I recently purchased a snider carbine at auction, it was described as a cavalry carbine but it looks as though it is a private purchase sporting carbine with the correct snider trade/approval mark and no military acceptance marks. Overall condition was not bad no rot or rust, visible rifling, good lock mechanism, firing pin missing(now replaced), BUT no backsight or any evidence of one ever being fitted, it looks identical to a gaol carbine, but with rifleing, anyone got any thoughts on this? Did gaol carbines come smoothbore or would some have been rifled .
There are no manufactures marks or serial numbers, it was said to have come from South Africa, no written provinance or proof.
Thanks in advance for any assistnce
