Product Description
Antique BRITISH B.S.A. Company SNIDER-ENFIELD Mk III Breech Loading RIFLE
TOWER Marked Snider-Enfield Dated 1870
Here we present an antique Snider-Enfield Breech Loading Rifle in .577 Snider, made circa 1868 in Birmingham, England. American inventor Jacob Snider designed the conversion for rifle-muskets to be turned into breech-loading firearms. Britain had used the Enfield Pattern 1853 rifle-musket for a decade when breech-loaders came on the scene. Many of the major powers at the time faced a similar problem in that their arms suddenly became obsolete, and not wanting to throw over all their small arms at once, they converted them with this system. Despite being obsolescent in many ways, even at inception, this style of making single-shot muzzleloaders into single shot breech-loaders lasted for several decades. The British Empire adopted this technology in 1866. Other nations soon followed suit, including the United States of America, which used a very similar method called the Allen Conversion to achieve the same goal. This lasted a surprisingly long time, from 1866 to the 1890s, although when the Martini-Henry rifle came along in 1874, it began to supersede its predecessor.
The Snider went through three “Marks” and sub-variations. The Mark I and Mark II were conversions from existing rifle-muskets, while the Mark IIIs, which were made in far larger numbers, came about when existing stores of suitable 1853s and 1861s ran out.
The overall condition is good. Original finish on the barrel and breech block. The action is excellent. The bore is shiny bright with sharp rifling. The rear sight has been replaced. The front sight blade is absent from the block. The stock from the butt plate to the rear barrel band is part of the original. From the barrel band forward it has been replaced with new wood. Cleaning rod is a replacement.
Own the original! This is a legitimate antique and not a reproduction.
Barrel is 30-1/2 inches.
Caliber: .577 Snider
Overall condition as seen in photos.
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$1250
#240305