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8 th Hussars. Issued 1857 before embarkation in exchange for their Victoria carbines. They ‘proved again superior to all other weapons in pursuit through scrubby country.’ 5 2 nd Bn Military Train. Carbines were brought with them from England, which may have been Sharp’s, but this is uncertain. 6 New carbines were issued to 2 nd and 3 rd Dragoon Guards in 1857, warned for India. These were presumably Sharp’s, but were reported to be ‘perfectly useless’ and the ammunition issued was of too large a diameter. 7 In India there were complaints of mis-fires and damage to men’s clothing from escape of gas from the breech. 8 In a fight against the Mohmands at Shabkaddar in 1864 ‘Twice the 7 th Hussars threw out dismounted skirmishers, and being armed with Sharp’s breech-loaders, soon dislodged some of the enemy’s marksmen.’ 9 Revolvers Private purchases and official issues. Often mentioned in officers’ memoirs; both Adams and Colts. Many officers preferred the Adams as being more robust and quicker firing, but the Colt had six shots to the Adams’ five. Many memoirists describe incidents, often fatal, from revolvers being fired accidentally. 10 1842 pattern percussion smoothbore musket 11 32 nd Foot.

2 nd Bengal European Fusiliers. Most Native Infantry regiments.

Brunswick Rifle 4 th Punjab Rifles. With sword-bayonet. 12

Minié Rifle These were not issued in India, although some contemporary writers refer to Miniés when they mean Enfields. Sir Colin Campbell when at Calcutta received

5 Robert H. Murray, The History of the VIII King’s Royal Irish Hussars1693-1927 (London, 1927) Vol 2, pp. 447, 462. 6 James P. Robertson, Personal Adventures and Anecdotes of an Old Officer (London, 1906), p 207. 7 Colburn’s United Service Magazine 1857, Part II. 10 For example, Reginald G. Wilberforce, An Unrecorded Chapter of the Indian Mutiny, being the Reminiscences of… (2 nd edn, London, 1894) pp. 66-67; account by Bugler Michael Thompson, 52 nd Regimental Chronicle . 11 John H. Rumsby, ‘Enfield versus Tulwar: the Effectiveness of British Weapons in the Indian Mutiny. Durbar (Journal of the Indian Military Historical Society) 15 (1) (1998), pp. 17-36. 12 R H Burgoyne, Historical Record of the 93 rd Highlanders (1883). p 186. 8 Roads, The British Soldier’s Firearm , p. 281. 9 Army and Navy Gazette 27 Feb 1864, p. 2.