Original Item: Only One Available. This is a very interesting British Enfield derived smoothbore cavalry carbine assembled in the configuration associated with the 1867 Bengal Native Cavalry pattern. Built around components of the P-1856 Enfield cavalry carbine family, it has been smoothbored to approximately .65 caliber and fitted with the simple rear sight characteristic of British arms produced for Indian native service after the Indian Rebellion of 1857. Particularly distinctive is the two part brass butt plate with checkered wood between the heel and toe sections, a recognized feature of the Bengal Native Cavalry carbine. This example combines an 1861 dated TOWER lock with a British military inspected barrel and Enfield marked stock, suggesting a long and complex service history involving replacement or reused components.

This is an antique black powder firearm manufactured before 1899. Under federal law, it may generally be owned within the United States without a special license or permit and does not require transfer through a Federal Firearms Licensee. However, state and local laws may vary. This firearm is sold solely as a historical collector’s item and has not been test fired or inspected for firing safety by a professional gunsmith. Any mechanical or bore observations provided below describe only its present condition and should not be interpreted as confirmation that the firearm is safe to load or fire. The purchaser is solely responsible for complying with all applicable federal, state, and local laws.

Following the Indian Rebellion of 1857, British authorities developed a series of Enfield derived smoothbore arms specifically for Indian native troops and police. These weapons were deliberately based on familiar British military patterns while using smoothbore barrels rather than the more accurate rifled arms then being issued to British soldiers. Among these was the Bengal Native Cavalry Carbine, officially approved in 1867 and externally based closely on the P-1856 cavalry carbine.

The Bengal Native Cavalry pattern was a purpose built smoothbore arm of approximately .656 caliber. It retained the compact proportions of the British cavalry carbine but substituted a simple rear sight for the more elaborate rifle sighting equipment. One of its most immediately recognizable features is the unusual two piece butt plate, consisting of separate brass heel and toe plates with the exposed wood between them deeply checkered.

This example closely follows that pattern. The barrel has been smoothbored and now measures approximately:

0.65"

at the muzzle. The original rifle type rear sight is no longer present and has been replaced with a simple fixed notch sight, consistent with the sighting arrangement used on smoothbore Indian service carbines.

The lock plate is marked beneath the percussion bolster:

1861
TOWER

At the rear of the hammer is a:

QUEEN'S CROWN

There is no visible V.R. marking beneath the crown. This differs from the standard markings normally expected on a regular British military issue lock of the period and suggests that the lock may have originated as a commercial or contract component or may have been substituted during the carbine's later service. We cannot determine when this lock was installed.

The stock, however, carries a much more definitive British military marking. The right side of the butt is stamped with an Enfield roundel reading:

R (CROWN) M
1
(Broad Arrow)
ENFIELD
1

This identifies the stock as an Enfield inspected military component and includes the classification marking associated with a first class arm.

The left side of the barrel breech likewise carries British military proof and inspection marks, including:

CROWN / VR
CROSSED SCEPTERS / P
CROWN / E / 2
CROWN / E / 2

These markings support British military origin for the barrel and stock. Taken together with the differently marked 1861 Tower lock, the carbine appears to incorporate components with more than one production history, entirely plausible for an arm that underwent rebuilding or refurbishment during a long period of service in Britain or India.

The top of the barrel is additionally stamped:

683

We have not identified the meaning of this number. It may represent a rack, inventory, or later service number, but no specific attribution can be made from the marking alone.

The distinctive two part butt plate remains present, with brass fittings at the heel and toe and deeply checkered walnut exposed between them. This feature is strongly associated with the 1867 Bengal Native Cavalry carbine and is one of the most interesting aspects of this example.

The metalwork remains in very good service used condition and has developed a handsome aged patina. There is evidence of old peppered oxidation that has since been cleaned away, but the surfaces retain considerable age and character without signs of aggressive modern restoration.

The percussion lock remains mechanically functional in its present condition. It holds correctly at half cock and releases from full cock. These observations describe only its current mechanical operation and should not be interpreted as confirmation that the carbine is safe to fire. The percussion nipple is in very good condition and has benefited from the protection of the original style nipple protector, which remains attached by its chain.

The carbine retains the fitting beneath the barrel for the captured ramrod system. The ramrod presently installed is a fabricated replacement rather than the original component, although it appears to have considerable age itself.

The walnut stock is especially attractive and displays a rich, naturally aged surface with no indication of major modern refinishing. Numerous areas of the wood show pronounced flame figuring and considerable chatoyancy, giving the stock exceptional visual depth as it moves in the light.

There is, however, an important old repair through the wrist. A split runs directly through this area and has been repaired. The damage may also have affected the trigger guard, as a corresponding repair is visible at the rear or tail of the guard. These repairs are fully disclosed and form part of the carbine's long service history.

With its Enfield military marked stock, British inspected barrel, approximately .65 caliber smoothbore, simple rear sight, highly distinctive two part Bengal Native Cavalry style butt plate, surviving nipple protector and chain, attractive figured walnut, and intriguing 1861 dated Tower lock, this is a particularly interesting example of the specialized arms developed for British Indian service after 1857. Its mixed markings suggest a long history of rebuilding and continued use rather than a completely untouched factory assemblage, which adds considerable research interest. It would be especially well suited to an advanced British military arms collection, an Anglo-Indian firearms display, or a collection illustrating the post Mutiny development of Enfield pattern arms for native cavalry service.

Specifications:

Year of Manufacture: circa 1867
Maker: Tower Armory
Caliber: .65 inches
Ammunition Type: Lead Ball & Powder with Percussion Cap
Barrel Length: 21 inches 
Overall Length: 26 1/2 inches
Action: Side Action Percussion Lock
Feed System: Muzzle-Loaded
Federal Classification: Pre-1899 Antique

NOTE: International orders of antique firearms MUST be shipped using UPS WW Services (courier). USPS Priority Mail international will not accept these. International customers should always consult their country's antique gun laws prior to ordering.

More on the "Enfield" Rifle-Musket: The Enfield Pattern 1853 rifle-musket (also known as the Pattern 1853 Enfield, P53 Enfield, and Enfield rifle-musket) was a .577 calibre Minié-type muzzle-loading rifle-musket, used by the British Empire from 1853 to 1867, after which many Enfield 1853 rifle-muskets were converted to (and replaced in service by) the cartridge-loaded Snider-Enfield rifle.

The term "rifle-musket" originally referred to muskets with the smooth-bored barrels replaced with rifled barrels. The length of the barrels were unchanged, allowing the weapons to be fired by rank, since a long rifle was necessary to enable the muzzles of the second rank of soldiers to project beyond the faces of the men in front. The weapon would also be sufficiently long when fitted with a bayonet to be effective against cavalry. Such guns manufactured with rifled barrels, muzzle loading, single shot, and utilizing the same firing mechanism, also came to be called rifle-muskets.

The 39 in (99 cm) barrel had three grooves, with a 1:78 rifling twist, and was fastened to the stock with three metal bands, so that the rifle was often called a "three band" model. After the pattern of 1853, there were numerous other specialized versions patterned, such as the Pattern 1856 Short Rifle, and Pattern 1858 Naval Rifle.

IMA considers all of our antique guns as non-firing, inoperable and/or inert. Title 18, U.S. Code, Section 921(a)(16) defines antique firearms as all guns made prior to 1899. This law exempts antique firearms from any form of gun control or special engineering because they are not legally considered firearms. No FFL, C&R or any license is required to possess, transport, sell or trade Antique guns. All rifles and muskets sold by IMA that were manufactured prior to 1899 are considered Antiques by the US BATF (United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco & Firearms). Therefore, all of IMA's Antique guns may be shipped to all US States and most nations around the world.

These antique guns are not sold in "live" condition, and are not tested for the the ability to feed or load any type of cartridge. They are sold as collector's items or as "wall hangers" not for use, and we make no guarantees regarding functionality aside from what is stated in the description. Any attempt at restoring an antique gun to be operational is strongly discouraged and is done so at the risk of the customer. By purchasing an antique gun from IMA you thereby release IMA, its employees and corporate officers from any and all liability associated with use of our Antique guns.

Pre-1899 Manufacture, no licenses required, allowed to ship to almost any deliverable address across the globe. Please note that for international shipping, these MUST be shipped using UPS WW Services. International customers should always consult their country's antique gun laws prior to ordering.