{"product_id":"original-u-s-civil-war-british-3rd-model-p-1853-enfield-three-band-export-rifle-marked-to-the-1st-massachusetts-infantry-dated-1862","title":"Original U.S. Civil War British 3rd Model P-1853 Enfield Three Band Export Rifle Marked to the 1st Massachusetts Infantry - Dated 1861","description":"\u003cp\u003eOriginal Item: Only One Available. Offered here is a nice example of the 3rd Model Pattern 1853 Enfield Rifle Musket, as produced in England with brass butt plate, trigger guard and nose cap. The three steel barrel bands are held on with screw pressure, as typical of the 3rd model. The lock is marked \u003cstrong\u003e1861 \/ TOWER\u003c\/strong\u003e below the cap bolster, and it is marked with a \u003cstrong\u003eQUEEN'S CROWN\u003c\/strong\u003e to the rear of the hammer. However, there is no V.R. under the crown. This indicates that this weapon was not intended for a British Military contract but was aimed at the overseas market, most specifically the United States, who were embroiled in its most terrible Civil War.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis example is a bit different than previous examples we have had, as this is a FEDERAL rifle. marked on the butt plate tang \u003cstrong\u003e1 \/ MASS \/ 33\u003c\/strong\u003e, indicating issue to the \u003cem\u003e1st Massachusetts Infantry Regiment\u003c\/em\u003e. This is a Union regiment that saw extensive service during the war, and was at many of the most famous engagements, which include:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e● The First Battle of Bull Run\u003c\/strong\u003e - July 21, 1861.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e● The Second Battle of Bull Run\u003c\/strong\u003e - Aug 28, 1862 – Aug 30, 1862.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e● The Battle of Fredericksburg\u003c\/strong\u003e - Dec 11, 1862 – Dec 15, 1862.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e● The Battle of Chancellorsville\u003c\/strong\u003e - Apr 30, 1863 – May 6, 1863.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e● The Battle of Gettysburg\u003c\/strong\u003e - Jul 1, 1863 – Jul 3, 1863.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe regiment then was a part of Lt. General Ulysses S. Grant's Overland Campaign, and would be mustered out at the end of their three year term in May 1864.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhile this is an export rifle, it does not appear to have any relation to the Birmingham Small Arms Trade that was busy sending weapons to the Rebel states. The rifle is marked on the left side of the with the \u003cstrong\u003eCROWN \/ GP\u003c\/strong\u003e \"Gunmakers Proof\" and \u003cstrong\u003eCROWN \/ V\u003c\/strong\u003e \"viewed\" markings from the London Gun Company. There is another proof mark below this, which we unfortunately cannot identify.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 0.875rem;\"\u003eThe gun is in very good condition, with a nice stock and patinated steel metalwork. It does show signs of past pitting and powder burn, especially near the cap bolster. The sight slider is intact, as is the front sight, and the rifle still has both sling swivels and the original cleaning \/ ramrod. We checked the bore, and it now measures close to 0.60, and the rifling is completely gone due to wear. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 0.875rem;\"\u003eThe lock is fully functional, holding at half cock and firing at full. The rifle still has an original cleaning rod stored under the barrel. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 0.875rem;\"\u003eThe stock is really quite lovely, showing only light wear and even some lovely figuring in the butt stock area. We did not undertake any major restoration on this rifle, though it does look like it was well cleaned at some point in the past, and afterwards the barrel bands were all put on backwards, which we have left in place.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eReally a great example of a Union Marked P-1853 Enfield rifle, one of the few that we have ever had. Ready to display and research!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSpecifications:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eYear of Manufacture: 1861\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCaliber: .58 inches\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAmmunition Type: .577 Lead Ball \u0026amp; Powder with Percussion Cap\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBarrel Length: 39 inches \u003cbr\u003eOverall Length: 55 1\/4 inches\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAction: Side Action Percussion Lock\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFeed System: Muzzle-Loaded\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNOTE: International orders of antique firearms MUST be shipped using UPS WW Services (courier). USPS Priority Mail international will not accept these.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Original Items","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":41211607187525,"sku":"ONJR24MACA031","price":1995.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1524\/1342\/files\/ONJR24MACA031__01.jpg?v=1711739850","url":"https:\/\/www.ima-usa.com\/products\/original-u-s-civil-war-british-3rd-model-p-1853-enfield-three-band-export-rifle-marked-to-the-1st-massachusetts-infantry-dated-1862","provider":"International Military Antiques","version":"1.0","type":"link"}