T. Turner & Sons To ‘JOHN R. SURR 6 LRV’(6th Battalion Lancashire Rifle Volunteers) & 1 Inert Deactivated Round. Sn 22351 Single Shot .577 Snider Rifle

Victorian British Volunteer Officer’s Thomas Turner, Birmingham Snider MK III .577 Obsolete Calibre 3 Band Match Prize Rifle With Presentation Plate To ‘JOHN R. SURR 6 LRV’(6th Battalion Lancashire Rifle Volunteers) & 1 Inert Deactivated Round. Sn 22351 - 22351

TURNER, Thomas [1861-1879] was an English Gunmaker with a shop at 8 Fisher Street, Birmingham. He made percussion sporting guns and Under Royal Government contract made Army metallic cartridge Snider Patent rifles (see A. Merwyn Carey’s book English, Irish and Scottish Firearms Makers). The Volunteer Force was raised in 1859 under the provisions of the 1804 Yeomanry Act. The majority of the Volunteer units were riflemen, but there were also artillery, engineer and cavalry (light horse) formations. Members of the Volunteer Force were exempt from service in both the regular Army and the Militia. The 6th Lancashire Rifle Volunteer Battalion had eight companies: 'A' Company - Liverpool 'B' Company - Liverpool 'C' Company - Liverpool 'D' Company - Liverpool 'E' Company - Liverpool 'F' Company - Newton-le-Willows 'G' Company - Liverpool This is a militia / volunteer officer’s private purchase .577 Calibre Snider, MK III 3 Band Match prize Rifle by Thomas Turner made at his Fischer Street premises awarded as a match prize to a member of the 6th LRV. It has all original woodwork and metal throughout. Its steel action plate is signed by the maker ‘THOMAS TURNER FISCHER STREET BIRMINGHAM’. The barrel has proof / inspection marks. It has a brass butt plate, trigger guard & fore end block. The rifle measures 55” overall with a 39” barrel. The stock is very good and has chequered grip panels. The underside of the shoulder stock has a military match presentation white metal disc engraved to ‘JOHN R. SURR 6 LRV (6th Lancashire Rifle Volunteers)’ The barrel’s bore has just light staining consistent with age and use & well defined rifling. The hinged breech has the correct MK III knurled locking catch. The rifle is complete with sling swivels, ram rod, block and blade fore sight, ladder rear sight & heavy military hammer. Its cocking and firing actions work crisply. The rifle comes with a single inert deactivated Kynoch .577 Snider round. The price includes UK delivery. NB This is an antique, obsolete calibre weapon and no licence is required to own this item in the UK if retained as a part of a collection or display. Sn 22351

£975.00