Northwestern Europe, England, ca. 1878 CE. A fine wood and steel percussion Enfield rifle with a conversion to a centerfire system. The long barrel is outfitted with a ladder site that still flips up. The centerfire conversion is engraved "ROBERT's PAT. JUNE 11 1867" on the side opposite the lock plate. The lock plate before the hammer is stamped with the British inspector proof with a crown and "V R" - and after the hammer, the maker mark for "TOWER 1878." The wooden stock is covered with a brass butt cap, and an iron buckle for a strap is attached to the trigger guard. Such rifles were used during the Boer Wars as well as for colonial militia use. Many of these were later used as training guns, all the way up to WWI. A fine example! Size: 50.25" L x 5" W (127.6 cm x 12.7 cm)

This piece has been searched against the Art Loss Register database and has been cleared. The Art Loss Register maintains the world’s largest database of stolen art, collectibles, and antiques.

Provenance: private Glorieta, New Mexico, USA collection, purchased in January 2021; ex-Keven Hiebert collection, Newton, Kansas, USA

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#162180

Stable fissures and splintering of wood along ramrod groove and opposite the lock plate. Losses to wood along lock plate/barrel. Brass fitting on end of barrel is loose. Hammer and trigger articulate. Surface abrasions and chips. Discoloration of wood on stock. Some softening of maker marks, but mostly legible. Gun has not been tested for firing functionality.