What comes between an 1853 Enfield and a Martini-Henry?

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Well, I really had not intended to buy a Snider - they do not seem to have a good reputation as shooters, are difficult to load for, and what I had seen (not that I was looking, mind you!) seemed to be predominantly of Khyber Pass provenance. And I could not get a single extra rifle into the gun cabinet! (The sardine packing option had already been applied).

But sometimes luck sneaks up and sandbags you. And a modern* target rifle had to go, to make space.

Thinking of an old pop song:
“I thought Sniders only lived in moo-zay-ums,
Fine for someone else, but not for me...
...
... Then I saw that wood, now I'm a believer..."

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Quite simply, the most beautiful shaft I have ever seen on a military rifle, bar none. The photos are all of the rifle as I picked it up this afternoon.

I have not yet managed to get a good full-length photo, but here are some more views to give you the flavor.
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Sorry about my photography, but the bore is flawless.
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The overall condition is so good, that it is hard to believe, unless it was some officer's pride and joy. The wood is NOT lacquered or sprayed - that is 150 years of careful ownership you are looking at.

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If you look at this photo really closely, you can see not only the WD markings, but the photographer reflected on the surface!

Patrick
:wave:


*i.e. less than 50 years old

Doug, help please!

I am still getting this effect of the bottom half of the photos being grayed out!

Is it just my computer?

Patrick

Nice one Patrick! I like the Tiger striped wood too!

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Originally Posted by gunner

I like the Tiger striped wood too!

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That is what really caught my attention. Although I have seen tiger-striped maple a couple of times, but only on private rifles, I have never before seen tiger-striped walnut on anything.

Unfortunately, although there is a maker's roundel mark on the butt, it is just about impossible to make out. You can guess that my first-priority shooting project now is to make up some cartridges!

Patrick
:wave:

Patrick, that is simply stunning! Great find! Now get to making some ammunition and give us a range report! Oh, and just so you know, I am getting the greyed out effect on the pictures as well, but only some of them. It's like they are not loading completely.

Looks like you did well, Patrick. Congratulations.

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Originally Posted by Patrick Chadwick

That is what really caught my attention. Although I have seen tiger-striped maple a couple of times, but only on private rifles, I have never before seen tiger-striped walnut on anything.

Unfortunately, although there is a maker's roundel mark on the butt, it is just about impossible to make out. You can guess that my first-prioriyt shooting project now is to make up some cartridges!

Patrick
:wave:

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Patrick,

i wish you good luck to find a good load for that nice thing!

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Originally Posted by Bear43

I am getting the greyed out effect on the pictures as well, but only some of them. It's like they are not loading completely.

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This is wierd. The greying-out effect has disappeared. Doug, did you tweak something in the software? If so, thanks. If not, I am baffled!

Patrick
:wave:

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Originally Posted by Patrick Chadwick

You can guess that my first-prioriyt shooting project now is to make up some cartridges!

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It's a big'un! At least there's a fair selection of bullets available.

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...stuff061-1.jpg
.303" SAA, .577" Snider (not likey a milsurp round), and "11,?? Obsobottleneckpaperpatchthing" .

You may be an inspiration to do some loading yet! Can't seem to make any progress on that front, lately.

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Originally Posted by jmoore

"11,?? Obsobottleneckpaperpatchthing" .

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Looks like it could be a .43 Spanish Remington.

Patrick
:wave:

Veeery nice Patrick. Pardon my ignorance but an 1861 Enfield is a Snider?

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Originally Posted by DaveN

Pardon my ignorance but an 1861 Enfield is a Snider?

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Who said it was an 1861 Enfield? One must be careful - the lock is marked 1861, but that is the lock date, not the date of the rifle as a whole. It was like this...

...Towards the end of the American Civil War, the Henry and Sharps rifles had shown that the future belonged with cartridge-fed rifles. The Snider, Allin conversion, etc. were all "quick fixes" introduced to extend the service life of the huge stocks of muzzle-loaders. So from 1866 on the Sniders were produced by converting the 1853 and other muzzle-loader Enfields.

Bill Curtis, on the British Militaria forum, has revealed to me that this rifle has not only an 1861 lock, but a Pattern 1853 stock. I.e. it is definitely a conversion of an 1861-vintage P53.

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In fact, it may have been converted twice - first to Snider I and then, in 1870, to Snider III. No-one can now possibly say why, but from the general excellent condition I suspect that someone wanted to keep that beautiful stock on his rifle. Just look at the inside, and compare with the typical Eastern block relic!



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A lock that looks like it just came out of the factory.

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A barrel channel that is almost polished* - you can see the tiger stripes in the channel!


Patrick
:wave:

*it has not been smoothed down at a later time, but was made so well at the outset - the acceptance mark is clearly legible in the channel, but my camera cannot pick it out.
https://www.milsurps.com/images/tact...isc/pencil.png

Thanks again Patrick.

I found myself at the book store with my nose embedded in of all things a book on firearms, like go figure right. Any ways I found out what a Snider was, that cartridge thing you talked about.

It (the book) was a brief description, and your answer was more the history that I was looking for.

thanks again ~dave

Quote:

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Originally Posted by jmoore

It's a big'un! At least there's a fair selection of bullets available.

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...stuff061-1.jpg
.303" SAA, .577" Snider (not likey a milsurp round), and "11,?? Obsobottleneckpaperpatchthing" .

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"Obsobottleneckpaperpatchthing"

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Patrick Chadwick

Looks like it could be a .43 Spanish Remington.

Patrick
:wave:

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11mm Mauser, actually. The distinctive scalloped rim edge is hidden in shadow. I DID have to measure it to be sure- again! :madsmile:

Also, the short fat fellow might not be a Snider round, after all. Too short AND a little too fat in the bullet (0.590"+).

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...tuff0551-1.jpg

Some of the bullets available :
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...uff05011-1.jpg

Very nice! Congratulations!