Make: J.C. & A. Lord
Model: Snider Carbine
Serial Number: None
Year of Manufacture: 1866-1872
Caliber: .577 Snider
Action Type: Single-Shot Swing-Out Breech External Hammer
Barrel Length: 22"
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a blade dovetailed to the front of the barrel. The rear sight is a folding ladder-style sight presenting a "V"-notch when down, adjustable from 100-300 yards, with a "V"-notch slider on the ladder graduated from 100-400 yards and a notch at the top of the ladder marked for 500 yards.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The stock is one-piece checkered walnut with horn nosecap, ramrod ferrule, forend wedge, straight grip, straight comb, initial plate mounted in the belly, smooth steel buttplate and a sling swivel mounted in the belly (the other is mounted to the middle ferrule). The stocks have scattered nicks, scuffs and scratches. There are a few losses at edges and a repaired chip at the toe. There is a crack at the rear of the ferrule's finial in the bottom-front of the forend. The LOP measures 13 1/4" from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The plate has gone to patina with some scattered surface erosion. Overall, the stock is in Very Good condition as repaired Antique.
Type of Finish: Blue and Casehardened
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The bore is semi-bright with well-defined rifling. There is scattered light erosion and stubborn fouling in the bore. In this writer's opinion, the bore rates 6+/10.
Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 3% of its metal finish. A little finish remains in well protected areas. Most surfaces have gone to patina with some streaks on the barrel. There is infrequent surface oxidation and minor erosion. There are scattered nicks, scuffs and scratches. The action shows operational wear. The screw heads range from sharp to tool marked with usable slots. The markings range from clear to worn, but legible. Overall, this rifle rates in Very Good condition as Antique.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. We have not fired this rifle. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: Included are 24x loaded cartridges, Parker-Hale mould, 40x lead 520 grain bullets, two tins of primers, one Fiocchi and the other marked only "Made in England", and 17x brass cases. Note, the loaded cartridges are reloads and should be disassembled for component use.
Our Assessment: Originally developed by a New York-based entrepreneur for the British, the Snider breech-loading system was designed to economically convert existing muzzle-loading arms to use a breech-loaded cartridge. This allowed Britain to convert their existing inventory to use the new technology which allowed rifles to be fired faster, more reliably, and with ammunition easier to store and transport. The Snider was more of a stop-gap, being swiftly replaced by the Martini, but was a significant development in military small arms.
The design was also used in the commercial market, using locks and other parts already in production in the London and Birmingham gunmaking firms. This example was produced in Birmingham for the retail company of John Courtenay and Anne Lord. These Snider carbines were apparently produced for the Nepalese, attributed to their palace guard, and were produced in at least two different contracts. We suspect this is from the later of the two, marked on the barrel with "J.C.&A. LORD LONDON BIRMINGHAM & BOMBAY" and on the lock with "J.C.&A. LORD". The majority of these found in the United States were imported by International Military Antiques from Nepal.
The rifle is in good condition given its age and comes with everything you need to get started reloading except for powder. For fans of the Snider action, British sporting rifles, and the wide array of rifles that have come out of Nepal in the last few decades, this will make a great addition to a collection. Good luck and happy bidding!
