AR763 - 16 bore two groove Newark's patented breech “Snider” sporting rifle signed Owen Powell.

An exceedingly rare sporting rifle, an adaption of the Snider action with enhanced safety. Made circa late 1860’s, with two-groove (almost Brunswick type) deep rifling; the 28” octagonal barrel has applied fore-sight, rear-sight of a standing notch with two additional folding leaves. The octagonal form flip-open breech signed 'NEWARK'S PATENT', with Arrow pierced S indicating Snider’s patent. It has borderline and scroll engraved bar action lock with external cocking 'hammer'. As befits a sporting rifle, it is fitted with a walnut half-stock chequered at the wrist, iron furniture and what I take to be a replacement wood clearing rod below the barrel; barrel and trigger guard iron surfaces with fine frosting.
 
The hammer is a means of “cocking” the internal firing pin, which is located horizontally within the breech block, the fall of the hammer also locking the breech: similar in manner to the Albini and Wanzl mechanisms. The hammer has an internal extension to the tumbler which actions the firing pin mechanism whilst simultaneously locking the breech block securely in place. Breeches blowing open on firing were found to be a problem with early Snider actions and this was one of the (civilian) means of addressing the safety problem.
 
Owen Powell traded at 66 Market Place, Sheffield between 1847 and 1862.
 
John Newark held GB patent 2403 of 22nd August 1867; Newark was a: machinist, power-loom maker and sometime gunsmith, who worked/traded 1853 to circa 1870 at 23 Bailey Lane, Coventry. There are very few known examples of Newark’s patent Snider breeches, of those known, they are mostly marked: marked as from the Braendlin Armoury Co., with the highest known patent acknowledgement number 18.
 
This particular rifle bears all the hallmarks of an older (probably muzzle loading Brunswick type of the late 1840’s) from Owen Powell, being brought “up to date” when converted to the more secure Newark type Snider breechloading mechanism. An exceedingly rare and good example of early breechloading technology and the only example I have seen.