London Armoury Company three band Snider with early design Snider Shoe conversion and chequered stock.
£1850
.577” London Armoury Company three band Snider volunteer service rifle with early design Snider Shoe conversion and chequered stock. Pattern 1853 swivel link lock with Crowned VR to the tail is signed 1863 LACo. to the front fitted with correct early pattern flat faced hammer. Walnut stock with regulation pattern brass furniture and snag free Baddeley barrel bands is chequered to the forend and wrist in typical border cut LAC / Kerr pattern. Original slotted jag head clearing rod to the underside of the barrel. Three groove Minnie rifled barrel is struck to the rear left with Victorian Birmingham commercial proof marks from the date of conversion to a Snider breech loader and is fitted with a blade foresight and ladder rear graduated to 950 yards. Early pattern Snider shoe struck with Birmingham proof with parallel extractor and swept up thumb catch is signed to the top of the block SINDERS PATENT next to No 40 with Sniders S Arrow trade mark stamp to the front. Manufactured as a 4th model LAC volunteer Pattern 1853 muzzle loader with Baddeley bands and the later model 13” stock by then adopted by the army and subsequently converted for its owner by the Birmingham trade to a Snider breech loader early on, using a pre ordnance adoption pattern of shoe used by Snider in the early stages of his work. The engraved serial number 40 indicating this was one of the first rifles to be converted, presumably by a keen volunteer soldier or target shooter wanting to have the very latest design of weapon. In good condition with nice sharp well chequered stock, very good bore and mechanics with much blue / brown finish to the metal work. A very nice example of an early pattern Snider rifle built on an LAC Patt 1853 for an obviously well to do Victorian Gentleman Volunteer or target shooter.
