British EIC Colonel Bonner No. 6 Percussion Carbine of 1839

Original Item: Only one available. Well, this is really unusual, and frankly at first we didn't know what it was, however, after diligent research, we discovered its true identity. The final Flintlock carbines made for the East India Company were manufactured between 1820-1827. They were referred to as "Carbine, Small Musket Bore" and had 26" long barrels. These weapons were widely used by both Cavalry and Artillery units. The Bore was actually .733" (approximately a 12 bore) as opposed to the standard Musket Bore of the time; .76" (11 bore).

In 1839 Colonel Bonner proposed the No.6 Percussion Carbine, which kept the 26" barrel and the .733” smaller bore, but was fitted with a chambered breech plug. However, the Director of the Board of Ordnance, George Lovell, disapproved this model, and instead chose the pattern that eventually went into production. That pattern, known as the “Lovell Carbine”, had a shorter 21" barrel, swivel ramrod, used Bonner's Percussion system but not his chambered breech plug.

Initial production of the "Lovell Carbine" was 1,900 units in 1840 at a cost of two and a half pounds at the time (today about $4.00). Production of the rejected “ Colonel Bonner’s Carbine” is speculated to have been fewer than 100 pieces.

Here we have found just one of the proposed "Colonel Bonner’s Carbines” fitted with a 26" barrel, actually slightly shortened at some point during service to 24.5", complete with three ramrod pipes, the "S" shaped brass side plate, an East India Company Model "C" style trigger guard and butt plate. The lock, referred to as the "Old Series Side Lock" bears the E.I.C. Rampant Lion and the barrel shows faint British proof marks as well as Colonel Bonner’s chambered breech plug. Clearly used as an Artillery Carbine since there is no evidence that a saddle ring assembly has ever been installed.

Offered totally un-cleaned or in “untouched” condition, other than to reveal the markings, this is an extremely rare example of Colonel Bonner's Trial Production Carbine which was never adopted; making this an exceptionally scarce model. Please see David Harding's wonderful work "Small Arms of the East India Company, Volume 2" pages 228 and 229 for even more information.