Item Description
Original Item: One of a Kind. This just came out of the attic after a hundred years of storage, together with a couple of hundred other guns. Here we have what started life as a classic P-1853 Percussion Rifle with brass butt plate, trigger guard and nose cap. The back sight is also now absent. The three barrel bands of steel are NOT present, having been replaced by pins, but three brass ramrod pipes under the barrel carry the correct style ram rod.
The Lock marked on the exterior only with a CROWN and 1861 / TOWER. The absence of V.R. under the Crown stamping indicates that this weapon was not intended for a British Military contract. Instead it was aimed at the Overseas market, most specifically the United States, which were embroiled in its most terrible Civil War.
This rifle is in used but nice condition and bears a "ghost" of a GA85 (?) stamp under the butt stock This ghost is hard to discern and unless you were aware of where it should be would most likely be overlooked. As a Confederate destined weapon it should have the right hand side of the butt stamped with a roundel stating BIRMINGHAM SMALL ARMS TRADE, however this marking is now GONE and only the circle is visible due to wear. The barrel bears British Proof Marks, including the usual 25 and CROWN / BP of the Birmingham Proof house.
A similar Short Rifle edition of this same weapon, dated 1861, appears on the Cover of THE CONFEDERATE ENFIELD by Captain Steven W. Knott, U.S.N. (Ret). with a write up on pages 44 and 45. In addition there is a photograph of the proof marks of this 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.
We found no specific additional Markings on our rifle, however after 1863 conditions were such that little time was available for such niceties upon importation. The Blockade runner's hayday was 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.
So we are hanging our hat on this possibly being a CONFEDERATE Rifle on the clear absence of the "V.R." on the lock plate and the ghost of an "GA85" stamping on the underside of the butt. The wood is complete showing only a couple of age cracks and general wear with the metalwork showing old light rust pitting overall. Most unusual being fitted with brass ram rod pipes but then again this was a gun intended for Export and did not have to strictly adhere to British Government specifications.
In less than ideal condition, being shortened and the wood sanded and having been in storage for a great length of time before we acquired it, so we offer this very interesting item, for restoration or ready to display!
Specifications:
Year of Manufacture: 1861
Caliber: .58 inches
Ammunition Type: .577 Lead Ball & Powder with Percussion Cap
Barrel Length: 35 1/4 inches
Overall Length: 51 1/2 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.
- Not eligible for payment with Paypal or Amazon
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE
