A very appropriate quotation for today, and these times, with the Ministries of Truth re-writing history. No doubt Gordon was the evil colonialist. And the Mahdi the enlightened peace loving dark person oppressed buy colonialists!

Back to that wonderful possibly historic rifle.

It reminds me of my humble Aussie Rosier sporting .577/450. The use of this cartridge must have been no so uncommon in the Empire in the 1870's and later. Compared to front stuffers and older firearms no doubt the magnum or 6.5 mm Creedmoor of its time!

Ha ha, except it WAS actually new and revolutionary.

A great sporting arm for the military officer. And no shortage of free ammo purloined from the QM. As such it was later banned ie the .450 because of mutinies in India and elsewhere in the Empire.