Jacob’s double barrelled military rifle by Swinburn dated 1860, shortened to cavalry carbine length in service.
£5250 SALE £2500 SOLD
An interesting and probably unique .526” Jacob’s double barrelled military rifle by Swinburn dated 1860, shortened to cavalry carbine length in service. Back action locks engraved to the rear of the hammers SWINBURN & SON 1860, the left hand lock fitted with a saddle ring to allow carry by a mounted trooper from a cross belt. Walnut stock with regulation pattern Jacob’s steel furniture including the distinctive patch box engraved JACOB’S RIFLES, single barrel band and spurred trigger guard. The double barrels with break off breech are rifled with four deep grooves of Jacobs patent and have been armoury shortened to 19”, both struck with Birmingham proof marks to the underside with a ladder rear sight calibrated to a full 2100 yards. Windage driftable Jacob’s pattern foresight and single rammer pipe to the underside. Unique pattern Jacob’s ram rod with broad head and cupped face to allow the safe loading of the explosive projectiles which could be fired from these rifles, reduced in length at the front to suit the shorter barrel length of the weapon. Developed by General John Jacobs, a keen rifle shot and inventor of the Victorian age, to arm his own regiment of riflemen serving under him in India the Jacobs double rifle could fire both solid lead rounds for use against enemy soldiers and fulminate filled exploding rounds to detonate powder magazines in enemy batteries out to extreme ranges. The rifles used Jacob’s patent deep four groove rifling with mechanically fitting bullets with studs or ‘wings’ to engage the rifling ensuring they spun correctly in flight. Although reported to work very well the death of Jacob’s while serving in India meant that the concept was never further developed and no other regiments were ever armed with the weapon. This example has been professionally shortened, probably during its service life, to make a handy and practical cavalry arm for a mounted man, sacrificing the bayonet bar of the barrels but adding a saddle ring to suit the carry of the weapon on horseback. In very good condition and mechanical order, nice sharp stock and good bores retaining much original finish to the barrels. A nice example of one of the most interesting and rarest of the British military rifles and the only double rifle to have been issued on a regimental scale to the British army in an interesting and probably unique configuration.
