Product Details
MASSACHUSETTS ARMS CO., USA.
A GOOD .54 CAPPING BREECH-LOADING 'BRITISH CONTRACT GREENE'S PATENT' CARBINE, serial no 1013,
dated for 1856 with heavy 18in barrel rifled with three grooves having a sixteen sided hand grasp central section, block and blade front-sight and small carbine ladder sight to 600 yards, the barrel bears the crowned "A /2" inspection stamp for the War Department's American inspectorate and the opposed arrow "S" sold out of service mark, the carbine is fitted with a back-action lock with Maynard tape primer marked with the Crown V.R. cypher to the centre and "MASS. ARMS CO. CHICOPEE FALLS USA 1856", on the tail, the primer mechanism cover marked "MAYNARD'S PATENT", iron mounted one piece walnut stock with butt plate and patchbox, the butt stamped with the 1st class numeral and "R.D.M.R. 14. F".
Provenance: This interesting carbine is one of 2000 purchased in America after extensive trials by the British War Department. Legend has it that due to problems with the ammunition they were never issued. New research by Brian C. Knapp has revealed that a quantity were issued in 1865 to some select yeomanry regiments this example is marked to the North Devon Mounted Rifles F troop carbine Number 14. These Greene carbines remained with the regiment until 1870, then being obsolete they were returned to W.D. store at Weedon where they remained until 1919, then sold as scrap to Greener's
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Estimate £1,800-2,200