".577 SNIDER-ENFIELD RIFLES & CARBINES" BRITISH SERVICE LONGARMS REFERENCE BOOK

Description

By the end of the American Civil War, it was evident that breech loading rifles would dominate any future battlefield. The US Army opted to convert the huge number of Springfield rifles on hand using the "trapdoor" concept rather than purchasing new rifles at a significant cost, and the British chose a similar remedy for the large number of Enfields in their inventory. The Snider conversion adopted by the British was a side hinged breech loader invented by an American, Jacob Snider. The resulting British Snider-Enfield proved both more accurate and much faster firing than the original Pattern 1853s; a trained soldier could fire 10 aimed rounds per minute with the breech loader, compared with only three rounds per minute with the muzzle loading weapon. From 1866 onwards, Enfields were converted in great numbers, receiving a new receiver assembly, but retaining the original barrel, furniture, lock, and hammer. Later models were newly factory made. Whereas the Trapdoor Springfield stayed in US service for over 30 years, the Snider-Enfield was replaced in frontline British service by the Martini-Henry ca. 1880. It continued however to be used throughout the British empire by opposing forces as diverse as the Zulus and Boers. The .577 Snider-Enfield has been of great interest to collectors for decades, leading Ian Skennerton to write an authoritative reference book on the subject in 2003. This ".577 SNIDER-ENFIELD RIFLES & CARBINES" BRITISH SERVICE LONGARMS REFERENCE BOOK is in near mint, unread condition, with only some light scattered storage wear evident (most pictured). Otherwise, the book is in near mint shape, with no other damage. Most interestingly, it boasts an elegantly illustrated dust jacket over hardcovers, and sports 229 pages full of descriptive text, period pictures, and photographs (mostly black and white, though some color) of British .577 Snider-Enfields, including trials and experiments, patterns and alterations, long and short rifles, Engineer, Artillery, and Cavalry carbines, Constabulary and Gaol carbines, volunteer models, socket and sword bayonets, muzzle stoppers, cartridges, royal cyphers, inspection marks, manufacturer's stampings, and a plethora of other invaluable information. A beautiful example of a ".577 SNIDER-ENFIELD RIFLES & CARBINES" BRITISH SERVICE LONGARMS REFERENCE BOOK. Now celebrating over 20 years on eBay. Bid with confidence and please view our other great military, aviation, and sporting classics, including a German WW2 MWC LUFTWAFFE PILOT B-UHR AUTOMATIC WRIST WATCH in MINT, unworn, new in the box condition, sporting a crisp 60 minute/12 hour (outer/inner) white numbers black dial, and featuring the classic big "onion" crown and sweeping seconds hand with hacking function.
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