Pattern 1858 Indian .656 inch smoothbore musket, 1858 (c)

Converted from a Pattern 1853 Enfield rifle-musket in India, this exceptionally rare item was part of an original issue of 10,000 weapons sold by the British Government to the East Indian Company in 1856. Pattern 1853 Enfield rifle-muskets were a contributory cause of the Indian Mutiny (1857-1859) because of the belief that animal fat had been incorporated in the grease for the cartridges. After the Mutiny, most Indian troops were issued with smooth-bore muskets which at the same time were to look similar to Enfield rifles. In this case the original rifling was bored out and a locally-made ramrod fitted. Also, a simple fixed backsight replaced the graduated rear sight of the Enfield.