British Weapons?

[Ranger Joe]

Hi,
I know that there were many immigrants from Europe in the 19th century, and I'm sure a few brought firearms with them, but I was wondering how prevalent British weapons would have been in the West during the 1860's-1880's period.

I know that there were doubtless many surplus Enfields in use (at least in the earlier part of the period), but were there any conversions (like the Snider), or indeed any later weapons like the Martini-Henry in use at all, or would they have been rarities?

I'd be much obliged for any information.

Thanks
M-H

[St. George]

Those percussion Enfields may've been used, but by the end of the Civil War - cartridge weapons were in general use in the civilan world, and would've comprised the majority of firearms in general use and would've been deemed most desireable.

The Sniders would've been seen North of the Medicine Line - since they fired a propritary cartridge, while Martini-Henrys would've stayed with British Forces wherever they served, and it's doubtful they'd've seen America until well after their service - when they were released from Stores and sold off to surplus dealers, though most of those went on to arm Colonial troops in the backwaters of the Empire.

British-made shotguns were sold here, though they were costly when compared to American makes.

All is not lost, though - since the Grand Army of the Frontier encourages the use of those weapons, so long as you wear the uniform of the appropriate era.

European immigrants brought their household goods (what they had) and maybe a shotgun if the family owned one, but most sold everything in order to book passage and begin a new life, and planned upon buying needed goods once they settled.

Vaya,

Scouts Out!

[minerotago]

I might be away out here in New Zealand but my spies told me that General Custer had two RIC model Webley revolvers and his brother Tom carried a British Galand and Somerville revolver. It was sold at Butterfield and Butterfields auction on April 4th 1995.
I think that early on a fair smattering of Adams revolvers must have gone West with civil war soldiers as the Confederacy had quite a lot. They were also an extremely good revolver, well made, strong, reliable and DA. The DA was far superior to the first Colt DA,s which had the nicname I read, 'The American Gunsmiths abomination' I pulle done apart once and it appeared very fragile and delicate.

[Fox Creek Kid]

Remember, Canada was a part of the British Empire and as a result tons of British guns were imported there and obviously there was some "osmosis" of the border then. Many buffalo hunters in the U.S. wrote of using Snider conversions as well as Allin conversions in the early days of hide hunting before it became more commercialized.

[Trailrider]

Remember, Canada was a part of the British Empire and as a result tons of British guns were imported there and obviously there was some "osmosis" of the border then. Many buffalo hunters in the U.S. wrote of using Snider conversions as well as Allin conversions in the early days of hide hunting before it became more commercialized.

"A Snider squibbed in the forest.
Someone laughed and fled.
And the men of the First Shikari,
picked up their subaltern, dead.
W' a neat blue 'ole in 'is fore'ead,
An' th' back blown out of 'is 'ead!"

Rudyard Kipling

[minerotago]

Wicked things them Sniders - I have two of them here and still have a fair bit of original ammunition. great on defunct motorcars and anything else that gets in the way. Also the Martini Henry, the cartridge being a bottlenecked Snider from .577 down to .450. I still use one with original foil cases for pigs now and again.

[ColonelFlashman]

Webley, Adams, Lancaster, Kerr, Tranter, Deane-Adams, Kynoch, etc. , all had Offices here in the States on the East Coast, along w/ many other firearms Manufacturers to Numerous to name & they were all usually competitively priced w/ American products.