British Pattern 1858 Indian Service Pistol (AH6266)

This British Pattern 1858 Indian Service percussion pistol was manufactured for the British government by the Birmingham arms trade. It is marked for and intended for use by the East India Government native military troops and is based on the British Pattern 1856 and 1858 service pistols but is 65 caliber smooth bore rather than 577 caliber rifled as found on the British service pistols. The 1857 Sepoy rebellion by native Indian troops against the British ensured that the British always supplied weapons to the native troops that were a generation or two out of date. This pistol, dated 1871, is a great example as rifled cartridge guns were in abundance in the British army by then. This pistol is in excellent overall condition. The overall length is approx. 14". The 8" round barrel has an excellent smooth bore. The barrel has approx. 98% blue. It has a single V-notch rear sight and an iron blade on base front sight. The barrel is retained to the stock with a single screw through the breech tang and a flat key through the stock. The barrel has a series of proof and inspection marks at the breech. It features a captive rammer. The lock and hammer have excellent case colors. The lock is marked with a crown over broad arrow over EIG (East India Government) at the tail and BIRMINGHAM over 1871 at the center (the East India Company went out of business in 1873). The stock is fine with a few storage dents and dings. The left flat has the storekeeper's rondel with a crown over BIRMINGHAM in the outer circle and broad arrow over E.I.G. in the center. Forward of the rondel is the maker's name, JOSEPH WILSON. Joseph Wilson operated as a gunmaker at 67 1/2 - 70 Great Charles Street, Birmingham from 1845 to 1886. The stock's rear flat is marked with the assembler's initials, HH. The stock has a flat brass mounted butt with a rotating iron lanyard ring. The brass trigger guard and nose cap - ramrod pipe are fine. The action functions correctly. This excellent example of the British Pattern 1858 East Indian Government Service pistol is fit for the finest percussion pistol collection.