May 27, 2020 Founders & Patriots
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 5/27/2020
In December 1778, 1000 "Carbines with Long Sights" (named Pattern 1779 Horse Carbine by arms historican Dewitt Bailey) were shipped to America for the use of Loyalist light horse in the South as part of the "Georgia Fleet". The supply fleet was separated by storms and some of the ships were captured by American and French privateers and their goods sold at auction in Boston and Philadelphia. Many of the uniforms, horse equipage and approximately 500 of the carbines originally intended for Provincial light dragoons ended up instead in the hands of Patriot troops, notably Lee's Legion. Legion light infantrymen frequently rode into action mounted behind light dragoons, the infantryman dismounting before reaching the battlefield and forming up to fight on foot. As such, they required a shorter and lighter arm, but one which also mounted a bayonet. In late 1779, 50 "British carbines" were repaired and altered in Philadelphia for issue to the light infantry of Lee's Partisan Legion, which were alomost certainly drawn from the 500 carbines captured from the Georgia fleet. These carbines were originally "home-stocked" at the Tower, that is, stocked fully to the muzzle and incapable of mounting a bayonet, so the American alterations included removing the sling sidebar, removing the long, brass foresight from the top of the barrel, cutting back the forestock and brazing on an attachment stud for a bayonet.
This is one of two examples of the so-called P1779 Carbine for Horse (the other, in its original configuration, is in the Royal Armouries at Leeds) and features all of the alterations noted above that converted it from a light cavalry to a light infantry arm. However, the stock is not merely cut-back, but fully restocked in American walnut, but utilizing the original Pattern 1777 Land carbine lock, barrel, steel ramrod, and all of the brass mounts, which includes the distinctive, long, trumpet forepipe made to resemble two, co-joined short pipes. The 37 1/4 inch-long barrel is 0.68 bore, has centered Ordnance view and proof marks on the top near the breech, as well as the touchmark "MB" to the left. The lock has "TOWER" engraved behind the cock (a period replacement) and before it, faint traces of the "crown/GR" cipher that appears to have been purposely obliterated (probably during its alteration for American use). On the inside of the lock are found an inspection stamp, "crown/1", various numbers and a maker's mark "H"--probably for John Hirst. A rear sling swivel is affixed to the front of the triggerguard by means of a short length of brass tubing brazed at that point, with a front swivel just before the middle ramrod pipe. CONDITION: The barrel in very good condition, with dark patina overall and light freckling around the vent area at breech, while the lock is in original flint configuration in very good working order, although the cock is a period replacement and the original screw for the sear spring inside the lock is replaced with an expedient one of copper, which also appears to be period. A small splinter of wood of wood, approximately 5 x 1/8 inch, is missing on the left upper edge of the forestock from the nosecap back. JLK