Boer War Enfield .577 three band Snider rifle with history, 36.5" barrel stamped fitted with ladder sight, Crown V.R. lock dated 1862, the MkII breech stamped L.S.A.C for the London Small Arms Company who carried out the conversion from muzzle loader, the stock fitted with brass furniture and stamped with L.S.A.C circle and numeral 1, complete with cleaning rod and jockey cap striker cover. Together with its original issued socket bayonet.

This rifle is accompanied by a handwritten letter from a previous owner detailing the history of the arm and ownership by Mr Reuben Reeds of Omemee Ontario. Reeds enlisted as a volunteer in the Royal Canadian Regiment in 1899 and carried it whilst serving in South Africa as part of the Boer War. Following the end of hostilities, the Canadian volunteers were allowed to keep their Sniders and what remaining ammunition they had as by this time they were well beyond obsolete. The letter details how Reuben Reeds, of farming background, could not bring himself to shoot at the Dutch farmers and consequently brought a large amount of his allocated ammunition home. He also quite rightly feared using a single-shot black powder cartridge arm against the repeating clip-fed Mausers carried by the Boers. Please see the ammunition box and packets of original ammunition included later in this sale which was issued to Reuben Reeds and accompanied him home with this rifle.

Section 58 (2) Antique / obsolete calibre, can be owned without a licence. Buyer must be over the age of 18, age verification will be required if the lot is to be posted out.

Dimensions: 140cm long