The Indian Mutiny, also known in India as the as the first war of independence from 1857 – 1858 started at Meerut (a city in the western part of the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh) as a mutiny among around 35,000 Indian troops (sepoy, – an Indian term meaning ‘infantry soldier’) in the Bengal army against the British East India Company. Apparently the immediate cause of this rebellion was a rumour that the cartridges issued to the Indian troops were lubricated with the fat of cows and pigs, which offended both the Hindus and Muslims. This lead to a lot of underlying issues (taxation, land annexation by the British East India Company, eroding of power held by the old aristocracy) boiling over into a religious revolt. After this, the British learned quickly and ensured that the Indians were always issued with weapons that were inferior to their own. The 410 India Police was a smooth bored weapon made from bored out 303 SMLE’s and converted to single shot.

   .410 Mk.1 from Kirkee Factory