December 10-13, 2024 Firearms & Militaria
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 12/12/2024
This MkII** Snider short ("sergeants") two-banded rifle is marked with a DC in a lozenge over a “3”, in a vertical format on the “inboard” side of its wooden butt stock, and is marked “3” over a “326” adjacent to the first marking, but at right angles to it. The marking signifies that it was carried by an NCO in the Third Battalion (“Victoria Rifles”) of Montreal—one of the few Canadian militia units that actually fought in the Battle of Eccles Hill during the Second Fenian Raid of 1870. Moreover, the wood on the side of the breech is badly scorched, indicating a significant rapid firing—and not what was ever done on a Canadian militia practice shooting range. The only other Snider known to have been at the battle (one carried by the 60th Bn) also has severe scorching around its breech. The rifle is marked “Enfield 1868” on its lock plate, and is complete with its proper chained “snap cap”, although the rear sling swivel on the rear trigger guard tang is missing. PROVENANCE: Kenneth Smith-Christmas collection. CONDITION: The scorching in the bed of the stock extends from the breech tang to the lower band. There is an overall freckling of old black rust spots with a nice patina, and the breechblock and interior of the breech “shoe” show evidence of intensive use. The rifling is strong in the bore, but it has a few dark spots and some pitting. Stock very good with some handling marks and impressions throughout, and some minor chipping abutting breechblock. PROVENANCE: The Kenneth Smith-Christmas collection. The former owner who sold it online several years ago claimed to have bought it at a yard sale in Arizona, but there is no other known provenance. This rifle has been featured in an American Rifleman video about Sniders, and in various exhibitions of Fenian Raid arms in the Mid-Atlantic region, and it was referenced in the ”Britishmuzzleloaders” four-part video series on Eccles Hill.