Original British Victorian Snider .577 Sporting Rifle by Robert Hughes of Birmingham - Circa 1870

Original Item: Only One Available. Well here is a lovely bit of IMA history! This lovely sporting rifle was originally uncovered in a stack of "odd guns" from the Nepalese Cache, completely filthy and dirty from years of storage and lack of maintenance. It was restored some years ago by master antique gunsmith Norm Sutton, after which which it was sold, and now has found its way back here.

As you can see what Norm did with this rifle is quite amazing. Here is a fine Victorian era Snider Sporting Rifle in .577 cal intended for Big Game, such as Tigers, that had found its way to Katmandu in the late 1870s. Fine details indicative of London gun making at the time include engraved hammer, engraved lock and engraved breach, along with a sharp octagonal Damascus barrel. It is signed on the lock plate with R. HUGHES, for known gunsmith Robert Hughes of Birmingham, who worked 1855-1900. He was a gun and pistol maker at 22 Moland St., Birmingham until 1872 and at 100 Moland street from 1873. He adopted the style 'Universal Firearms Works' in 1868. His guns were well known and he was favored in the London gun market, known for his high quality Sporting Rifles, typically sold to men traveling to Asia or Africa for big game hunting.

The gun is beautifully constructed, with a heavily checkered wrist on the stock, an features a short fore stock on the front with a long exposed barrel. There are loops under the barrel and on the butt stock for attachment of a hunting sling. The Snider action looks to be closest to a Mark II Type, without the lever locking mechanism of the Mark III, and is marked with the S / Arrow marking on the front shoe, with the SNIDER / PATENT marking on the top of the breech block. We checked the firing pin, and it moves easily, and the ejector is functional as well. The lock is fully functional, with a working half cock position, and also has working sliding half-cock safety as well. There is a working original ladder sight on the rear of the barrel.

There are no other markings on the top of the action or barrel, however removing the barrel shows the correct Birmingham proof marks, including the CROWN / CROSSED SCEPTERS / BPC "proof" and CROWN / CROSSED SCEPTERS / V "viewed" marks. There is also the CROWN / BP definitive proof, and two 25 markings, indicating "25 bore" or about .571". There is also W.E. next to the receiver, possibly the maker of the barrel, as well as another another "Viewed" on the bottom front of the receiver. We checked the bore, and it is in excellent condition, showing a bright finish with strong lands and grooves. It does not appear to have been used much before it was put into storage in Nepal.

Externally the rifle is in really great shape, having been fully restored years ago by Norm Sutton. Since then it does look to have suffered a small dent on the right side of the butt stock, and there is also a crack running from the barrel wedge escutcheon to the wood line on the right side of the fore stock. The metalwork retains the heavy rebluing applied, and really looks great.

This is an extremely attractive Victorian era Big Game Rifle of considerable quality beautifully cleaned and restored by a master antique gunsmith. Ready to add to your collection!

Specifications:-

Year of Manufacture: Circa 1870
Caliber: .58 inches - 5 Groove Rifling
Ammunition Type: .577 Centerfire Cartridge
Barrel Length: 27.5 inches
Overall Length: 46 inches
Action: Side Action Lock
Feed System: Side Hinge Rotating Breech block

History of the Snider rifle- Jacob Snider, an American from New York, developed this breech loading system for the P-1853 Enfield, the most prolific imported Percussion rifle in use by both the North and South during the U.S. Civil War. When the British Board of Ordnance appointed a Select Committee in 1864 the Snider system was swiftly adopted with the first breech loaders being issued in 1865 to British forces.

Improved in 1867 by the use of Colonel Boxer's center fire brass bodied cartridge, the rifle was used very effectively in the Abyssinian Campaign of 1868. The system utilized a hinged breech block with an internal firing pin assembly that permitted the use of a self contained cartridge of lead bullet in cardboard, and, after 1867, brass casing. This highly efficient conversion system prolonged the active life of the P-1853 rifles up until 1871 when the Martini System was adopted. Snider rifles saw continued use throughout the Empire but were officially obsoleted by the late 1880s.

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.