1853 Enfield - Markings

[Ferd454231]

Lanyard Puller - So you were the guy who outbid me!!!! And I was in the room! Well okay you and several other people outbid me (curses, foiled again). H

 

[mofederal]

Hello and welcome to the talk forum from Southeast Missouri located on the banks of the muddy Mississippi River.

 

[Lanyard Puller]

[QUOTE="Ferd454231,
Lanyard Puller - So you were the guy who outbid me!!!!


Ah Ferd . I didn't say which sword. I too was there, quietly camouflaged amongst the paddle wavers.

Don't be dismayed, it's a terrible mistake to get auction fever when among the fast paced bidding and go above your pre-determined max bid. If you do you'll end up with something more valuable to you than the collector/dealer universe.

That's bad

If you are in to CS swords, send me a PM... we'll have a chat.

 

[ConfederateCanuck]

Again, my thanks to all for whatever information you have provided. I got this Enfield real cheap....its my "starter" Enfield....hahaha. I wasnt expecting anything more than I got, but its nice to know the parts are original, except the barrel. I'll be looking for one with a pedigree...need the time and opportunity to to buy one.

 

[vmicraig]

"The Birmingham based gunmaking firm of Tipping & Lawden was trade name partnership between Thomas Tipping Lawden and Caleb Lawden, who established themselves as gun, rifle and pistol makers at 40 Constitution Hill in 1837, expanding to 40 & 41 Constitution Hill in 1852. In 1860, the firm added a London location at 18 Buckingham Street. In addition to the usual production of military pattern muskets and rifles (both for military contracts and commercial sale), the company manufactured sporting arms for the general gun trade both in England and abroad. The firm also established itself as a major manufacturer of handguns in Great Britain by the end of the 1850s."

Craig L Barry and Lanyard Puller are resident experts. Craig advised me of the following in a post I'd submitted on my own import...

Tipping & Lawden was one of the so-called "original four" which were selected by the Ordnance department to provide the first P-53s during the Crimean War, along with Swinburn, Hollis & Sheath and T Turner. They were one of the larger Birmingham gun-makers, actually a multi-generational family outfit like many of them were. There is quite a bit on them in Suppliers to the Confederacy Vol I (p.66-70). Their reputation was that they were among those that "...employ the best hands and turn out the best work."

In a nutshell, founder Thomas Tipping's daughter (Mary Ann) married Caleb Lawden, in 1837 he was made a partner in the firm. Their son, Thomas Tipping-Lawden also went into the family business. So during the Civil War-era, Tipping & Lawden was operating as a father-son venture. There were also retail premises in London.

 

[vmicraig]

Again, my thanks to all for whatever information you have provided. I'll be looking for one with a pedigree...need the time and opportunity to to buy one.

If you want one with a pedigree, here's one for sale....

https://www.collegehillarsenal.com/shop/product.php?productid=1549&cat=9&page=1

 

[Lanyard Puller]

As righteous a Confederate Enfield as they come. A shame though about all the post war graffiti.

 

[William G Hendry]

Hello and welcome from Ont. Canada

 

[ConfederateCanuck]

It looks like something put together from disassociated parts as opposed to a Tipping & Lawden with a Nepali-made barrel. The rear swivel is the oval RSAF variety, the Palmer barrel bands have markings usually associated with WD government contract arms.

Tipping & Lawden is actually a father & son outfit. There is a fair amount on them in the Suppliers Vol I book.

Hi Craig. I was just re-reading your post. What does the WD acronym stand for?

 

[Lanyard Puller]

War Department

 

[ConfederateCanuck]

ahhhh......thanks.

 

[ConfederateCanuck]

So I have a technical question...and please excuse my "noob/beginner" status when it comes to Enfields...that's why I am consulting with the very knowledgeable folks on this Forum.

Does anyone have a close-up diagram or photo that shows all the parts of the rear sight? The rear sight slider on my Enfield is completely loose. From a parts list (taylorfirearms.com) I see that there is a slide screw and a slide spring that appears to be missing from mine. I can order the missing parts but that won't help me at all because I don't know how to assemble them....and I don't know anyone with an Enfield that I can look at to figure it out.

Your help would be appreciated....thanks.

 

[Jobe Holiday]

Your rear sight is complete as-is. What you are seeing from Taylor's are modern innovations.
J.

 

[ConfederateCanuck]

Your rear sight is complete as-is. What you are seeing from Taylor's are modern innovations.
J.

So how do I tighten the sight so that it stays in place when I slide it to another increment? It is very loose and sloppy.

 

[hrobalabama]

Welcome from Lower Alabama....I noticed the mention of the "anchor over S" That was only on the 1863 Towers.
It appeared on the butt top wood next to the butt-plate. They were sneaked in to Wilmington, NC before the fall of Ft. Fisher

 

[Jobe Holiday]

Confederatecaunck - I would just leave it alone.
J.

 

[ConfederateCanuck]

Confederatecaunck - I would just leave it alone.
J.

Well, we bought this "el cheapo" Enfield with the intention of shooting it. So, I need to figure out how to tighten that sight. Other issues that this gun had.....the hammer was capable of "firing" from half-cock (will fix it by reshaping the halfcock notch, don't worry guys I know what I am doing), when firing from full cock it would sometimes catch on the halfcock (caused by the trigger mechanism being worn at the contact with the lock mechanism...will fix by welding in or soldering in some metal .....I have temporarily fixed by adding layers of metal foil tape into the worn area and there is no longer a problem with catching the halfcock), and the ramrod spring is missing (will look to buy an original part).

The only thing I am having trouble figuring out is how to tighten the sight without doing something stupid to it. Help is still much appreciated!

 

[Jobe Holiday]

The original slide is pinched tight onto the ladder. IIRC, the life expectancy of the original arm was some 8-12 years. You are looking at 150+ years of wear. With that having been said, the sight at the upper end of the ladder is secured with a small screw on the bottom. If you remove it, then you can remove the slide from the ladder, pinch it tighter, check the tightness/fit, and once satisfied with the fit of the slide on the ladder, reassemble!
J.

 

[ConfederateCanuck]

The original slide is pinched tight onto the ladder. IIRC, the life expectancy of the original arm was some 8-12 years. You are looking at 150+ years of wear. With that having been said, the sight at the upper end of the ladder is secured with a small screw on the bottom. If you remove it, then you can remove the slide from the ladder, pinch it tighter, check the tightness/fit, and once satisfied with the fit of the slide on the ladder, reassemble!
J.

Ok thanks, I'll give that a try.