Product Details
ENFIELD
A RARE .796 PERCUSSION SERVICE RIFLE, MODEL 'BRUNSWICK HEAVY NAVY RIFLE PATT. 1840', no visible serial number,
dated for 1840 with 32 5/8in. two-groove rifled barrel with no provision for bayonet, applied blade fore-sight, dove-tail provision for rear-sight (missing), borderline engraved back-action lock marked with 'VR' cypher, dated '1840' and signed 'RL. MANUFACTORY ENFIELD, walnut full stock (heavily bruised, loss to front right hand side top edge of fore-end), the side of butt stamped with an Enfield W/O mark and dated 1861, also stamped '195' over '1.C.R', heavy brass furniture including hinged patch-box cover, provision for ramrod (missing) and Ordnance inspection marks.
Other Notes: Only 100 of these rifles were produced at Enfield during 1840 for use in the fighting tops of ships of the Royal Navy. Expert opinion puts the number of known surviving examples at between 5-10 guns. Some remained in use mostly on Far Eastern stations as late as the 1870's. It is believed that this is the only example known with an Enfield Re-Work stamp and was probably from the Singapore Station.
Estimate £3,000-4,000