December 10-13, 2024 Firearms & Militaria
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 12/10/2024
This rifled carbine, 46 1/4 inches long overall, was clearly intended to arm some corps of mounted rifleman or chasseurs, as it furnished with a ringed sling bar and its ramrod has a notch cut around its swell to lock into a raised lip on the bottom of the brass nose-cap, copied from that then in use on Elliot light dragoon carbines, which would prevent the heavy ramrod from falling out of is channel when slung. It has a tapering, round barrel of 30 ¼ inches, key-fastened barrel and furnished with a hooked- or false-breech. It features a double-leaved, rear sight and a brass bladed front sight and bears private Tower proof marks just before the false breech. The barrel, originally browned, is clear of the forestock by 2 ¾ inches and a lug is affixed to the underside to accommodate a short-socketed bayonet. The convex lock is stamped “TOWER” across the tail and there is a crown/GR device before the cock. The brass mounts include a thumbpiece on which is engraved “H H” and the issue number “39” is engraved on the triggerguard bow. This arm has been traditionally attributed to the Hompesch Hussars, raised in 1794 by Baron Lowenstein from Germans for British service in the West Indies, along with other corps, including the Hompesch Chasseurs, a dismounted rifle corps. Both corps suffered heavy casualties on Hispaniola in 1796-97 and were later merged into other corps, the latter notably in the 5th BN, 60th Foot or Royal Americans, the first all rifle-armed, standing battalion in the British Army. It is a well-made arm, highly-suited for a regular corps of mounted riflemen.