Looking for Snider trivia

camster

camster

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Howdy folks.

Don't visit antique n' BP often enough!

I am curious about a rifle that used to hang in my Great-Uncles home...

It will not be showing up in the EE and, I'm not trying to build hype...I was told it was a 57 Snyder (sp?). The thing was VERY long and, had a triangular shaped bayonet. Lots of wood and, bands...

What would such a thing be worth? I did search and, see that many re-load for it (24G brass?)...where can I read about this one? Should I be looking in "milsurp"?

Any info appreciated as well as direction where to read more.

Thanks all
 
Snider

Camster,
The short answer is:

The Snider Enfield came about as a result of the British Military in the 1860's realising that they needed a breech loading rifle to keep up with the other continental armies.
As a short term measure they held a competition to see what designs could be found to add a breech to existing stocks of thousands Pattern 53 rifled muskets. At the same time they worked on designing a breech loader from scratch, eventually coming up with the Martini Henry (of "Zulu" fame).
The winning design was by an American, Jacob Snider, & it involved (briefly) machining off the back of the barrel & adding an opening breech.
Thousands of these rifles were sent to Canada to equip the Militia here, partly due to the threat from the Fenian raids coming up from the USA.
They remained in Canadian Milita service for some 25+ years even though the British Military relegated their Sniders to 2nd line status in the 1870's as the purpose designed Martini Henry was issued.
The Snider Enfield is .577 calibre & is great fun to shoot & easy to reload. Many can be found at gun shows around Ontario, quite often marked with the "DC" (Dominion Canada) stamp.
Comes in 3 band, 2 band & various carbine versions. A great & fun rifle with lots of Canadian history. I enjoy shooting mine regularly. With the bayonet on the front they also look very impressive.

For more detailed information on loading etc try here: britishmilitariaforums.yuku.com They have a section on the Snider & the Martini.
Peter (Burlington, Ontario)
 
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Snider trivia

Some more Snider trivia.

Jacob Snider died in poverty, still in dispute with the British Government over the short payment (according to him) of the royalties due on his breech design.

The original P53 bayonet for the Snider (at approx. 17" long) was thought by then current military doctrine to be the correct minumum length to withstand a cavalry charge.
As the Snider's successor (the Martini) was shorter, the bayonet was accordingly lengthened up to about 21" becoming the Pattern 76 bayonet (not the official designation).

Peter (Burlington, Ontario)
 
A Snider squibbed in the jungle,
Somebody laughed and fled
And the men of th First Shikaris
Picked up their Subaltern dead,
With a big blue mark on his forehead
And the back blown out of his head.

There's Snider trivia for you: Kipling, "Grave of the Hundred Dead".

Properly, Snider-Enfields were built from Pattern 1858 rifles only. The Patterns 1858 and 1853 looked VERY much alike, but the 58s were 100% interchangeable, thanks to Sir Joseph Whitworth, while a '53 could require some hand fiting. The '53s were given as military aid or sold for surplus, which is why there are more of them still to be found than '58s: the '58s wer converted. When they ran out of Pattern 1858 rifles to convert, they started making new rifles from scatch, these using a modified breechblock with a press-type locking-catch to it and a STEEL barrel instead of the older brown-iron barrel. These rifles were made starting in 1867 through 1872 and properly are termed SNIDER RIFLES MARK III. The earlier rifles properly are termed SNIDER-ENFIELD RIFLES and will be marked as anything from Mark I (very darned rare), Mark I*, Mark II, Mark II* and IIRC Mark II**. They will be dated anything from 1858 through 1867..... but there are some floating about with earlier...... and later.... locks, same as there are Snider Rifles floating about with earlier locks. The Army used what they had, that worked, to keep the things shooting...... and the locks were fully interchangeable, anyway. This may not be up to 'collector grade' but the Army wasn't servicing rifles for collectors 140 years in the future; they were doing it for troopies that needed the things in working condition right now.

The Snider was the main rifle used in the Riel Rebellion.

They are a LOT of fun to shoot.
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Thanks you guys.

I appreciate your sharing. I'd like to print this off and, give it to my cousin. This is a rifle that has been in the family for a LONG time. It hung on the wall of my Great Uncle and, It's my understanding he got it from his Great Uncle (will confirm).

I'd stare at it as a kid. It seemed a mile long (esp with bayonet). I also recall they had 2 rounds loaded and, 2 spent brass. Will keep my eye open at shows for a live round but, I have doubts I'd be allowed to shoot it.

I do appreciate the information.
 
you can reload them fairly easily with .24 gauge brass, cornmeal for a wad and a round ball with some bullet lube. Dont remember the grains I used mabye another member can chime in and lend there expertise. My father found one once in a barn when he was a kid wrapped in a union jack flag in the attic along with a winchester 1886 in a fluer de lis. this was my grandfathers place and had been there for a very long time. I reloaded some ammo and we went out and shot it after all that time and it worked great!
 
Thanks guys

Ihave copied and, pasted your replies and, will bring them to a cousin. It's pretty nifty for them to have had this in the family for so many generations but, it's FAR neater to know it's history and, purpose behind it!

I'd like to try to shoot it someday but, if it's a big as I recall, I doubt I'll lift t!
 
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