English Snider Big Game Sporting Rifle

• Licensing Category: Antique
• Maker: Enfield
• Model: Snider
• Caliber/Gauge: .577


• Description:

  An above average commerical big game sporting rifle from the Victorian era.  This sporting rifle was built by a Birmingham Gunsmith/maker Edward Owen.   This Snider was custom built and with the exception of the locks and not assembled from surplus military parts.  This rifle shows a 33" 6 groove barrel.  The bore is bright very good with trace areas of light corrosion.  The rear sight is graduated to 900 yards.  The breech is the MKIII push lever release. The bolt and tang show hand engraving as does the lock plate.  The plate shows border engraving three areas of scroll and the makers name.  The hammer is of a thin goose neck design with matching engraving .  The lock is attached with a single bolt through the stock and and a front supporting screw.  The half stock shows a horn tip and original checkering.   The stock is English walnut, mounted with an engraved commercial trigger guard, escution and a steel butt plate.  The LOP is 13 3/4".  An above average 577 caliber sporting rifle that was probably built for a specific purchaser.  The majority of these rifles were purchased for safari hunting in Africa or Asia.  A collector grade commercial Snider that shows a weight of only 5.8 lbs.  This piece remains in excellent "as built and used" condition.