British percussion carbine

Marcus den toom · 16th October 2013, 10:15 AM

I recently bought this converted percussion carbine at a French auction. It is covered with english proofmarks, as well as the makers name Blair inside the lock.

The name Blair is mostlikly that of David Blair form Birmingham, the rightside of the buttsttock has a crown with a arrow pointing down to the date 1805.
The lock has Tower, a crown, GR and a arrow on it. The inside has the name Blair (the R is very faint), HS and 22 with a crown like M. The lock has a safety slide (still working).
The leftside, near the breech there are the number 45, S and G with a crown on top.
The leftside of the buttstock has the number 1211 on it and 4 small holes forming a rectangular shape where there used to be a plaque of some kind.
Th breech has been cutdown and replaced with a screw on percussion mount, but there are some faint markings of the original flintlock barrel (crossed swords with a crown above and a arrow ??).
The barrel is only 40,5 cm (16inch) long, the ramrod seems original and untempered with.

My question is, what kind of carbine is this? What did it look like before it was converted etc. What was its use (couch gun, naval etc?)

Multumesc · 16th October 2013, 11:45 AM

CONGRATULATIONS, beautiful carbine.

fernando · 16th October 2013, 01:46 PM

Nice piece.
Would that be a musket with a barrel shortened to a carbine length ?
Perhaps a private conversion for non military use. A few things don't seem to square: only one ranmrod pipe, a misplaced belt sling ...
Could you check if the ramrod swivel looks like having been added at a later date?
Mind you, these are all guesses; other members here know a lot more about this.

Cerjak · 16th October 2013, 01:54 PM

Hi Markus

Nice gun! It makes me remember a gun I have: A Pattern 1856 Enfield Cavalry carbine
Of course it is different and later model but it should be an evolution from your
Model

Best regards

Jean-Luc

Cerjak · 16th October 2013, 02:12 PM

mores pics

Marcus den toom · 16th October 2013, 06:40 PM

Thank you all for the interest in this "carbine"

@ Fernando, the swifel does look to be original to the gun, but the breech has been added later. Because there are still marks near the breech, i strongly suspect that the curent lenght does not differ to much form the original lenght :/

The front sight (brass slide in) however looks like it has been added later on

adrian · 17th October 2013, 09:38 AM

The first carbine depicted is some sort of cavalry carbine - how long is its barrel? It may have been messed with. Its conversion is not to a British Govt pattern, & looks European.

The second carbine depicted is unfortunately a total knock off - what some would term a "Kyber Pass" gun.

16th October 2013, 10:15 AM	#1
Marcus den toom Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Netherlands Posts: 494	British percussion carbine I recently bought this converted percussion carbine at a French auction. It is covered with english proofmarks, as well as the makers name Blair inside the lock. The name Blair is mostlikly that of David Blair form Birmingham, the rightside of the buttsttock has a crown with a arrow pointing down to the date 1805. The lock has Tower, a crown, GR and a arrow on it. The inside has the name Blair (the R is very faint), HS and 22 with a crown like M. The lock has a safety slide (still working). The leftside, near the breech there are the number 45, S and G with a crown on top. The leftside of the buttstock has the number 1211 on it and 4 small holes forming a rectangular shape where there used to be a plaque of some kind. Th breech has been cutdown and replaced with a screw on percussion mount, but there are some faint markings of the original flintlock barrel (crossed swords with a crown above and a arrow ??). The barrel is only 40,5 cm (16inch) long, the ramrod seems original and untempered with. My question is, what kind of carbine is this? What did it look like before it was converted etc. What was its use (couch gun, naval etc?)

16th October 2013, 11:45 AM	#2
Multumesc Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Romania Posts: 202	British percussion carbine CONGRATULATIONS, beautiful carbine.

16th October 2013, 01:54 PM	#4
Cerjak Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: FRANCE Posts: 1,064	Hi Markus Nice gun! It makes me remember a gun I have: A Pattern 1856 Enfield Cavalry carbine Of course it is different and later model but it should be an evolution from your Model Best regards Jean-Luc Attached Images

16th October 2013, 02:12 PM	#5
Cerjak Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: FRANCE Posts: 1,064	more pics mores pics Attached Images

16th October 2013, 01:46 PM	#3
fernando Lead Moderator European Armoury Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Portugal Posts: 9,659	Nice piece. Would that be a musket with a barrel shortened to a carbine length ? Perhaps a private conversion for non military use. A few things don't seem to square: only one ranmrod pipe, a misplaced belt sling ... Could you check if the ramrod swivel looks like having been added at a later date? Mind you, these are all guesses; other members here know a lot more about this.

16th October 2013, 06:40 PM	#6
Marcus den toom Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Netherlands Posts: 494	Thank you all for the interest in this "carbine" @ Fernando, the swifel does look to be original to the gun, but the breech has been added later. Because there are still marks near the breech, i strongly suspect that the curent lenght does not differ to much form the original lenght :/ The front sight (brass slide in) however looks like it has been added later on

17th October 2013, 09:38 AM	#7
adrian Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Posts: 118	The first carbine depicted is some sort of cavalry carbine - how long is its barrel? It may have been messed with. Its conversion is not to a British Govt pattern, & looks European. The second carbine depicted is unfortunately a total knock off - what some would term a "Kyber Pass" gun.