vmicraig
Sergeant
- Joined
- Mar 12, 2018
- Location
- Midlothian, VA
I just moved back to the US last month and unboxed my beautiful British Pattern Greene carbine bought last winter while overseas. I am overjoyed. I've posted previously about Greene Carbines, but I don't mind repeating myself with new photos and tweeked info.
Despite failing selection by the US Ordnance Dept. for use by federal forces, the British agreed to purchase 2,000 slightly modified versions of the American Pattern Greene (subsequently dubbed the British Pattern) for use in the Crimean war, but they arrived too late for service. Additionally, ammunition issues prevented them from becoming standard issue weapons, thus most languished in storage in the Tower of London for years, with only a few being issued to British Yeomanry units for testing and evaluation. Those specimens bear British unit markings on their stocks.
Of the 2,000 British patterns produced, approximately half were destroyed during the great "Tower Purge", with the survivors eventually being sold off to speculators, surplus buyers and the civilian market. Records indicate Schuyler, Hartley and Graham (among others including Boker) bought at least 200 Greene's both prior to and after 1865.
Although most BP Greene's brought back to the US were sold off to private citizens and collectors, it wasn't uncommon for firms like SHG or Boker to market their surplus arms to the US Govt or northern states for use by their militias. It appears a few of the British patterns (estimated around 40 or so) were indeed sold back to the Union and actually received U.S. surcharge stamps, allegedly seeing "some" service in the latter part of the war, likely the 6th Ohio volunteer cavalry.
Today, less than 1,000 BP Greene's are known to exist, with many having been broken up into parts with locks and furniture found at auction decades ago. While not nearly as valuable as the rare American Pattern Greene's, the British Pattern Greene's, particularly U.S. surcharged ones like this example, are a scarcity.
Despite failing selection by the US Ordnance Dept. for use by federal forces, the British agreed to purchase 2,000 slightly modified versions of the American Pattern Greene (subsequently dubbed the British Pattern) for use in the Crimean war, but they arrived too late for service. Additionally, ammunition issues prevented them from becoming standard issue weapons, thus most languished in storage in the Tower of London for years, with only a few being issued to British Yeomanry units for testing and evaluation. Those specimens bear British unit markings on their stocks.
Of the 2,000 British patterns produced, approximately half were destroyed during the great "Tower Purge", with the survivors eventually being sold off to speculators, surplus buyers and the civilian market. Records indicate Schuyler, Hartley and Graham (among others including Boker) bought at least 200 Greene's both prior to and after 1865.
Although most BP Greene's brought back to the US were sold off to private citizens and collectors, it wasn't uncommon for firms like SHG or Boker to market their surplus arms to the US Govt or northern states for use by their militias. It appears a few of the British patterns (estimated around 40 or so) were indeed sold back to the Union and actually received U.S. surcharge stamps, allegedly seeing "some" service in the latter part of the war, likely the 6th Ohio volunteer cavalry.
Today, less than 1,000 BP Greene's are known to exist, with many having been broken up into parts with locks and furniture found at auction decades ago. While not nearly as valuable as the rare American Pattern Greene's, the British Pattern Greene's, particularly U.S. surcharged ones like this example, are a scarcity.
Bringing the