A Rare 16-Bore Percussion Pistol for an Officer of the 2nd Scinde Irregular Horse, retailed by Garden, 200 Piccadilly, London. With sighted browned barrel signed in full along the top flat, scroll engraved breech and tang, tang fitted with standing back-sight, foliate scroll engraved flat lock engraved ‘2nd Scinde Irregulaf Horse’, figured full stock with chequered butt, foliate scroll engraved white-metal trigger guard, white metal lion mask butt cap, with ring swivel for suspension, vacant white metal escutcheon, dark horn fore-end cap and stirrup ramrod. 

Footnotes:

Hugh Garden is recorded as ‘Army accoutrement maker, saddler etc.’ at 200 Piccadilly, London, between 1826 and 1851. 

John Jacob arranged the purchase of these pistols by the Native Officers and NCOs of the Scinde Irregular Horse; they came into use in the 1st SIH in c1844-1845 and in the 2nd SIH on or soon after the raising in 1846.

Each Officer and NCO bought a pair of these pistols, costing Rupees 56 (about 112s, when the Company’s cavalry pistols cost only 64s per pair) Even Jacob considered this a high price: ‘they are rather expensive..’ he wrote, ‘but the men are delighted with them, and would gladly pay much more for them id necessary.’

Successful actions by the Scinde Horse in 1847 and 1849, and not least Jacob’s publicity for them, led other irregular units to copy their arms

D. F. Harding (2013) An Introduction to East India Company Smallarms c1775-1851. Foresight Books. 

Dimensions:

Bore: 16 Bore

Barrel Length: 9 Inches (22.86 cm)

Overall Length: 14.5 Inches (36.83 cm)