trevorsworth
Cadet
- Joined
- Nov 16, 2018
Hello all. I recently acquired this rifle from an estate sale here in Texas. It is in rough condition showing extreme neglect and missing a part or two. Unfortunately worms have made a meal of the stock as well. ACW is not my regular area of collecting but I thought this rifle might be an interesting way to expand my collection into new territory.
The lock is in considerably better condition than the barrel. I'm not sure if one or the other has been replaced, or if the barrel is just a lower quality iron that suffered more in the previous owner's barn. Please note that I oiled the rifle with Ballistol and gently brushed away surface rust and grime with a rag (no scrubbing or scouring) before taking these pictures. The hammer was seized when I got the rifle, but simply oiling the lock was sufficient to free it up.
Here are the pictures:
There are additional images in the album here: https://imgur.com/a/5b5UxyZ
I believe this rifle might have Confederate provenance. It has what I believe to be ordinary cottage industry Tower markings, however the remnant of a circle stamping on the top of the stock in front of the butt plate tang seems like it could be the "circle SL" stamp I understand to be associated with Confederate service.
Additionally, every screw that I have taken out of the rifle has Roman numerals cut into it, a practice I understand to be associated with Confederate armorers. Here is the best example:
I cannot make out any markings on the barrel and the stock is beat to hell which might be obscuring other markings, but there is a 'U' stamped into the front band. I also did not find any markings inside the lock plate.
Incredibly enough, despite the neglect, the lock screws came out freely. I haven't tried to remove any other screws, I'm worried I may damage the stock by unscrewing the trigger guard or buttplate screws.
Please let me know what, if anything, the visible markings say about this rifle's history, and where I might need to look to find more markings. I am also curious about the brass disc and plate inlaid in the stock. I do not see those on other P53s I've looked at.
Thanks in advance for any help you can offer.
The lock is in considerably better condition than the barrel. I'm not sure if one or the other has been replaced, or if the barrel is just a lower quality iron that suffered more in the previous owner's barn. Please note that I oiled the rifle with Ballistol and gently brushed away surface rust and grime with a rag (no scrubbing or scouring) before taking these pictures. The hammer was seized when I got the rifle, but simply oiling the lock was sufficient to free it up.
Here are the pictures:
There are additional images in the album here: https://imgur.com/a/5b5UxyZ
I believe this rifle might have Confederate provenance. It has what I believe to be ordinary cottage industry Tower markings, however the remnant of a circle stamping on the top of the stock in front of the butt plate tang seems like it could be the "circle SL" stamp I understand to be associated with Confederate service.
Additionally, every screw that I have taken out of the rifle has Roman numerals cut into it, a practice I understand to be associated with Confederate armorers. Here is the best example:
I cannot make out any markings on the barrel and the stock is beat to hell which might be obscuring other markings, but there is a 'U' stamped into the front band. I also did not find any markings inside the lock plate.
Incredibly enough, despite the neglect, the lock screws came out freely. I haven't tried to remove any other screws, I'm worried I may damage the stock by unscrewing the trigger guard or buttplate screws.
Please let me know what, if anything, the visible markings say about this rifle's history, and where I might need to look to find more markings. I am also curious about the brass disc and plate inlaid in the stock. I do not see those on other P53s I've looked at.
Thanks in advance for any help you can offer.