Item Description
Original Item. One of a Kind. Here we have a classic P-1853 Percussion Rifle with brass butt plate, trigger guard and nose cap. The three barrel bands are of steel, and are the type III version, with the securing screw and no band springs.
The Lock showing border engraving and is marked POTTS & HUNT / LONDON. The barrel bears the correct British Proof Markings, though they are somewhat faded by powder burn. The lack of the V.R. lock marking indicates that this weapon was not intended for a British Military contract, but was instead aimed at the Overseas market. At the time this was specifically the United States who were embroiled in its most terrible Civil War.
This rifle is in outstanding condition and on the interior the lock is the stamp of the lock maker P. & H., and also 5 S or S.S.. The wood buttstock has a stamping on the top directly in front of the butt plate tang of a Crown S / H. G.. The Confederate buying agents were CAPTAIN CALEB HUSE and MAJOR JOSIAH GORGAS who operated up until 1865. Payments were made via FRASER, TRENHOLM & CO.
On the rear top of the Barrel is a stamping EASTOVER, a town in Richland County, South Carolina, however the most compelling marking is the clear stamping in the wood of the left side opposite the lock plate I.C. in an Oval. This is the distinctive mark of ISAAC CURTIS, a Confederate Inspector who worked for J. ISAAC CAMPBELL & CO.
These markings can be verified in the wonderful soft cover book THE CONFEDERATE ENFIELD by CAPT. STEVEN W. KNOTT, U.S.N. (RET), see pages #3 for references to HUSE and GORGAS and page #14 for the Cartouche stamping "I.C." in an Oval of Inspector ISAAC CURTIS. In addition there is a photograph of the proof marks of a known Confederate Soldier's Rifle on the Title page of the book which are completely identical to those on this weapon. This excellent book states that the Confederate Buying Agents, Josiah Gorgas and Caleb Huse purchased over 350,000 European Rifles between 1861 and 1865, over 250,000 of these were the Percussion Enfield Rifled Muskets and 100,000 were Austrian Percussion arms.
The Union also imported Enfields which were highly prized by Federal soldiers more so than the Union made arms apparently. The Confederacy however contracted for the greater number which in most cases were transported by "BLOCKADE RUNNERS" based in Bermuda. Well documented in the THE CONFEDERATE ENFIELD book.
The Blockade runner's hay day were in the early years of the war 1861 and 1862 however Caleb Huse was busy right up to 1865 when the last shipment arrived early that year.
A Rifle that may have seen service in the American Civil War. Ready to display!
Specifications:
Year of Manufacture: c.1861
Caliber: .58 inches
Ammunition Type: .577 Lead Ball & Powder with Percussion Cap
Barrel Length: 38 1/2 inches
Overall Length: 55 inches
Action: Side Action Percussion Lock
Feed System: Muzzle-Loaded
NOTE: International orders of antique firearms MUST be shipped using UPS WW Services (courier). USPS Priority Mail international will not accept these.
- This product is available for international shipping.
IMA considers all of our antique guns as non-firing, inoperable and/or inert. Title 18, U.S. Code, Section 921(a)(16) defines antique firearms as all guns made prior to 1899. This law exempts antique firearms from any form of gun control or special engineering because they are not legally considered firearms. No FFL, C&R or any license is required to possess, transport, sell or trade Antique guns. All rifles and muskets sold by IMA that were manufactured prior to 1899 are considered Antiques by the US BATF (United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco & Firearms). Therefore, all of IMA's Antique guns may be shipped to all US States and most nations around the world.
These antique guns are not sold in "live" condition. They are sold as collector's items or as "wall hangers". Any attempt at restoring an antique gun to be operational is strongly discouraged and is done so at the risk of the customer. By purchasing an antique gun from IMA you thereby release IMA, its employees and corporate officers from any and all liability associated with use of our Antique guns.
Pre-1899 Manufacture, no licenses required, allowed to ship to almost any deliverable address across the globe. Please note that for international shipping, these MUST be shipped using UPS WW Services.
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