Product Details
A .55 BRITISH CONTRACT GREENE'S PATENT CAPPING BREECH LOADING CARBINE, MARKED TO THE ROYAL DEVON MOUNTED RIFLES, serial no. 5,
circa 1856, with heavy 18in. barrel rifled with three grooves and sixteen sided hand grasp section, block and blade front-sight and small carbine pattern ladder-sight to 600 yards, the barrel bears the crown over 'A/2' stamp for the War Department American inspectorate, back-action lock incorporating Maynard tape primer, marked with the Crown V.R. cypher to the centre and signed by the maker 'MASS. ARMS CO. / CHICOPEE FALLS / USA 1856' on the tail, the primer cover marked 'MAYNARD'S PATENT', iron mounted one piece walnut stock with butt-plate and patchbox, the butt stamped 'RDMR / G /172' for Royal Devon Mounted rifles G Company gun no. 17, together with a 1st class storekeepers stamp, case colours to lock and fading blue to barrel
Provenance: This carbine has the very low serial number of 5 one of the first off the production line, it is also marked to the Royal North Devon Mounted Rifles a Yeomanry regiment, it was always believed that these carbines were never issued and remained in store until disposed of as surplus to Greener's, new research has revealed that a large quantity were issued between 1866 and 1870. For further information see The Capping Breech Loader in British & Colonial Service by Brian C. Knapp
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Estimate £1,500-2,000