EXTREMELY RARE**ORIGINAL** American Civil War / Crimean War Era, Model 1843 Luttich, Imperial Russian PJ Malherbe Liege Contract, British Brunswick Pattern .70 Calibre Percussion Rifle With 2 Groove Rifling, Patchbox & Moulded Lead Belted Balls. Sn 21663 Muzzleloader .7 Rifles

**EXTREMELY RARE**ORIGINAL** American Civil War / Crimean War Era, Model 1843 Luttich, Imperial Russian PJ Malherbe Liege Contract, British Brunswick Pattern .70 Calibre Percussion Rifle With 2 Groove Rifling, Patchbox & Moulded Lead Belted Balls. - 21663

This extremely rare, Luttich Model Imperial Russian British Brunswick Pattern Rifle was produced in Liege, Belgium by PJ Malherbe under contract for the Russian Government. The Russians adopted a copy of the British Pattern 1837 Brunswick Rifle as their rifled arm for limited issue to rifle regiments in 1843, and called it the M-1843 Luttich Carbine. Until the adoption of a smaller bore, rifled long arm in 1856 for general issue to the entire Russian infantry, this was the only rifled long arm in Russian service. These unique rifles were roughly .70 calibre and used a special two groove rifling that turned at a very fast rate of one complete turn in the length of the 30” barrel. The very deep rifling grooves were designed to accept the moulded belt that went around the round ball that the rifle was originally designed to fire. The Russians adopted a belted sugar loaf conical bullet instead of the British round ball, and used this conical projectile and these rifles to good effect against the British during the Crimean War. According to the Congressional Report on imported arms, issued by the second session of congress in 1862, approximately 22,000 Russian arms were imported by the U.S Government in the early days of the American Civil War, most in December of 1861. It is generally assumed that these were all large calibre, smooth bore arms. However, since it is known Russian arms were purchased, and since it is also well known that the arms were often misclassified (arms that looked similar were often grouped together even if of different origin), there is the possibility that some of these rifles were imported. The Ordnance Department may have categorized these rifles as Belgian (based upon the maker mark) or a British (based upon their appearance). This original M1843 rifle is in excellent overall condition and is 100% complete and original. The gun has a 30” Damascus steel barrel (46" overall). The barrels bore has just light staining consistent with age and use and deep cut correct 2 groove rifling. The barrel has a heavy sabre bayonet bar (designed to accept the Russian version of the British Brunswick sabre bayonet). The original graduated long-range rear site (that was supposedly developed by Colt) is present just forward of the breech, and the iron blade front site present at the end of the barrel. The gun has regulation pattern brass furniture, including the butt plate, fore end cap, trigger guard with extended tang and patch box with hinged lid (the box contains 5 moulded belted lead balls). The rifle retains both of its original sling swivels, as well as the original heavily cupped steel ramrod. The back action lock is clearly marked 'PJ Malherbe A Liege' together with inspection mark and the butt plate tang is marked '944' (repeated on the action) together with an engraved Imperial Russian Imperial symbol. The metal work has other inspection proof marks (illustrated).A brass disc located on the wrist of the gun has the correct Imperial Russian Royal Cypher. The action of the gun works crisply, with both full cock and half cock operating crisply. The stock is all original & complete with just the light bumps and bruises to be expected. While we may never know for sure if these Brunswick rifles ever made it to the US for Civil War use, we do know that they were rare and special weapons during their service with the Russian army in Crimea. Today only a handful of these rifles are known to exist. Whether your collecting specialty is simply European long arms of the Victorian Era, the Crimean War, English arms and their derivatives or Civil War era arms, this is a rifle that could easily be the centre piece of an advanced collection. It is 100% complete and original. The price includes UK delivery. NB As an antique percussion rifle no licence is required to own this item in the UK if retained as part of a collection or display. Sn 21663

£3,950.00