Quiz

[Terrylee]

How well do you know your British Milsurps? Can you identify this rifle precisely? It became obsolete about 145 years ago.

Information

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[Badger]

Well, I've been though some books and I'm stumped ...

Looks like a double barreled percussion shotgun, but from the side angle I can't tell if there's two barrels or not....

The butt marking is military... Rand Light Infantry?

Regards,
Badger

[Claven2]

Definitely a doubl-barrel gun Badger, note the double-set trigger and dual hammers.

I wonder if it's a sniping double?

Interesting story - "Sniper" has its roots in Imperial India, where soldiers would shoot at passing "snipe" birds. Those that were good shots became known as "snipers"

[green]

Double barrel .733" rifled carbine of 1854 for the Cape Corp.

[Terrylee]

Well done Green! That is how they ended up. It is actually the Pat. 1851 Lancers Carbine. Originally issued to the 12th Lancers in early 1852 and then to the Cape Mounted Rifles when the Lancers left South Africa for India. However, this particular rifle never reached the Cape Mounted Rifles. It has no CMR markings and was purchased from a tribesman in Basutuland about 35 years ago. It was quite likely captured from the Lancers at the Battle of Berea when they suffered serious casualties at the hands of Moshesh's warriors on the 20th December, 1852.

[Badger]

Awesome Green !!!!!

What's he win Terry ....

Regards,
Badger

[Terrylee]

He certainly wins my respect! Perhaps if you live closer to him than I do you could take him for a beer? However, Claven2's comment about the use of double sniping rifles in India raises another interesting point. He probably had the Jacob Rifle in mind.

This rifle was designed in the middle 1850s by general John Jacob in India for use by his regiment, the Scinde Irregular Horse. In certain respects it was ahead of its time, was sighted to 2000 yards and could fire explosive bullets to snipe at ammunition limbers at long range. It was also designed to carry a bayonet(!) How do you like the sighting picture? Imagine the trajectory at 2000 yards!

Sadly General Jacob died before the rifles were sent off from England and so far as is known none were actually issued in India. They ended up by being sold as milsurps and that is the history of the rifle shown.