Shane Tuttle
Staff
While in Afghanistan, I ran across some doozies for rifles. This is an old one I don't know anything about. Can anyone extoll some information on what little is provided in the pic?
Name That Rifle
- Thread starter Shane Tuttle
- Start date
Articles about "old" Afgan guns might be of interest to you... Click:
http://www.armscollectors.com/darra/darra.htm
http://www.armscollectors.com/darra/afghanold.htm
http://www.armscollectors.com/darra/darra.htm
http://www.armscollectors.com/darra/afghanold.htm
GeorgeStrickland
New member
Rifle
Appers to be a muzzleloading rifled musket of English provenance or a copy of such. VR is for Victoria Regina , ueen Victoria. The hammer may be a replacement, it's geometry looks a little off to my eye. Would have fired a Minnie' ball with about 60 grains by volume of ff black powder.
Appers to be a muzzleloading rifled musket of English provenance or a copy of such. VR is for Victoria Regina , ueen Victoria. The hammer may be a replacement, it's geometry looks a little off to my eye. Would have fired a Minnie' ball with about 60 grains by volume of ff black powder.
ASUdevil22
New member
Snider Enfield rifle?
warbirdlover
New member
I'd guess it's an 1871 Enfield... 
At least that's what's stamped on it....
At least that's what's stamped on it....
The 1871 Enfield rifle was used by the British Army for nearly thirty years and many found their way into the middle east when the British controlled India. There were quite a few made, first as percussion rifles and later as breech-locks. Also, most of the original percussion rifles were refit as breech-locks. I can't tell much more from your photo, but they came in two lengths, a three band long rifle and a two band carbine. Some of the Enfield rifles were actually made in the middle east. These were often called "pass rifles" by the soldiers. These rifles bore the identical markings of the ones built by armorers in England.
Mike Irwin
Staff
Shane
Take a look at the quality of the markings of that gun compared to the markings on the pepperbox that you posted.
Either that rifle is a very good copy, or it's the real deal, whereas the pepperbox is undoubtedly a gun that was made in country.
Take a look at the quality of the markings of that gun compared to the markings on the pepperbox that you posted.
Either that rifle is a very good copy, or it's the real deal, whereas the pepperbox is undoubtedly a gun that was made in country.
tahunua001
New member
one thing they tell us before we hit the sandbox is to not buy antiques because they are very good copycats. I dont know enough about enfields to be confident in buying it but it definitely looks legitimate...where's pawnstars when you need'em?
Shane Tuttle
Staff
CWKahrFan, those links answered a lot of my questions. I wondered how they "aquired" so many rifles claimed to be authentic. To the untrained eye, they seemed to be old/original. After reading up on those links, I think Mike is definitely right regarding the pepperbox in my other thread. It's a poorly made local firearm at best.
As for this rifle? I don't have any other pics. But from what I remember I can agree with GeorgeStrickland that the hammer was misaligned.
As for this rifle? I don't have any other pics. But from what I remember I can agree with GeorgeStrickland that the hammer was misaligned.
Cool, I know absolutly nothing about these rifles. Having said that, it would APPEAR that the stock and sideplate are original. (love that side plate.) However the hammer, screw, trigger and barrel would appear to be something from the 1950's or 1960's. Original 1871 it is not. But a unusual piece none the less.
What was the asking price??
Jim
Hammer looks like it came off a double barreled shotgun.
What was the asking price??
Jim
Hammer looks like it came off a double barreled shotgun.
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Ideal Tool
Moderator
Hello, Shane Tuttle. I believe that rifle is a Snider conversion variant of the P1853 .577 Enfield muzzle loading rifle.
The later Snider conversions were made up of new made parts, as original muzzleloading one were depleted. Conversion began in 1866.
In 1871, thr Snider was replaced as the main infantry weapon by the .577/.450 Martini-Henry rifle.
The British then regulated the Sniders to native troops.
From the looks of the bolster/nipple alignment with the hammer, and bolster to plate fit, someone re-converted it back to muzzleloader..perhaps when they could no longer obtain the Snider ammunition?
The later Snider conversions were made up of new made parts, as original muzzleloading one were depleted. Conversion began in 1866.
In 1871, thr Snider was replaced as the main infantry weapon by the .577/.450 Martini-Henry rifle.
The British then regulated the Sniders to native troops.
From the looks of the bolster/nipple alignment with the hammer, and bolster to plate fit, someone re-converted it back to muzzleloader..perhaps when they could no longer obtain the Snider ammunition?
ndking1126
New member
Shane, cool gun. I'm in Afghanistan and have 2 or 3 I'm going to get pictures of just as soon as I get a camera. There is definitely some cool stuff floating around out here!