MK1 Snider Enfield Rifle

Description

Nepalese Snider-Enfield Mk III Rifle, a Nepalese conversion of a Pattern 1853 Enfield percussion rifle, manufactured at the Naukku (Nappu) Arsenal, Nepal, incorporating British-made Enfield components and a British-supplied Snider breech mechanism, probably circa 1870, .577 calibre, with 36¼in three-groove rifled barrel (1 turn in 78in), lockplate with crown and '1858 TOWER' markings, the side-hinged breech block very faintly marked 'SNIDER PATENT', with possible Hindi numeral markings, the hammer retaining original recess of the P53 percussion rifle and the barrel retaining the distinctive Westley-Richards Pattern 1853 band, 55in overall

Footnote: Following the Indian Mutiny of 1857–59, Nepal continued to utilise British-supplied Enfield components, later converting percussion rifles to the Snider system, likely after the British Army adopted the Martini-Henry circa 1870. The Naukku Arsenal-produced conversions are distinctive, and the retention of the Westley Richards Pattern 1853 spring-retained solid barrel bands is possibly a unique Nepalese feature.

Provenance: Private Collection. Purchased at Worldwide Arms in 2017.

Section 58(2): Obsolete calibre can be owned without a licence.

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