Quote Originally Posted by Patrick Chadwick View Post
You omitted to provide the most basic dimension - what is the overall internal length? I can't read the marks on the tape measure. Seems to be around 43". That measurement would probably eliminate a lot of possibilities for an 1843 vintage. I am not at all sure that it is for a rifle. Take just about any percussion rifle and measure the drop from the top of the hammer to the toe of the butt - 6" is hardly enough. And the photo of the open end appears to show 2 opposing slots, which are hard to reconcile with the typical cross-section of a percussion rifle.
Sorry for the omission there is always one missing, the internal dimension is 41.5 inches, 105cm. The two "slots" that you can see are strips of leather that run the full length of the case, the lines of rivets on the outside is what holds them in place. I agree that it seems rather short for a rifle case but the "bayonet" stowage, if thats what it is made me question its use.
I was told that the Russianicon Cyrillic used in the words "From Englandicon" was discontinued before WW1 hence the thought that the case was 1843.