Manufactured circa 1855. This carbine incorporates F. Prince’s British Patent No. 386 of February 21 1855., The two-stage round sliding barrel is rifled with five grooves and has tapering browned twist first stage with block-mounted bead front sight, browned rear sight of one standing and two folding blued leaves, bright larger diameter breech section with sighting-flat engraved "PRINCE’S PATENT LONDON" and casehardened breech engraved with scrollwork. A turned bolt handle is attached to the underside of the breech and protrudes through the underside of the stock forend to slide the barrel forward and open the breech for loading. Casehardened tang and back action lock, each finely engraved with further scrollwork, the latter signed "PRINCE’S PATENT LONDON." Casehardened trigger plate, flat fronted casehardened trigger guard engraved en suite, checkered pistol grip spur, dark horn finger rest, blued sliding safety stop for the bolt, well-figured walnut half-stock with checkered grip, green horn forend cap, a blued plate slotted for the barrel bolt fitted to the underside of the stock in front of the trigger guard and engraved with further scrollwork, blued open barrel bands, and casehardened rear sling mount engraved with a rosette and casehardened steel buttplate with scroll engraved tang. There are London proofmarks.

Very fine. 95% browned finish remains on the exterior of the front section of the barrel; larger diameter breech section bright. Breech, tang and lock each have 95% faded original casehardened finish while the trigger guard and buttplate each retain 90%, the latter with some surface corrosion spotting. The bolt handle retains 20% original blued finish. The bolt guide plate retains 95% original blued finish, and the barrel bands 90% original blued finish. The stock has numerous minor storage and handling mark and checkering remains sharp. Engraving is clear and sharp throughout. This carbine rates as the best Prince’s Patent carbine the writer has encountered on the open market.