A very scarce Ordnance issue .577” Mk1* two band Snider short rifle.
£2750
A very scarce Ordnance issue .577” Mk1* two band Snider short rifle, one of just 200 made and issued for trials in Canada and Ireland. Double freed swivel link lock with Crowned VR to the tail is engraved 1861 over ENFIELD next to a crowned broad arrow Ordnance ownership mark with correct Mk1 flat faced hammer. Walnut stock with regulation pattern iron furniture is struck to the right side of the butt with a feint Enfield factory roundel. Five groove rifled barrel with ladder rear sight graduated to 1000 yards is struck with Ordnance proof marks and fitted with a WD marked Mk1* Snider breech shoe, with correct parallel sided Mk1* extractor, struck to the front ring 1* with Broad Arrow WD mark to the block. Designed for issue to the men of the rifle regiments and sergeants of the line infantry regiments, the two band Snider’s were converted from Pattern 1860 & 1861 muzzle loading Enfield rifles. Although not officially issued in the Mk1 pattern about 200 short rifles were converted alongside the first of the three band rifles in Sept ‘66 and issued with those three band infantry rifles to troops in Canada and Ireland for user trials. Proving a successful arm the two band Snider was approved for issue but by the time the first issue conversions were done for the rifle regiments the II** rifle with the altered extractor and cup faced hammer had been adopted and all other issue two band rifles are of the latter pattern, making the 1* one of the rarest of all British Military small arms. In very good condition with good bore and mechanics, a nice sharp well marked stock and fading blue finish to the metal work. A very rare and desirable Ordnance issue snider and one of the scarcest of the British military issue rifles.
