Snider cavalry carbine

[Sunbeam]

Have in my collection a Snider cavalry carbine markings on lock plate are V&R Blakemore Birmingham & London,1872 under a crown and also marked TOWER
Could anyone possibly give me any info on it.
Thanks in advance.

[tacfoley]

Have in my collection a Snider cavalry carbine markings on lock plate are V&R Blakemore Birmingham & London,1872 under a crown and also marked TOWER
Could anyone possibly give me any info on it.
Thanks in advance.

Your Snider carbine was probably by converting a Tower-made Pattern 53 Enfield rifled musket into a breech-loading Snider - the usual way of doing it before the RSAF took over the complete manufacturing from scratch. The Blakemore company was one of many that made parts for the Tower Arsenal and armoury, where ALL British military arms were assembled from made-out parts, hence the Tower on the lock.

Can you give us details of any more of the various stamps all over the breech ring and block? It should have a large asterisk-style stamp, a Roman numeral I or maybe even II and many more. Lots of proof marks from Birmingham and maybe even the words 'Snider's Patent'.

I look forward to hearing from you.

[Sunbeam]

Marks on block are snider patent and small B, on breech ring S with arrow through it and 2 small B marks.
The carbine has a saddle bar and ring fitted and the barrel has the small carbine rear sight fitted.

[tacfoley]

Marks on block are snider patent and small B, on breech ring S with arrow through it and 2 small B marks.
The carbine has a saddle bar and ring fitted and the barrel has the small carbine rear sight fitted.

You have what is no doubt an Snider cavalry or dragoon carbine. The other marks you describe are inspectors marks. Do you intend to shoot it? Can you email me with images? I have a couple of Canadian Sniders - a three-band and a two-band short rifle.

[Sunbeam]

No don't intend to shoot.
Pics sent.

[mel h]

Being marked 1872 I would expect to see a thumb catch that needs to be pressed before opening? If so, there's a good chance that it was was built as a breech loader, the earlier, converted muzzle loaders are usually fitted with a breech that opens without any obstruction. There are more small indicators to look for but that's probably the most obvious.