This carbine has a brass butt plate and trigger guard, walnut stock, and a steel barrel. Marked .577 Snider Cal. Proof marks crown, V R 1 P along side, hammer, and just before the adj. rear sight. On side plate, after proof mark and below breech, is the model, "1871 Enfield."

Weight (Lbs): 6.5
Height (In.): 37
Width (In.): 4.75
Depth (In.): 2
Size: 208.5 x 4.0 x 4.0"
Maker: Snider British
Material: Walnut, Steel, Brass
Date: 1871
Provenance:
Condition: Loss of original finish, some gouging, minor scratches to wood.
History: In trials, the Snider Pattern 1853 conversions proved both more accurate than original Pattern 1853s and much faster firing; a trained soldier could fire ten aimed rounds per minute with the breech-loader, compared with only three rounds per minute with the muzzle-loading weapon. From 1866 onwards, the Enfield rifles were converted in large numbers at the Royal Small Arms Factory (RSAF) Enfield beginning with the initial pattern, the Mark I. The converted rifles received a new breechblock/receiver assembly, but retained the original iron barrel, furniture, lock, and hammer. The Mark III rifles were newly made. They featured steel barrels which were so marked, flat nosed hammers, and a latch-locking breech block instead of the simple integral block lifting tang. The Snider-Enfield used a new type of metal-cased cartridge called a Boxer cartridge after its designer. The breech block housed a diagonally downward sloping firing pin struck with a front-action lock mounted hammer. To operate the weapon, the rifleman cocked the hammer, flipped the block out of the receiver to the right by grasping the left mounted breech block lever, and then pulled the block back to extract the spent case. There was no ejector, so the firer lifted the case out or, more usually, turned the rifle upside-down to allow the case to drop out. (Perhaps even more usually, the firer then shook the weapon vigorously to dislodge hot cartridges or those fouled by dust or grime.)