Product Details
* AN EXCEPTIONALLY RARE .700 BRITISH DR. JONES / JENKS CAPPING BREECH LOADING TRIALS CARBINE, CIRCA 1841, no visible serial number,
with 26in. twist barrel, blade front-sight and fixed block vee rear-sight, borderline engraved back-action lock plain and unmarked, regulation brass mounted full walnut stock, including scroll trigger-guard, fitted with a side-rib and ring, this rare arm is modeled on the first pattern Victoria carbine adapted to breech loading by the American Jenks system, featuring a rear hinged lever that when pulled up and backwards draws back a plunger and exposes a loading aperture for loading with loose powder and ball. The carbine is in excellent almost unused condition, with fine sharp untouched stock, small crack at wrist, and much original finish to barrel
Provenance: In 1840 an American by the name of Dr Alexander Jones arrived in London as a consultant to the East India Company. Whilst in London he attempted to interest the Board of Ordnance in the Jenks breech system which he claimed was his own. Dr Jones was asked to supply six carbines for trials, these he had made by Lesoinne & Pirlot of Liege and this is one. The trials were not a success and Dr Jones vanished into obscurity, which was just as well as in 1843 William Jenks himself arrived in London and discovered much to his surprise his system had been supplied by the imposter Dr Jones, tested and failed
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Estimate £800-1,200