Russian copy of Brunswick .70 in percussion rifle, 1854

During the Crimean War (1854-1856) the Russian Army employed both smoothbore firearms and rifles. The Russians arranged for the manufacture of rifles that were almost exact copies of the British Army percussion Brunswick rifle, which had been used by British rifle regiments prior to the introduction of the Minié. It had a range of about 300 yards (274 metres).

The brass patch box on the butt, stamped with the Russian Imperial eagle, has been engraved to reveal that this Russian Brunswick rifle was taken at the capture at Bomarsund in 1854 by Lieutenant F A Close of HMS 'Blenheim'. The weapon is undated but the lock was made in Liege, Belgium by gunmaker P J Malherle.