Product Details
J. COLE, LONDON
AN EXTREMELY RARE .577 (SHORT SNIDER) EXPERIMENTAL BOLT-ACTION RIFLE, MODEL 'THE VICTORIA RIFLE', serial no. G23,
built to the Green Brothers Patent no. 2002 of 12th July 1860, with blued 32 1/2in. barrel, block and blade fore-sight, elevating ladder rear-sight, the top of barrel at breech signed 'J. COLE 29 GT. PORTLAND STREET, LONDON', blued bolt cover with faceted front section mounting an exposed striker and signed 'THE VICTORIA RIFLE' over 'GREEN BROS PATENT', left hand turned down bolt-handle, external borderline engraved lock with extended tail and external hammer, chained firing pin protector, walnut three-quarter stock with iron furniture, including two barrel-bands, swivels for sling, bayonet lug on right hand side of muzzle and jag-ended iron ramrod, the whole appearing unused, together with a copy of the Hans Busk book, 'The Rifle and How To Use It' (first edition)
Other Notes: J. Cole is recorded as a 'Custom Gunmaker' in london between 1866-1897. He acquired the workshops of the Breech Loading Gun Company in 1866. He also submitted two rifles to the 1868 trials, one in .577, the other in .451.
The Victoria Rifle may just be a trade name chosen by Cole or the Green Bros, but the Victoria Rifle Company was a title added to the 1st Middlesex Corps in 1860, and thus the rifle may possibly be associated with this unit.
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Estimate £1,800-2,200
Sold as an exempt item under Section 58 (2) of the 1968 Firearms Act, to be held as a curiosity or ornament