barrel has been scrubbed of British military proofs and now it has Birmingham Commercial proofs and "17" for 17 bore or 17 balls to the pound. It is essentially a shotgun. The carbine is approximately 37 inches long. The round 21-inch smooth bore .65 caliber barrel has a clean bore. Differing from the two-leaf rear sight of the British Pattern 1856 carbine, this carbine has a fixed notch rear open sight. The barrel is cleaned to a bright finish. It is stamped "147" on the top of the breech. The lock is marked "1859" over "TOWER" in front of the hammer above this is a small crown over broad arrow which shows this weapon was once in general British issue. A crown over "VR" is at the tail of the lock. There are 2 original clamping barrel bands. All the metal has a smooth gun metal bright finish. The brass nose cap, trigger guard (stamped "5-55"), and butt plate are good with even wear and patina. The stock is very good with no chips or cracks and moderate field wear; it does have an old coat of varnish over-all that is partially removed in spots. One of these spots where varnish was removed reveals two rondels on the right butt that read: "BIRMINGHAM" followed by "1887" and in the smaller inner circle "WD" (War Department) and "Broad arrow". The cartouche next to it reads: "BOMBAY ARSENAL"; stamped above this in small numbers is the date of issue "10" (October) over "1887". The original sling ring and bar are present. The action functions well. There is a "captive ramrod" with its large button head is in place; the arm on the left side has broken off and there is a modern nut keeping the unit in place and functioning.

After the bloody Sepoy Mutiny of 1857, the British only cautiously and very slowly issued "state of the art" weapons again to their native units. This smooth bored carbine was re-arsenaled and issued in 1887 as a shotgun. A very historic weapon. [pe]  [pe][ph:L]

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