Manufactured by Swinburn & Son in 1861, this double barrel percussion rifle was invented by General John Jacob and comes with one of the rarest British bayonets. An officer of the British East India Company, Jacob commanded a cavalry regiment called the 36th Jacob's Horse and founded the town Jacobabad in 1847 (now a city in Pakistan). The rifle he invented fired an explosive shell designed to explode ammunition carts at long distances. The rifle is sighted to 2,000 yards. The explosive loads that the rifle once fired were marketed for use against large thick skinned game (i.e., rhinos and elephants) and references to the gun being used in the American Civil War have been made. In fact, the American surplus dealer Francis Bannerman listed these rifles as elephant rifles. The lock plates are marked "SWINBURN & SON/PATENT/1861" and the iron patch box located on the right side of the buttstock is marked "JACOB'S RIFLES." The patch box marking referred to a proposed regiment called Jacob's Rifles that Jacob intended to raise. It was proposed that 900 of the 1,000 men of the regiment would carry the rifle that bore the commander's name. However, Jacob died before the contract was finished. Although Swinburn & Son finished the contract after Jacob's death, the rifles were released to the civilian market. As stated, the rifle has a ladder rear sight graduated to 2,000 yards. Behind the ladder sight is a three leaf express sight graduated 1 through 3. The front sight is a beaded blade. Mounted on a smooth straight grip half-stock with a flat iron buttplate. The side of the right barrel has a bayonet lug marked "S&S/B/370." With the rifle is an impressive sword bayonet that has a 30 1/4 inch blade, checkered handle and basket hilt. These bayonets are even rarer than the rifle and measure nearly as long as the rifle. The scabbard is modern. The rifle carries an iron ramrod and has two sling swivels holding a canvas sling and a single proofmarked barrel band marked "PATENT." Included with this unique rifle is a second iron ramrod (modern), patches, .52 caliber ball bullet mold, bullet mold with two interchangeable conical bullet molds and two Brazil 40 reis coins.

Very good. The rifle has a mottled bright gray patina with minor pitting. The markings are clear. The wood is fine with a number of minor pressure dents. Mechanically excellent. The bayonet is good with a mottled bright gray patina with traces of blue finish on and around the ricasso, minor pitting (mostly on the hilt) and wear on the grip. Do not miss your opportunity to fill a missing gap to your 19th century British militia collection with one of the most unusual arms of the day!