First Afghan War rifles?

[hansol]

Hey there,

Just on the off chance that anyone here has better history knowledge than I do, what rifles was the British Empire using during their first Afghanistan campaign? ie 1842-ish? I'm completely stumped on this one.

Thanks guys -Cameron

 

[Bittermansbro]

The Brunswick Pattern mostly by that time, but with BEIC native forces, potentially still some Baker pattern rifles.

 

[hansol]

Sorry, I guess I should have been more careful in my choice of words. It should read what small arms were they using at time? Still Brown Bess front stuffers and such?

 

[Bittermansbro]

You asked what rifles. The Brunswick pattern front stuffer was being used at the time, it had replaced the Baker rifle front stuffer which replaced the Brown Bess.

 

[paulz]

Mostly Brown Bess, but some early percussion conversions. Original 3rd model India Pattern Brown Bess muskets were converted to percussion and reissued as the P-1839. The official dates of the war are 1839-1842, so I doubt that pattern-1842 percussion muskets would have been in use, except possibly at the end. I doubt that there were many rifles, and if there were, would have been Brunswick as already mentioned.

 

[Steppenwolf]

I would be surprised if many Brunswicks were there. Troops away from England were at the end of the supply/food chain, they would be the last to be issued newer kit.