Thomas Horsley was one of the great northern school of British gunmakers along with William Greener (father of W.W. Greener) and William Rochester Pape whose depth of innovation and quality of gunmaking rivalled the best of the London and Birmingham makers. This highly unusual double barrel carbine dates to the mid-19th century and sporting very short barrels and bearing engraving of exotic game has been described as being intended for use from a howdah where a heavy gun with long barrels could be a disadvantage. A some point during the 1860s an early telescope sight with a damascus twist tube and quick detachable mounts was added requiring some adjustment to the rib. The browned damascus twist barrels are respectively signed “THOMAS HORSLEY MAKER” and “YORK”. The rib has a bead front sight and rear express sight of three blued folding leaves graduated to “200” yards. The bases to fit the telescope sight have been dovetailed into the rib requiring the rear sight to be changed, evidenced by a few letters from the original rib signature being visible between the rear sights and the front base for the telescope sight, the telescope sight being locked in place by a chain retained pin. The rib has also been stippled in two places to provide a degree of matting. Three ramrod pipes are fitted beneath the barrels, the front pipe incorporating the front sling eye with the corresponding sling eye fitted to the underside of the butt, and housing the brass mounted ramrod with worm. The underside of the barrels are also struck with Birmingham proof marks. Casehardened scroll engraved standing breech and locks, the latter each signed “HORSLEY YORK” and with blued safety bolt fitted behind the hammer. Figured straight hand walnut half stock with checkered grip and forearm. Blued iron pistol grip trigger guard and butt plate. The locks, trigger guard and butt plate respectively engraved with a stag, a tiger, a leopard and a wild boar. This rare carbine was the subject of an online article by Anthony Alborough-Tregear (Trigger) of Westley Richards in “The Explora”, June 23, 2017.

Barrels retaining 95% rebrowned finish, some light storage blemishes to the left tube, signatures softened. Body of telescope sight retaining a similar 95% browned finish, cross hairs are visible but optics are dirty. Engraving to standing breech and locks crisp, softened elsewhere. The locks and standing breech retain over 90% renewed casehardened finish, the trigger guard and butt plate retain a combined 40% reblued finish. The stock is oil darkened around the locks, displays an attractive figure on the butt, has well defined checkering and some mostly light storage and handling blemishes throughout. Provenance: The Malcolm King Collection.