Original British Military P-1864 Snider Mk.III Saddle Ring Cavalry Carbine Marked ENFIELD 1870 Original Items

Original Item: Only One Available. This is very nice and now very hard to find. An ORIGINAL Snider Saddle ring Carbine totally British made at the Royal Small Arms Factory at ENFIELD. The lock marked 1870 / ENFIELD together with a CROWN over V.R..  The Walnut stock still shows a faded Arsenal Cartouche of a CROWN over Broad Arrow / WD surrounded by R.  M. and ENFIELD across the bottom. There is also the opposed broad arrows above the cartouche, indicating it was sold out of military service.

The barrel is just 19″ in original length and bears the very short Carbine back sight. The breech block is Ordnance marked with a III above the chamber, indicating the MkIII version of the Snider Breech. The Swivel Saddle Ring is mounted directly behind the brass trigger guard on the underside. This was common for use on CANADIAN weapons and perhaps indicates where this carbine was issued.

There are markings and proofs everywhere, on screws and bands etc, the carbine even retains it’s ORIGINAL TWO PIECE CLEANING ROD in the butt trap. The rod is even marked with a W.D. for War Department. The small backsight still retaining a leather sight cover, anchored on each side by a screw head as issued. The leather may well have been replaced.

There are Unit Markings of: R.C. / C. / 16 on the butt tang, probably for “Royal Canadian”.

Condition of the Carbine is very nice, especially considering the age and long service. The wood has a great patina, and shows the expected wear of age. The bore however is very nice, with clear lands and grooves, and a bright finish with just a bit of oxidation in places. The action is tight, and breech locking and extraction is excellent.

An important Victorian Saddle Ring Carbine dated 1870 in fine condition.

History of the Snider rifle– Jacob Snider, an American from New York, developed this breech loading system for the P-1853 Enfield, the most prolific imported Percussion rifle in use by both the North and South during the U.S. Civil War. When the British Board of Ordnance appointed a Select Committee in 1864 the Snider system was swiftly adopted with the first breech loaders being issued in 1865 to British forces.

Improved in 1867 by the use of Colonel Boxer’s center fire brass bodied cartridge, the rifle was used very effectively in the Abyssinian Campaign of 1868. The system utilized a hinged breech block with an internal firing pin assembly that permitted the use of a self contained cartridge of lead bullet in cardboard, and, after 1867, brass casing. This highly efficient conversion system prolonged the active life of the P-1853 rifles up until 1871 when the Martini System was adopted. Snider rifles saw continued use throughout the Empire but were officially obsoleted by the late 1880s.

Specifications: 

Year of Manufacture: 1870
Caliber: .58 inches
Ammunition Type: .577 Centerfire Cartridge
Barrel Length: 19 inches 
Overall Length: 37 inches
Action: Side Action Lock
Feed System: Side Hinge Rotating Breech block

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