1876 · London
by Burton, Richard F., Capt
London: printed by George E. Eyre ... at the Great Seal Patent Office, 1876. Folio, a single sheet folded to make 4pp., last 2 pages blank; sewn into original blue printed wrappers; previous folds, a few short marginal tears and creases; very good. The date of Burton's patent (no. 3069) for a carbine pistol was September 1, 1875. "The principle of the weapon is to avoid the use of the shoulder on horseback. The weapon can be used either as a carbine with both hands, the left arm extended as in archery: in this case the cartridge contains 84 grains of gunpowder. Used with one hand the charge must be reduced to 45 grains" (see Burton, Isabel, Life, I, pp. 455-57 for a good account). Rare. Huntington only in OCLC; no copy at auction in 35 years; Casada 327; Penzer, p. 229. (Inventory #: 46376)