Product Details
CALISHER & TERRY, BIRMINGHAM
AN EXCEPTIONALLY RARE .577 (SNIDER) BREECH-LOADING CARBINE, MODEL 'MATTHEW'S PATENT', serial no. '0',
built to Patent 2875 of 1866 and almost certainly a trials piece, with blued 18 1/2in. barrel, block and blade fore-sight, elevating small ladder rear-sight of Snider carbine form, flat spoon-handled bolt operating the flip-over combined chamber-breech and the manual ejector, the top of breech marked 'MATTHEW'S PATENT', plain military form lock signed on the bar 'CALISHER & TERRY, MAKERS, BIRMINGHAM', Snider style hammer also locking the breech, chequered walnut full-stock, brass furniture and two iron barrel-bands, swivels and square-headed clearing rod, much original finish remaining
Provenance: the Abridgement of Gun Patents 1855-1886 says of Patent 2875 of 1866: "A chamber block carried on a lateral and longitudinal hinge-pin is operated by a lever, which is pivoted to and actuates the longitudinally sliding extractor rod. The extractor rod is fitted with a collar for limiting the backward motion and is also provided with a spring for returning it to its normal position. The hammer which is shaped to strike vertically a piece connecting it to the cylinder carrying an adjustable firing pin. A steel or gunmetal gas check is fitted at the front end of the chamber. The breechblock is held closed by a spring latch."
This may possibly be the only example of this patent in existence
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Estimate £900-1,200
Sold as an exempt item under Section 58 (2) of the 1968 Firearms Act, to be held as a curiosity or ornament