Summary
British Service percussion rifle, Lancaster carbine (Ordnance Model), cal. .577 in., steel rifled round barrel, 80.30cm long, bayonet mount on R.H.side. Made in Birmingham, 1859.
Buttplate tang stamped 'G-62/ 172/ V.V' denoting use by the Victorian Volunteer forces.
The Lancaster carbine was introduced into British service in 1855. Externally it appeared almost identical to the Pattern 1856 Short Rifle, more commonly known as the Sergeant's Model, however rather than the Short Rifle's three groove Enfield rifling, it employed the Lancaster rifling - an oval bore that varied between .016" and .018 along its two axis. Unlike the later Lancaster carbine with a reduced calibre of .568 (26 bore) - as opposed to the Ordnance Model's .577 (25 bore) - and steel furniture, the Ordnance model was finished with brass fittings, and was popular in Victoria for competitive shooting until superseded by the appearance of the reduced bore variant.
Physical Description
British Service rifle percussion, Lancaster (Ordnance Model), cal. .577 in., steel rifled round barrel, 80.30cm long, bayonet mount on R.H.side stamped 'S & S.44/ 3 1'. Steel lock and hammer on R.H. side, brass oval triggerguard with small front spur, no sideplate, brass butt plate, two sling swivels. Barleycorn foresight, graduated rear sight, barrel fastened to stock via two steel barrel bands, steel ramrod stamped 'G,172'. Lockplate stamped with crown over 'VR' and '1859/ TOWER', denoting year of manufacture. Stock is stamped on R.H.side in a circular frame 'BIRMINGHAM/ 1859' and crown over a downward pointing government broad arrow with the initials 'W' and 'O' either side, stamped '1' to the R. of previous stamping. Stamped 'P.SWINBURN' under stock. Barrel top stamped 'LANCASTER PATENT' and Birmingham examiner mark of a crown over 'B'. L.H.side of barrel stamped with various examiner marks. L.H.side of stock stamped behind rear lockplate screw 'S & S, 41'. Buttplate tang stamped 'G-62/ 172/ V.V' denoting use by the Victorian Volunteer forces.
More Information
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Collecting Areas
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Acquisition Information
Donation from Melbourne Armoury, 24 Oct 1871
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User
Victorian Volunteer Forces, 1854-1884, Melbourne, Greater Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 1862-1871
Date from Victorian Volunteer stamp '62' and from date acquired by museum from Melbourne Armoury. -
Inscriptions
Stamped on barrel top: LANCASTER PATENT Stamped on barrel top with a crown over 'B' (Birmingham examination mark) Stamped on barrel L.H.side: arrow and 'V'; examiner stamp; crown over 'TP' over arrow; 417 (TP - Tower Proof) Stamped on butt tang: G-62/ 172/ V.V Stamped on lockplate: crown over VR; 1859/ TOWER Stamped on bayonet lug: S & S .44 Stamped on ramrod: G,172 Stamped on stock L.H.side: S & S,41 Stamped on stock underside: P. SWINBURN Stamped on stock R.H.side in circular frame: BIRMINGHAM/ 1859, crown over broad arrow with flanking initials 'W' and 'O' Stamped on stock R.H.side: 1
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Model Name or Number
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Brand Names
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Classification
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Category
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Discipline
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Type of item
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Overall Dimensions
121.5 cm (Length), 5.9 cm (Width), 20.6 cm (Height)
Barrel length: 80.30cm
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References
[Book] Penrose, Edgar H. 1949. Descriptive Catalogue of the Collection of Firearms in the Museum of Applied Science of Victoria. 161. 14.
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Keywords
Rifles & Muskets: British, Rifles & Muskets: Military, Victorian Colonial Defence Forces, Victorian Volunteer Forces
