Product Details
A RARE .577 ENFIELD-MONT STORM CAPPING BREECH-LOADING CONVERTED PERCUSSION SERVICE RIFLE OF WAR DEPT. TRIALS TYPE, serial no. 4,
circa 1859, with blued 36 3/4in. sighted rifled barrel, the breech-end with War Dept. inspection marks and sold out of service marks, tip-up breech-block, dated lock marked 'ENFIELD' and with 'V.R.' cypher, walnut full-stock, the right hand side of butt with circular 'ENFIELD' stamp, a small cannon stamp above 'M.A. 1464', brass furniture except three blued iron barrel-bands, sling mounts, and iron ramrod, the whole expertly refinished and in fine condition with traces of original colour to the action
Provenance: This rare rifle was one of 24 arms submitted for the 1864 Government trials. The aim was to seek the best conversion to breech-loading of the current Enfield group of arms. The offerings submitted by Mont Storm were broken down as follows:
6x Cavalry Carbines Numbered 1 to 6
6x Artillery Carbines Numbered 7 to 12
6x Enfield Rifles Numbered 1 to 6 (with long butt, of which this example is no. 4)
6x Enfield Rifles Numbered 7 to 12 (with short butt)
Initially, 50 designs by various manufacturers were put forward but only 8 were selected as being practical. Of these 8, only 5 actually arrived for the test; capping breech loaders by Mont Storm, Wilson, Greene and Westley Richards. The other applicant was Snider with the only cartridge example in the test.
The result of the trial is contained in report no. 3266, Committee Minute no. 11466 of April 4th 1864
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Estimate £2,000-3,000