Brunswick Rifle - Variants

Variants

The Pattern 1836 featured the original back action lock and the single compartment patch box. The first of these were .654 caliber. This was changed fairly early in the rifle's life, and most were .704 caliber. All subsequent patterns were .704 caliber.

The Pattern 1840 featured a dual compartment patch box, and had several minor improvements to the Pattern 1836.

The Pattern 1841 replaced the back action lock with a side lock. However, this lock change was not put into manufacturing until 1845. This version also used a wrought iron barrel instead of twisted steel, and a simple plug that replaced the break-off breech plug used in earlier patterns.

The Pattern 1848 featured other minor improvements, and used an improved bayonet latch with the locking notch located halfway along the bayonet bar on its upper side. Only a few batches of rifles produced for the British Army were fitted with this improvement.

A heavier version in .796 caliber was produced for the Royal Navy.

Copies of the Brunswick rifle were made in Nepal, from approximately 1840 to 1860. These copies were apparently hand made, and as such their details varied slightly. There were two distinct versions, a "light" pattern that weighed approximately 7.5 lbs, and a version that was more similar to the standard Brunswick rifle that weighed over 9 lbs. It is estimated that approximately 10,000 to 12,000 of these were made in Nepal.