When it comes to British-made cavalry carbines, few are more iconic than the Snider. This large, single shot .577 breechloader was developed by an American, Jacob Snider, shortly after the Civil War and were used by the British and her colonies into the 20th Century.
There were two basic version of the Snider Carbine. The first variant was built from converting the Model 1861 muzzleloading carbine. These guns were designated the Mark II**. The second variant, known as the Mark III, were completely new-production guns, built when stores of 1861 carbines ran out. In addition to a re-designed latching breechblock mechanism, the Mark III also eliminated the saddle bar and added a hinged butt trap to store a two piece cleaning rod.
This particular Snider Carbine is an excellent example of a British-made Mark III. All original from top to bottom, this carbine features a beautiful stock with wonderfully crisp edges and only a few minor dings and dents, but no cracks or rotten spots. The butt plate also has a trapdoor for cleaning accessories; indicating that this is a true carbine stock and not simply a cut down rifle.
The barrel features all correct British proofmarks with no "-><-" stamp to indicate that the gun was removed from service to be sent to the Middle East or Asia. Additionally, there are no Sanskrit markings that are associated with the horribly used and abused Sniders that came back with GIs returning from Afghanistan.
The lock is in excellent condition; working flawlessly on both full and half cock. The lock plate stamps are crisp and legible.
The barrel is in wonderful shape with traces of its original blued finish visible in protected areas. The breech block locks up very tight and the extractor functions perfectly. The bore is in beautiful shape with crisp rifling and no rust or pitting. Its obvious that this carbine was very well cared for.
Here's a great opportunity to own one of the most sought after sniders-the highly prized MK III carbine. The Snider-Enfield has enjoyed a bit of a "renaissance" in recent years, as modern shooters have adapted 24 gauge shotgun shells to effectively reload the .577 Snider cartridge. Mike Beliveau, the former blackpowder editor for Guns of the Old West magazine, has an excellent video on the subject. The link to which can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OwWigu3OJvM
