^Lot 24 British Snider Conversion Cavalry Carbine

British Snider Conversion Single Shot Cartridge Cavalry Carbine, by Enfield, #1963 (breechblock), .577 Boxer CF cal., 19-1/8'' round barrel marked with ''Steel'' and numerous view and proofmarks at left breech, as is receiver; flush steel lockplate marked ''(crown)/V.R'' behind hammer and ''(crown/broad arrow)/1870/Enfield'' ahead, single steel barrel band, trigger, and sling ring behind brass triggerguard; brass buttplate and lock screw escutcheons. Integral block-blade front and adjustable sliding-leaf rear sights. One-piecr European walnut halfstock. Condition is very good showing a smooth bluish patina to barrel, subdued case hardening to lockplate and receiver, and age patina to brass. Stock is sound with ''R./(crown)/M.'' (undecipherable) in a circular cartouche below a large arrow and above a large ''1''; it bears the typical wear and scars of military use, and it appears that someone tapped a light pattern of dotted lines into the buttstock with a nail; holes were drilled into both sides of the stock ahead of the lock for an unknown reason. Action is tight and crisp; bore has distinct rifling and will benefit from a good cleaning. As did most militaries in the late 1860s and early 1870s, Britain chose to adapt many of their obsolete percussion arms to the new metallic cartridge system; the highly successful Snider conversion (invented by American Jacob Snider) utilizes a new and simple side-hinged breechblock with a floating firing pin. Est.: $950-$1,250. (Antique)