A Fine and Rare Rifled Percussion Carbine
A fine and rare 0.577″ 1856 Pattern percussion rifled cavalry carbine, 37″ overall. 21″ blued barrel, rifled with three broad, angular grooves, with blade foresight and block and two hinged leaves backsight, the block backsight stamped “1†(for 100 yards), and with a crowned “B52†on the right side, and the two hinged leaves stamped, respectively, “200†and “300â€, for 200 yards and 300 yards, plain tang, stamped with a broad arrow, and with Tower military view and proof marks, and a crowned “B70†barrel viewer’s mark, stamped at the breech on the left. Rounded, double border line engraved hammer with chequered spur and engraving, flat, double border line engraved lock marked, on the tail, “VR†crowned, and, in front of the cock, “1859 Towerâ€, and with a crowned broad arrow stamped vertically. Figured walnut full stock, carved around the rear of the lockplate and sideplate, and stamped with a roundel “Birmingham 1859â€, with, in the centre, a crowned broad arrow and “WO†(presumably for “War Officeâ€, and the transitional stamp between “BO†and “WDâ€), upside down on the right side of the butt, with “B33†(twice), “B12†and “P7†behind the trigger guard tang, and with “W.Scottâ€, the maker’s name, along the bottom of the butt, between the trigger guard and the butt plate. Regulation brass mounts, comprising butt plate, trigger guard and forend cap, original sling bar and ring, the sling bar stamped “B12†and “T&CG†(for T&C Gilbert, the Birmingham firm of Thomas and Charles Gilbert which produced a wide range of gun parts), and two screw barrel bands, each stamped “B67†and “J.Gâ€, the front one also stamped “Lâ€, and each with its original “doughnutâ€. Swivel ramrod, stamped “J.G(?)†near the tip, “IIIIâ€, a crowned “2â€, and “B56†near the point of the rod, the ramrod channel marked “VII†and “IIIIâ€, and the centre of the point of the rod drilled and tapped to receive attachments. Very good working order and condition, the barrel retaining virtually all of its original blue finish.
