British Commercial Military Carbines 1750-1900

A reprint of the well-received book ‘British Non Ordnance Military carbines 1750-1900’ of which Bill Harriman (Antiques Roadshow) said, ‘I’ve have been mightily impressed by its breadth of content. I've certainly learnt new things from just my cursory reading of it.  It's very interesting and it it fills a gap in the literature of British military firearms. Well done!’

Now re-titled as ‘BRITISH COMMERCIAL MILITARY CARBINES 1750-1900’ in hardback with re-mastered photographs including some additions.

A book for collectors and shooters covering the large number of military style carbines, which carry private proof marks, which were not issued by the Board of Ordnance. These carbines were made for private sale to volunteers, officers, police, prison service, the East India Company, overseas military and many others. This subject has never been covered before in one volume. The book also covers the political and economic conditions under which such carbines were made together with a categorization of the carbines into groups based on style and operation. The main and most important part of the book, however, is a photo gallery with colour illustrations of carbines from 1750 to 1900. This has been prepared, not with the well known photos from The Tower, Royal Armouries or The National Army Museum. We have searched out the carbines that you will find at Arms Fairs, Auctions, Dealer Catalogues & Private Collections. These are mostly not Museum Quality (although some are exceptional quality) but the style and condition of carbines that you will come across in the real world.

The photo gallery has multiple photos of over 90 different carbines, including several rare types, such as flintlock breech loading carbines on the Crespi and Sartoris principles. Also, a rare muzzle loading spear carbine by Gully and rifled flintlock carbines by Nock and Baker as well as smoothbore flintlock carbines of Eliott and Heavy Dragoon patterns. There are seven non Ordnance Paget carbines including rare musket bore variants from Mexico and New Zealand. Also included are many percussion carbines together with capping breech loading carbines by Calisher & Terry and Westley Richards and patented CBL actions by Hughes, Prince, Green Bros and Mont Storm. As well as Snider and Martini Henry carbines there are variant patterns by Alexander Henry, Swinburn and Westley Richards. The final carbine is a Lee Enfield carbine by the LSA Co around 1900.

The book is A4 size, hardback,165 pages with full colour

Price includes U.K. delivery