Hello. After watching for a while, I decided I needed to join and participate. I have a curious Pattern 1853 "carbine" that I could use some help on. It is a 2 band carbine with a 24" barrel and multiple inspection marks. I believe it is a cut down version of a pattern 1853 rifled musket because it doesn't have a bayonet lug, the ladder site is positioned in the same location as a rifled musket, and it has 3 rifle grooves.
More interesting is the series of marks on the barrel. I beleive it was originally a British ordinance (VR under the crown on the lockplate) but has a "s" stamped through the final acceptance mark (crown over arrow) on the barrel, and another acceptance mark (crown over Tt over arrow).I believe this was the procedure when a rifled musket failed to meet the specifications because of damage in the field. The gun was then returned to be refurbished and could only be sold commercially. I assume this accounts for the number of inspections marked on the barrel.
Additionally, there is a faint crown over 18 just behind the trigger and a "L" or "L1" over "65" and another view? mark on the right stock.
I am curious on where the gun may have been sold the second time around and what the L 68 may mean on the butt tang.
Thanks in advance.
More interesting is the series of marks on the barrel. I beleive it was originally a British ordinance (VR under the crown on the lockplate) but has a "s" stamped through the final acceptance mark (crown over arrow) on the barrel, and another acceptance mark (crown over Tt over arrow).I believe this was the procedure when a rifled musket failed to meet the specifications because of damage in the field. The gun was then returned to be refurbished and could only be sold commercially. I assume this accounts for the number of inspections marked on the barrel.
Additionally, there is a faint crown over 18 just behind the trigger and a "L" or "L1" over "65" and another view? mark on the right stock.
I am curious on where the gun may have been sold the second time around and what the L 68 may mean on the butt tang.
Thanks in advance.