Original British East India Company 13th Irregular Cavalry Percussion Saddle Ring Carbine

Original Item: Only One Available. Featured on page 507 of David Harding's wonderful work SMALLARMS OF THE EAST INDIA COMPANY, VOLUME 2 this model was ordered by the Commanding Officer, Captain W. C. Alexander in 1851 for the Irregular Bengal Cavalry.

Supplied by the London Gun maker GARDEN, 200, PICCADILLY, LONDON, which appears on the twist steel barrel. The lock is engraved IRREGULAR / XIII / CAVALRY. The left butt stock has a very faint 6 / 8 0 company marking that shows up in reflection.

The mounts are brass and the carbine features a swivel-trapped ramrod for use while mounted. The smooth bore barrel is spiral forged, which can be seen in the oxidation pattern. The left side bears a saddle bar on which two rings float for attachment to the Cavalry Trooper's body sling. If dropped the weapon would then just dangle at the rider's side.

Recovered from our Nepalese cache purchase of 2003 this Regiment, the XIII Bengal Irregular Cavalry were among those units than mutinied in 1857 and later fled to Nepal only to be disarmed upon entry.

By Treaty agreement with the British, the Nepalese were allowed to keep these seized arms but were required to hang the mutineers.

In truth, they were disarmed but the soldiers were permitted residence within Nepal thereafter explaining today's large Indian ethnic population there today alongside the traditional Gurkhas.

This is a very rare Carbine cleaned to fine display condition and easily researchable.

Specifications: 

Year of Manufacture: Circa 1855
Caliber: approx .75"
Ammunition Type: Lead Ball & Powder
Overall Length: 37 inches
Barrel Length: 21 inches
Action: Side Action Percussion Lock
Feed System: Muzzle-Loaded

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