Original British P-1864 Snider type Breech Loading Two Band Short Rifle with Socket Bayonet Original Items

Original Item: Only One Available. This is a fine 25.5″ barreled Snider two-band short rifles intended for use by specialized troopers such as Pioneers. It is a purpose built shorter version of the standard 39″ barrel Snider Infantry Rifle these Short rifles are becoming uncommon especially one’s still retaining their rifling which, after the Sepoy Rebellion of 1858/59, was banned from Indian Service. Nepal stayed loyal to the British crown and was therefore exempt from the ban even though it is located directly northeast of India’s border.

This example has the original brass butt plate, trigger guard and nose cap and is fitted with two steel barrel bands. The small of the grip retains the original checkering and the rifle retains it’s original short adjustable back sight.

The rifle is unmarked other than one Nagari character located on the tang, as well as four Negari characters on the fitted socket bayonet indicating assembly in Nepal. Offered in nicely cleaned and complete condition circa 1868.

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 breechloaders 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 obsolete by the late 1880s.