Rare Nepalese Nakku Arsenal "Gurkha Snider", .577 Snider

ALL ANTIQUE RIFLES SOLD AS-IS. NEVER ATTEMPT TO FIRE AN ANTIQUE WEAPON WITHOUT CONSULTING A GUNSMITH. SEE PICTURES FOR CONDITION AND DETAILS

After the American Civil War, and various wars throughout the British Empire, there was a surplus of obsolete 1853 Enfield rifles. The obvious solution was to upgrade these into breech-loading cartridge rifles. In 1866 the British adopted a conversion developed by an American, Jacob Snider. What does that have to do with Nepal?

Well, in 1813 the Himalayan kingdom of Nepal decided to invade India - at the time controlled by the East India Company. The legendary Nepalese Gurkhas were able to fight off the largest army in the world for nearly three years, before finally succombing to the British Army.

The treaty of  Segauli in 1816 ended the war, set up the permanent boundry of the country, opened up trade, and immortalized the Gurkhas as part of Britians military operations. It also required Britain to help Nepal modernise its military and establish an arms factory at Nakku in Kathmandu. The Nepalese, under British supervision, adopted and built a version of every model of Standard British long arm from the Brown Bess to the SMLE.

This "Snider" was beautifully machined and has finer details than "real" Sniders. It follows the MKIII pattern, with a locking breech. The condition of this rifle is fantastic, easily the best example we have ever seen. The lock is tight, the breech is better fitted than even British examples, and the chamber and bore are clean.

The condition is even more impressive since this rifle was brought back from Afghanistan by an American soldier in the early 2000s.

577 Snider caliber.

Please see photos for additional markings and condition.