I collect Canadian-issue military firearms, concentrating on the period from 1855 (when the pre-Confederation Province of Canada was first required to take primary responsibility for its own defence) through to the end of world War II .... and I like to shoot them, also.
I'd say that my 5 "rarest" pieces, in order of age, are:
1. .36 caliber London Colt Model 1851 "Navy" percussion revolver with Upper Canada ownership/issue markings, one of about 800 acquired by the (pre-Confederation) Province of Canada in 1855-56 -
(I haven't shot this one (.... yet .....) because I have a reproduction London Navy for that ..... the lower one in the photo above.)
2. .50-60 rimfire Canadian-contract Peabody rifle, bearing "CM" (Canada Militia) property mark; one of several types of American-made breechloaders acquired in haste in 1866-67 (again, pre-Confederation) in response to the Fenian Raids emergency -
(I have a centerfire-conversion breechblock for shooting this old gal with shortened .50-70 brass, preserving the original rimfire block and striker. Original .577 Snider-Enfield cartridge included in photo for comparison.)
3. 1873-dated Mark I .577/.450 Martini-Henry rifle, one of 2,100 acquired by Canada in early 1874, prior to official approval of the final pattern of the Mark I M-H rifle. These Canadian-purchase rifles escaped a British War Department directive that any early-pattern Mark I rifles already issued were to be returned for "upgrading" to the final approved pattern. Accordingly, they retain certain distinct features, including a bronze breech-block pivot pin rather than the final pattern of pivot pin (which was steel) -
4. .45 caliber Model 1878 Colt Double Action revolver, produced in 1883 - one of 1,001 revolvers of this model hastily acquired by the Canadian Department of Militia & Defence in early 1885 for use in the North West Rebellion of that year. (Yes, they were nickel-plated!)
At least some of these revolvers went to South Africa in 1899 for service with the first Canadian contingent sent for the Boer War. Below - Buglers of the 2nd Battalion, Royal Canadian Regiment, in South Africa -
Shown here- with cartridges - in a "comparison shot" with the .476 Enfield revolver which is #5 on my list ......
5. 1884-dated .476 Enfield revolver Mark II, documented as one of approximately 1,080 such revolvers acquired by the North West Mounted Police starting in 1882; this model was in primary service with the NWMP until 1905 -
HONOURABLE MENTION - 1914-production .45ACP Colt Government Model pistol, one of 5,000 purchased that year for the Canadian Expeditionary Force -
I'd say that my 5 "rarest" pieces, in order of age, are:
1. .36 caliber London Colt Model 1851 "Navy" percussion revolver with Upper Canada ownership/issue markings, one of about 800 acquired by the (pre-Confederation) Province of Canada in 1855-56 -
(I haven't shot this one (.... yet .....) because I have a reproduction London Navy for that ..... the lower one in the photo above.)
2. .50-60 rimfire Canadian-contract Peabody rifle, bearing "CM" (Canada Militia) property mark; one of several types of American-made breechloaders acquired in haste in 1866-67 (again, pre-Confederation) in response to the Fenian Raids emergency -
(I have a centerfire-conversion breechblock for shooting this old gal with shortened .50-70 brass, preserving the original rimfire block and striker. Original .577 Snider-Enfield cartridge included in photo for comparison.)
3. 1873-dated Mark I .577/.450 Martini-Henry rifle, one of 2,100 acquired by Canada in early 1874, prior to official approval of the final pattern of the Mark I M-H rifle. These Canadian-purchase rifles escaped a British War Department directive that any early-pattern Mark I rifles already issued were to be returned for "upgrading" to the final approved pattern. Accordingly, they retain certain distinct features, including a bronze breech-block pivot pin rather than the final pattern of pivot pin (which was steel) -
4. .45 caliber Model 1878 Colt Double Action revolver, produced in 1883 - one of 1,001 revolvers of this model hastily acquired by the Canadian Department of Militia & Defence in early 1885 for use in the North West Rebellion of that year. (Yes, they were nickel-plated!)
At least some of these revolvers went to South Africa in 1899 for service with the first Canadian contingent sent for the Boer War. Below - Buglers of the 2nd Battalion, Royal Canadian Regiment, in South Africa -
Shown here- with cartridges - in a "comparison shot" with the .476 Enfield revolver which is #5 on my list ......
5. 1884-dated .476 Enfield revolver Mark II, documented as one of approximately 1,080 such revolvers acquired by the North West Mounted Police starting in 1882; this model was in primary service with the NWMP until 1905 -
HONOURABLE MENTION - 1914-production .45ACP Colt Government Model pistol, one of 5,000 purchased that year for the Canadian Expeditionary Force -
