AR762 - Very Rare .55” Greene's British 1855 Trials capping breech-loading carbine
A .55” Greene's British 1855 Trials capping breech-loading carbine. An extremely rare .55 Greene's patent British issue capping breech-loading carbine signed Massachusetts Arms Co., one of the only 2000 commissioned for troop trials. The inventor, U.S. Colonel James Durrell Greene, offered his design to the British military in summer 1855, with initial testing of his design at the Hythe school of Musketry during October to December 1855. Notably successful throughout the Hythe testing, the Maynard Tape Priming system had been particularly well received (this version of the Maynards Tape primer is the rotary type rather than the push type). An order was placed with the Massachusetts Arms Co., of Chicopee Falls, USA in late 1855 for 2000 for issue and extended troop trials, with all delivered by March 1858. British manufacturers were otherwise engaged with production of the percussion Enfield hence the use of US manufacturers to fulfil urgent supply needs for arms at a time of war with Russia and unrest in India and the burgeoning Empire. This example is serial number 1726, and dated for 1856. It has correct British inspection marks and is Sold out of Service stamped.
Serial number 1726, it is correctly dated for 1856, with tapering round 18in. barrel, plain hammer, walnut butt-stock with iron patch-box and semi-crescent heel-plate, saddle-ring to the trigger-guard tang, large trigger-guard bow with two triggers, the front unlocking the barrel for loading, British ordnance stamps, sold out of service arrows.
A small number were taken into US Federal service. A quantity were bought-back into Federal service for issue during the Civil War.
The large trigger-guard has two triggers, the front unlocking the barrel for loading and the rear for discharge. To load, the front trigger is pulled and the tapering round 18in. barrel is rotated anti-clockwise to unlock the barrel from the receiver, which is then pulled forward and hinges to the right, for loading of the combustible cartridge. The top-tang is marked 'GREENE'S PATENT’ over ‘JUNE 27 1854' with back-action lock-plate fitted with Maynard's tape priming system and marked 'MASS. ARMS CO. CHICOPEE FALLS USA 1856', a 'VR' crown cypher and 'MAYNARD'S PATENT SEPT 22 1845'; there are plenty of British military inspection marks, including sold out of service arrows. The bore is bright and shiny with clear and sharp rifling and overall clean condition with sharp edges – it has not been taken down and refinished but has plenty of original although slightly faded, colour.