This is a very rare example of a Farquhar-Hill semi-automatic rifle that was manufactured during WWI, circa 1917. This rifle was originally developed in England by Colonel Moubray Farquhar and noted British gunsmith Arthur Hill. The original patent was issued circa 1908, as a recoil-operated system. This initial design was chambered in 8mm, which proved to be way to unreliable and was eventually replaced with a revised design circa 1917-18 with these models chambered in .303 British. British initially ordered a small quantity of Farquhar-Hill rifles in late WWI; however, due to the end of the war, the British Government canceled the contract with only a very few examples ever produced. It did see very limited use towards the end of WWI with British aviators (observers and rear gunners) as an adjunct to the forward firing fixed and rear firing light machine guns. This practice was similar to the practice used by the Germans with the Mauser Selbstlader and Mondragon rifles, both of which also utilized large capacity magazines. This use of the self-loading large capacity rifles were an enormous advantage over manually operated rifles and semi-automatic pistols that were used during WWI. This is a fairly advanced and uniquely designed weapon for the 1915-18 time frame. In design the gas piston system is mounted approximately 9 inches from the muzzle on the underside of the barrel. It is comprised of a fixed gas block mounted on the barrel with a screw in gas cylinder combined with an adjustable (screw-in) gas plug with a multi-spring recoil system. Upon firing, the piston would compress two springs, a mainspring and a piston spring. The mainspring was held captive by a rear latch, which did not release until the piston was at its full rearward travel. At that point, the front of the mainspring was locked in place by a second latch and the rear was released to cycle the bolt backwards and eject the empty cartridge. This released the front mainspring latch, allowing it to return to its extended position, ready for another firing cycle. The bolt was pushed forward by a separate spring, as was the gas piston. Using three springs in the gun instead of just one added to its complexity, which allowed it to have a minimal recoil while still allowing it to function correctly. It used a conventional turn-bolt design with front lugs, where the front portion (approximately 1/3) of the bolt rotated to unlock the bolt from the vertically designed locking lugs. It is fitted with a matching 19 round drum magazine. The rifle itself is marked on the left side with "T & L.M. Ltd", and below that is numbered "26". It has matching numbers "26" on the flat of the pistol grip, the gas cylinder and gas plug. The back side of the 19 round drum magazine is numbered "59". No other markings or serial numbers are visible. It is fitted with a walnut buttstock with a small circled intertwined "MD" cartouche/stock proof on the right side. The front of the rifle is fitted with an adjustable forward mounted vertical walnut pistol grip. The grip can be moved forward or to the rear to accommodate the firer. It is fitted with a Pattern 14 type front sight and a folding, fully adjustable rear sight also similar to the Pattern 14 rifle.

Excellent with 95% of the original blued finish overall with only minor edge and high spot wear overall. The drum magazine shows 98% of its original finish. A small screw is absent on top rear. The buttstock is in very fine condition with a nice original medium brown color overall with a clear deep number "26" on the pistol grip flat with the sides showing only minor handling marks mixed with some scratches. The stock cartouche is clear and distinct. An exceptional example of a very scarce and desirable early British experimental semi-automatic rifle.