Snider info wanted

[Dave.S]

What's more scarce?The Snider short rifle or the Snider cavalry carbine?Dave.

 

[JP]

Carbines are not seen as often, but neither are rare.

 

[Dave.S]

Thanks JP.

 

[maple_leaf_eh]

Beware of cut down long muskets that resemble or replicate carbines. An authentic carbine will have distinctive features, (off the top of my head) like sights, sling attachments, barrel markings, and stock bands, besides the obvious stock and barrel length.

 

[iron cat]

Beware of cut down long muskets that resemble or replicate carbines. An authentic carbine will have distinctive features, (off the top of my head) like sights, sling attachments, barrel markings, and stock bands, besides the obvious stock and barrel length.

I think the cavalry carbines have a distinctive lock cover as well that is held on with brass studs?
Cat

 

[milsurpo]

Mk III Short Rifles seem to be quite easily found in Canada, Mk II** less so, and Mk I* quite scarce. The Naval version is pretty rare in our country. Similarly for Cavalry carbines, the Mk III versions are around in fair quantity but I've yet to see, in person, a Mk II**.

milsurpo

 

[bush1]

I’m no expert on these so take it for what it’s worth but I do have a few.

My MK II * military and my MK III commercial are both 36” barrels.

My MK III Sgt’s model has a 31” barrel and takes a Yakatan type bayonet only as the barrel has a larger OD than the other longer ones.

My MK II ** Sporter (or is it a cadet) has a 36” barrel. It does have a shorter butt stock making a shorter lop.

Is the shorter barreled Sgt’s rifle the one referred to as a carbine?

 

[Dave.S]

No the shots model is a short rifle,Carbines have a 19.5 inch barrel

 

[bush1]

No the shots model is a short rifle,Carbines have a 19.5 inch barrel

Thanks, I’ve not seen one. We’re they manufactured as a carbine with the 19.5” barrel or modified afterwards?

 

[Dave.S]

Cadet carbines were made from long rifles,cavalry carbines were made that way.

 

[maple_leaf_eh]

Cadet carbines were made from long rifles, cavalry carbines were made that way.

That is the sort of detail which I refer to above. A cut down long rifle which is a verifiable Cadet Carbine would be more valuable than a civilian cut down rifle.

For example, when encountered Hudson Bay trade muskets almost never have full length barrels. The trappers regularly took off the buttplates to make hide scrapers, or they burst the weld on the barrels, either firing with an obstruction or from wear and tear damage. Not to mention a short musket is so much easier to manage in heavy brush than a long one.