Guns International #: 102551729
Seller's Inventory #: 233779

Category - Antique Rifles - Percussion - Enfield Rifles

Category
Antique Rifles - Percussion
Enfield Rifles

Late 19th Century NEPALESE Enfield with SNIDER Trapdoor Conversion GURKHAS British Snider Enfield Conversion Rifle

Description:
Late 19th Century NEPALESE Enfield with SNIDER Trapdoor Conversion GURKHAS

British Snider Enfield Conversion Rifle

Here we present an antique Nepalese Enfield Snider Trapdoor Rifle, made circa the 1850s and converted to the Snider System in the 1870s. This rifle would have been used by the Nepalese warriors known as Gurkhas. American inventor Jacob Snider designed the conversion for rifle-muskets to be turned into breech-loading firearms. Britain had used the Enfield Pattern 1853 rifle-musket for a decade when breech-loaders came on the scene. Many of the major powers at the time faced a similar problem in that their arms suddenly became obsolete, and not wanting to throw over all of their small arms at once, they converted them with this system.

Despite being obsolescent in many ways since its inception, this “trapdoor” style of making single-shot muzzleloaders into single shot breech-loaders lasted for several decades. The British Empire adopted this technology in 1866 and it stayed in service with their colonial army through the first decade of the 20th century. Other nations soon followed suit, including the United States of America, which used a very similar method called the Allen Conversion to achieve the same goal. This lasted a surprisingly long time, from 1866 to the 1890s. The British Enfield Snider fought all over the world, and found its way onto at least 5 out of the 7 continents.

Overall the condition is good. Robust action. The bore is bright and rifled. Solid stock, nicely checkered wrist. Both barrel bands are loose.

Own the original! This is a legitimate antique and not a reproduction.

Barrel is 26-1/2 inches.

Caliber: .577 Snider

Overall condition as seen in photos.    
    
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ancestryguns

$1250

#233779
 

SOLD

Antique: Yes