1872 cavalry carbine

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silky

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hey all,

Grandfather left me an 1872 cavalry carbine when he passed. He was a western Canadian and native historian and believed it to be a NWMP issue.

I finally got a chance to inspect it more and here is what I found:

1) stamped VR BSAC 1872

2) Barrel is stamped * I I which I think means Mk2

3) there are numerous WD marks which I assume is British War Department

4) Barrel (side) looks like it has two sets of marks. The first is a crown over VR which is on the top of a big X with a p under the x. The other mark is the same but with an E instead of P, and there is another mark...upward arrow over WD over E

5) Barrel band has facing arrows over WD over a mark i can't make out yet. seems like it was a decomissioned british gun.

6) Right side of buttstock has a roundel reading Birmingham WD arrow pointing up to crown and another pointing down to crown

7) Carbed into the buttstock is BCGA 112 and VCA 29. I read that BCGA is British Columbia Garrison Artillery, 112 I imagine is the unit, but I have no idea what VCA 29 stands for. I wonder if it was someone's initials...

8) the left side of the buttstock has what looks to be carved with DC but it could be DO. I know DC is Dominion of Canada's mark but this doesn't have the triangle surround.

9) buttstock plate is stamped with upwards arrow, WD over something I can't distinguis, over x over I....further down is 77 and even further down is 6.

I will post pics tomorrow!

The barrel is 19.25 inches long so it fits the size for a cavalry cadet. It has a small front sight which from what I read means it wasn't a cut down enfield. It is missing a few parts. The rear sight, thumb lever, a screw and rod are missing. The gun still functions well other than the slide cartridge ejector being hard to slide. I think if it had the primer it could function.

Can anyone please provide some information on this weapon? I tried searching Britich Columbia Garrison but came up with little. Anyone have any idea what VCA might stand for? I am guessing that since it is BCGA it has no affiliation with the NWMP.

Any idea on what the value might be?

thanks!
 
Are there a pair of studs, one on either side of the forend, just below the rear sight? These were for a leather rear sight protector used with cavalry carbines. You mention the cleaning rod is missing. Cavalry carbines didn't have under the barrel cleaning rods. BCGA is a common mark on surplus Sniders - there must have been a good sized batch sold off surplus. Is the small front sight a threaded in stud, not unlike a shotgun bead?
Anyway, I suspect that you have a cut down rifle. If the bore is shootable, and the rifle functional, it might bring $150, maybe more.
 
The VR is for Victoria Regina and I think is an inspection mark during the reign of Queen Victoria. The several arrow heads indicate (british) government property and the two opposing arrow heads indicate that the gun was sold out of service. WD is war department

cheers mooncoon
 
Does it have a trap door in the butt plate? this was for holding cleaning rods which you are refering to.
Check the serial number, located under the breach bolt when you open it up. Most of the NWMP carbines serial numbers are listed in the Arms and Accoutrements of the Mounted Police, 1873-1973" by Donald Klancher .
 
thanks guys. I picked up "arms and acoutrements" from the school library today.

The serial numbers in the book all have letters after them like 6780wd. Mine only has numbers and is 8690. It is not listed in the book but it is below the highest number listed.

Gun does not have studs for rear sight gaurd and there is no trap door in the butt.

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BCGA and VCA markings
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what looks like DC but not DC with diamond around it
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I measured from the breach from where the barrel start to the tip and it is 19.25" which seems right for a cavalry carbine.
 
You sir have a Cadet Carbine. These were made by converting the 3 band Snider in and around 1905. The dead give away is the provision for the ram rod in the fore stock, no trap door. The gun in the condition that I can see is worth about $100.00 these days. It also looks like it is missing the firing pin.

Prior to it being cut down it looks like it belong to 16th Prince Edward Regiment Governor General's Foot Guard, or the 49th Regiment (Hastings Rifles) or the 42nd Lanark and Renfrew Regiment. Also could be the 77th (Wentworth) Battalion of Infantry or 77th Wentworth Regiment

This based on the Battalion Number 77. This is just my opinion and could stand to be corrected.
 
They are a LOT o fun to shoot. There is just plain NUTHIN moe fun than wsting an fternoon at the range with a Snider....... any Snider.

1872: final year of production.

Appears to be a parts mismatch, with that Mark II* barrel and breech assembly. The Mark III breechblock fitted to it is why no thumb lever: thumb lever controlled the big locking bolt, which the Mark II* action was not cut to handle.

Still a ball of fun.

You can make brass up from 24-gauge shotgun shells (Magtech). Lee Precision makes dies; get them through Factory Sales for about $85, about a third of what some other makers charge.

Have fun!
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