Pattern 1844 Yeomanry Carbine of the S.N.Y.C.

  A rare percussion 1844 Patt Yeomanry carbine, Bearing issue marks for the SNYC, B Troop (Watnall) , weapon number 14. 


The Ordnance decided, along with the regular mounted regiments who had previously been equipped with pistols, to upgrade the weaponry of Yeomanry units to a carbine with the new percussion ignition system. Up to this point, some yeomanry regiments had adopted percussion carbines of Paget type, but most were still armed with the flintlock Light Dragoon pistol, including the South Nottinghamshire Yeomanry. The Ordnance created specifically for the Yeomanry, the Pattern 1844 percussion carbine. With a smooth bore barrel, 20 inches long of 16 bore calibre. With fixed sights, yet fitted with a jager style trigger guard. Fitted with a saddle ring mounted on a bar to the left hand side. To hang from a saddle fitting, ready to hand  when needed. Fitted with the new 1842 pattern percussion lock.

In may 1844, the government informed Lieutenant - Colonel Moore that the South Notts Yeomanry Cavalry were to be armed with the new percussion lock carbine inplace of the currently equipped flintlock pistol. Ten pistols were to be retained for the five Troop sergeant-majors, and the five trumpeters. The remaining pistols were to be returned to the Tower of London Armouries. The Pattern 1844 Carbine was made in two notable date blocks, 1844, and 1847, the SNYC re-equipped during the first issue, this example with a Tower armoury 1844 dated lock, and Enfield made 1844 dated barrel. 

The South Nottinghamshire Yeomanry continued to be regularly updated by the Ordnance with the new forms of carbine, almost inline with regular cavalry regiments. In 1853, the S.N.Y. were supplied with the rifled version of the percussion Paget carbine. These were replaced in 1869 by the percussion Westley-Richards breech loading "monkey-tail" carbine. In 1881, the regiment was supplied with the metallic cartridge, breech loading Snider-Enfield 577 carbine. This almost certainly being the carbine version specifically of yeomanry type which were converted from the now obsolete regular infantry rifle (as regular units moved on to the Martini-Henry rifle). In 1886, the regiment was re-equipped with the I.C.1. Martini-Henry cavalry carbine, a breech loading metallic lever action carbine. Ten years later, the regiment was equipped again with Martini action carbines, but now fitted with .303 rifled barrels, the new smokeless high velocity round,  the Martini-Enfield 303 carbine. 

When the regiment joined the Imperial Yeomanry for service in the Boer War, they were equipped in 1901 with 303 rifles, the Imperial Infantry being used as mounted riflemen in the conflict. It is not known if these were .303 Lee-Metfords, or .303 Lee-Enfields, if may have just been a case of whatever was available in store at the point of issue. It is also not known of the S.N.H. were issued the carbine version of the bolt action.303 Enfield (CMLE), the new standard  arm of the time for mounted cavalry units, again it may be a case of what was available to issue from stores. The last arm of the S.N.H. was the new S.M.L.E. rifle which was introduced to the regiment in 1909. First supplied to regular regiments from 1903 onwards, the 1903 version updated with the 1907 Mk111 S.M.L.E. which became the standard rifle on issue for all branches of service for WW1 and beyond.














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