Product Details
TOWER ARMOURIES, LONDON
A .704 (BELTED BALL) PERCUSSION SERVICE RIFLE, MODEL 'MKI BRUNSWICK', serial no. 482,
dated for 1839, with round iron 30 1/4in. barrel, shallow blade fore-sight, standing notch rear-sight with additional folding leaf, plain top-tang, borderline engraved back-action lock signed 'TOWER' with a crown over 'V.R.' and the date, dark walnut full-stock with brass furniture including large patch-box, heel-plate marked to the '60th' with the serial number, trigger-guard bow, spurred lower tang, two ramrod pipes and nose-cap and complete with iron stirrup swivels and under-barrel ramrod
Other Notes: In 1830, the 60th was given the title 'the King's Royal Rifle Corps' (KRRC). They were issued these First Patterns in 1840. All rifle regiments, including the 60th, held them until 1853, when they were replaced by Pattern 1851 Minie Rifle. During this period, the 1st Battalion served in England 1840-43; Ireland 1843-45; India 1845-60. It is often miss-stated that these Brunswicks will have seen action in the Indian Mutiny but this is incorrect, as they had been replaced by the Minie by that time. They will, however, have seen service during the Sikh War of 1848-9. Significant actions for the 1st 60th were:
Mooltan.
In April 1848, two British emissaries sent to the province of Mooltan were murdered and the whole of the Western Punjab broke into revolt. Once sufficient British troops had been assembled to restore order, Mooltan was advance upon and finally invested on 27th December 1848, being captured by assault on 21st January 1849, with the 1st Battalion 60th covering the advance and losing 11 killed and 31 wounded during the siege.
Gujarat.
After Mooltan, the 1st 60th joined Lord Gough's army. On 21st February 1849, a force of 60,000 Sikhs and Afghans were heavily defeated by this force, with 53 guns being captured. The retreating Sikh army was chased to Rawal Pindi, where 16,000 surrendered together with another 41 guns. The Afghans were pursued as far as the Khyber Pass, which was reached on 18th March. From 3rd February to this date, the 1st Battalion had marched a total of 496 miles.
Please click HERE to view Terms & Conditions.
Estimate £1,200-1,600