British Snider

Musketfire

Musketfire

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Well for the past few days Ive been thinking alot about getting a proper 3 band snider rifle, for drill and shooting and general fun.

Im looking for maybe a Canadian source that sells Dominion of Canada marked British proofed 3 band sniders.

So far the only company I have found is collectors source , though they have a few they are roughly 1000$ each and seem to be in rough shape.

What kind of price am I looking at for a D.O.C marked and British made 3 band snider with a sharp bore?? "Im ok with changing some springs or replacing some missing minor parts"

I dont mind saving a bit to afford one, being able to choose between a few different ones would indeed be prefered.

Im not in a big rush to get one as I want to shop around and get a good one.

I have tons of brass/ reloading kit and have been happily shooting my cadet for months, its time to get a proper full size one.


Cheers all

Rob
 
Usually "John Denner" has some for sale. I just sold one like you want for $1,250.00 with original marked ramrod, nipple protector and original buff leather sling. You will probably not find a "deal" in the retail sector. Keep asking around and looking in your own territory and one will show up. Don't discount a short rifle (two band) as they have a faster twist barrel and shoot conicals better than the three band rifles. I started out buying cheaper Sniders...cut downs and ones with problems but have since given that up and try to be more picky now. Good luck
 
I picked up my DoC marked 3 bander at a retail store in Ontario for $400, so there are deals out there. And that was only a few months ago.
 
As you probably know, the Snider-Enfield has a very strong Canadian connection, since we kept it in regular military service longer than any other part of the British Empire. Canadian troops were among the first in the Empire to be armed with them (1867) because of the Fenian Raids and, for 'economy' reasons we pretty much passed over the Martini-Henry (1874) and even the Lee-Metford (1888). Finally, the decision was made in 1895/96 to replace the badly outdated Sniders ..... albeit with .303 Martini-Metford single shots, which were actually ordered from the UK! However, Britain "strong-armed" the Canadian government to go with the Magazine Lee-Enfield (because of very strained relations at that time between the UK and US over a long-standing dispute Venezuela and British Guiana, which raised the real possibility of war - http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/ops/venezuela1895.htm .....) However, some Canadian units had to wait until after the turn of the 20th century to have their Snider rifles replaced!

Thus the Snider-Enfield is the quintessential Canadian post-Confederation military firearm - in the hands of Canada's Active Militia infantry battalions it forestalled the Fenian incursions, it went west with the Red River Expedition in 1870 and again for the 1885 North West Rebellion .... and also went on many a trip to the rifle range and on all the ongoing regular drills and field exercises .....

Can you tell that I have a fond place in my heart for the Snider-Enfield? ;)

Anyway, one excellent source for vintage military firearms is Jean Plamondon ("P&S Guns and Militaria"). He is is a great chap to deal with and is currently listing four Canadian-issue Snider-Enfield rifles (two 3-band infantry rifles, and two 2-band "short rifles" as issued to Rifles battalions and Sergeants of Infantry.) Check here (scroll down through the 'British' section to the Canadian section below it) - http://psmilitaria.50megs.com/antiques.html

As you may know, the "short rifles command something of a price premium, but his prices on the two 3-banders are C$895 and C$850.

He doesn't have any picture links on the $885 listing (but will be glad to provide them if you ask). Here are some of his images of the $850 rifle -

1613.JPG


1613b.JPG


1613f.JPG
 
Completely forgot to mention .... :redface: .... that I currently have a Canadian-marked Mk III short rifle which is "surplus to my needs", as it were.

Issued to the 39th Battalion (Norfolk Rifles, headquartered at Simcoe, County of Norfolk) - not an "Enfield-made" rifle, however .... like all (or the great majority, anyway) of Canadian MkIII 2-band rifles, it was manufactured by BSA and is 1872-dated.

Let me know if you might be interested in it.
 
Wow, first of all, let me say thanks to all the replys!!

Mr Grant,
Im presently the proud owner of a Portugese , B.S.A marked carbine/cutdown purchased from one of own here, though thank you for the offer, Im really wanting a full length 3 bander.

Im looking foward to reading your links provided though!!


For the past few years I have been studying and reenacting the French and Indian and the rev war, practicing the drill of those periods at various forts and events and shooting the arms.

A 3 band snider while being a fine historical addition to my collection and a enjoyable arm to shoot, will also allow me to study infantry drill of that period.


Cheers Gentlemen!
 
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