Imperial Russia Russian Percussion musket- Punjab, 1900

[jf42]

I would be grateful for comments on a percussion musket that seems to be of Russian origin, whose provenance dates the British-Indian NWF in 1899-1900.

My great-grandfather worked in Madras from 1872 to 1892. In 1899-1900, he and my great-grandmother returned to visit their daughter and new grandson whose father was CO of a battalion of Sikhs based at Dera Ismail Khan in the "Punjaub".

My g.g'father accompanied his son-in law on brigade manoeuvres. The miscellaneous native weaponry discovered in the attic (including a lightweight matchlock, which although worm-eaten survives) was presumably shipped home after this trip.

It includes a smoothbore percussion musket that appears to be of Russian manufacture. On the brass furniture there are stamped markings in Cyrillic- птв and (I think) цмс, together with the date '1849' and a serial number [N] 11129. In all but one instance, the numbers and letters are accompanied by the stamped symbol of what I would describe as a geologist's hammer.

A brief internet search suggests this might be an Russian M1845 smooth bore, based on a French model of 1842. It has the appropriate raised cheek piece on the inside of the butt. The '1849' is confusing. Is there a chance this might be a local copy made in the NWF region? I'm not sure what use a smooth bore musket might be in the land of the jezail and breechloader, ca 1900.. Perhaps that's why my g.gfather was able to acquire it as a souvenir, but this is not my AOE.

While I struggle to upload images, here is a summary of the markings:

Butt plate: 11129 птв ^[Hammer]‘T’ 184 190 [?]

Trigger guard plate: цмс ^[Hammer] ‘T’ 1849 89

Left Hand Firing assembly plate: 18 ^[Hammer]‘T’ 49 ¹42 [?]

Barrel stamp ( at rear): N111[29?]

Rear barrel strap: --7[?]

1849

^[Hammer]‘T’

птв

Mid barrel strap and sling swivel: 119

1823 [?]

^[Hammer]‘T’

I should be grateful for any enlightenment.

Thanks,

JF

Edited September 26, 2011 by jf42

[jf42]

Percussion Musket- Hammer and trigger assembly

[jf42]

Percussion musket- rear trigger guard plate

[jf42]

Percussion Musket- fore barrel strap & ramrod

[jf42]

Percussion musket- butt plate

[jf42]

Percussion Musket- butt plate detail

[TacHel]

Have you posted this in our firearms section? (lower in the forum) I think you might have a better chance at an educated answer where our subject matter experts will see it.

Cheers! :cheers:

[jf42]

Thanks. I had never scrolled that far. "I just stopped at Russia" (N. Bonaparte)