Original Item: Only One Available. This is a fascinating double barreled shotgun, originally made as a very rare Jacob’s Double Barrel Rifled Cavalry Carbine. This somewhat outlandish rifle/carbine was designed by the larger-than-life British General John Jacob of the Indian Army. He had intended it to be a highly accurate and useful weapon, however it unfortunately fell short of expectations. It was first introduced in 1854 intended for South Africa.
However, supplies were requested by the Malabar Police near Madras India during the same year. In South Africa these were issued to the 12th Lancers who were subsequently posted to Madras. The East India Company then contracted with Swinburn & Sons to supply the SCINDE IRREGULAR HORSE with their own Contract of the John Jacob design Double Barrel Carbines. This example still has the SCINDE IRREGULAR HORSE marking on the butt plate tang.
Unfortunately, the Pattern 1853 Enfield Rifled musket, supplied at the same time, led to this Rifled Carbine being converted to a double barreled shotgun. This was due to the paper cartridges that were supplied with the P-1853 muzzle loaders, which triggered the 1857 Indian Mutiny or Sepoy Rebellion.
The rumor had circulated that the paper cartridges, originally specified to use bee’s wax, were instead covered in both Cow’s Fat and…
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