Original Item: Only One Available. Offered here is a nice "barn fresh" example of the 3rd Model Pattern 1853 Enfield Rifle Musket, as produced in England with brass butt plate, trigger guard and nose cap. It has only had a quick wipe down to remove surface dust and dirt, and has been otherwise left as found. The three steel barrel bands are held on with screw pressure, as typical of the 3rd model. The lock is marked TOWER / 1861 below the cap bolster, and it is marked with a QUEEN'S CROWN 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.

This rifle is in used but nice condition, and has a faint "J S / ANCHOR" stamp, used as a Confederate acceptance mark about two inches below the trigger guard tang. This marking is somewhat hard to discern and unless you were aware of where it should be would most likely be overlooked. This marking was for JOHN SOUTHGATE Chief CS viewer/proofer for the Confederate English trade. In 1861 has mark was "J.S. over an ANCHOR" which he used until mid 1863, thereafter he used "Anchor over "S" for last half of 1863, 1864 and up until the surrender in April 1865. Photographs of these markings appear in book referred to below on page 12.

There is also a larger "S" on the top by the butt plate tang, one of the markings used by the Sinclair, Hamilton & Company. The importance of this firm cannot be overstated when it comes to the supply of arms to the Confederacy during the course of the American Civil War. While it is not currently possible to be sure exactly how many arms were contracted for and delivered by that firm during the war, research indicates that a reasonable figure would be at least 150,000 arms, divided between as many as 5 contracts to supply guns to the Confederate central government. This figure does not include those arms sold by Sinclair, Hamilton & Company to individual Confederate States, nor those arms sold to Confederate speculators. What is clear is that the earliest purchases from SH&C were made in early June of 1861, and the first contract to deliver 30,000 “long Enfields’ (P-1853 Rifle Muskets) was entered into on July 4, 1861, with deliveries to be completed over 6 months.

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 due to wear. The barrel bears British Proof Marks, though they are somewhat faded. They are the correct Birmingham proof marks, with the Crown over Crossed Scepters "Viewed" and "Proved" markings, and the often seen 25 marking. There is also the CROWN / BP marking, usually seen during this time.

An identical Short Rifle edition of this same weapon, dated 1862, 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 STATE Markings on our rifle, however they were very often omitted during the rush to import rifles. There is however the marking 3258 carved into the butt plate tang.  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, the large "S" in front of the butt tang, and the faint J S / ANCHOR stamping below the trigger guard.

The gun is in mostly 'as found' condition, showing probably over a century of life in an old barn. The wood looks to be solid, but definitely is aged, with some surface oxidation and age related damage. The metalwork is worn to an aged patina, as shown. The sight slider is intact, as is the front sight, and the rifle still has both sling swivels and the original cleaning / ramrod. There is also a recently made sling attached to the swivels. The bore is quite worn, and no longer shows any rifling. It does not look to have been cleaned for some time, and has a lot of oxidation. The lock is fully functional, holding at half cock and firing at full.

A very nice example of a P-1853 three band percussion rifle with a strong CSA connection. Ready to display and research!

Specifications: 

Year of Manufacture: 1861
Caliber: .58 inches
Ammunition Type: .577 Lead Ball & Powder with Percussion Cap
Barrel Length: 39 inches 
Overall Length: 55 inches
Action: Side Action Percussion Lock
Feed System: Muzzle-Loaded

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