Confederate Enfield

[UCVRelics]

You need to be VERY careful. You have the reseach books ordered, a nice CS Enfield but collecting CS Enfields can be habit forming and expensive. They are like McDonalds french fries you have just one. Now for the fun part. Get all the info you can from the previous owner, how old was the house, who did it belong to etc. It may be a long shot but trying to find out who AE is but you never now. Plus the info needs to stay with the gun as provenance.

 

[Cornpone and Molasses]

You need to be VERY careful. You have the reseach books ordered, a nice CS Enfield but collecting CS Enfields can be habit forming and expensive. They are like McDonalds french fries you have just one. Now for the fun part. Get all the info you can from the previous owner, how old was the house, who did it belong to etc. It may be a long shot but trying to find out who AE is but you never now. Plus the info needs to stay with the gun as provenance.

Tim at College Hill Arsenal added the "A" suffix inventory control number to his database.

 

[Lanyard Puller]

4805A was added to at least 3 other lists as soon as your photo hit this web site. The matching bayonet and ram rod are not listed, so they may still be out there somewhere, but in all probability are long gone.

There are well over 1000 numbers recorded so far, including "loose" numbered butt plates, some of which have, over time, amazingly blossomed in to full length "CS" guns. Let the buyer beware, in the world of CS artifacts.

 

[Jeff in Ohio]

4805A was added to at least 3 other lists as soon as your photo hit this web site. The matching bayonet and ram rod are not listed, so they may still be out there somewhere, but in all probability are long gone.

There are well over 1000 numbers recorded so far, including "loose" numbered butt plates, some of which have, over time, amazingly blossomed in to full length "CS" guns. Let the buyer beware, in the world of CS artifacts.

You mean if a collector has a loose numbered buttplate and plants it in the garden, it will grow aka "blossom" into a complete rifle-musket?

 

[MarkTK36thIL]

Makes total sense on why someone would. Turns a $450 buttplate and a $1200 Enfield into a $4k+ rifle.

 

[Lanyard Puller]

Ah Jeff,
It's not that easy.
Not just any garden will work; must be south of the Mason-Dixon. Must be under a Dogwood tree, in some breastworks, in the grounds of a Confederate veterans house. It must never be "watered" as only Bourbon and 3F black powder will cause it to propagate.

 

[Lubliner]

Ok, I am confused on the 1862 Tower stamped on the side plate, and it being identified as an 1853 Pattern rifled musket. How is this reconciled; Figure production run of at least 9 years, with Type 3 indicating any changes to the original run? Thanks,
Lubliner.

 

[Lanyard Puller]

The P53s were a major design change for the British Military.
The first Pattern to use barrel bands {earlier barrels were pinned to the stock}. Bore size was reduced to .577". Rifling was changed, barrels were shortened, etc.etc.

The P53 type I used screw clamping bands and other changes such as the rear sight, 39" barrel 3 L&G with one turn in 78" {slow twist}.
This type was made from 1854-1855

The Type II used from 1855-1858 used solid barrel bands secured by band springs into the wood ahead of the band. It used a "swelled" ramrod head, rather than a spring device in the belly of the stock. There was a bit of variations in the parts and rifling in the later Type IIs. as the Pattern 53 was still being perfected.

The Type III, which most collectors are familiar with, was produced from 1858 and 1863 noted with a thick jag-head ramrod and screw clamping bands. Contractors continued to produce them after that date but the locks were not dated. The rod was now retained by a spoon-spring in the stock. Sights went from 900 to 1000 yards. The caliber remained at .577 but the 3 groove rifling now used progressive depth from breech to muzzle. Some London Armory rifles and P53s were purchased by the CSA.

A IV model was also made but only at the Royal Enfield Arsenal and at The London Armory. These machine made guns had interchangeable parts. All of the prior types made by contractors had hand-fitted parts.

Some type 1 and 2's were shipped to the CSA, but were most likely case fillers, purchased by civilian purchasing agents, and none were contracted as far as is known.

 

[Jeff in Ohio]

Ah Jeff,
It's not that easy.
Not just any garden will work; must be south of the Mason-Dixon. Must be under a Dogwood tree, in some breastworks, in the grounds of a Confederate veterans house. It must never be "watered" as only Bourbon and 3F black powder will cause it to propagate.

I think Dogwood trees range too far north; a magnolia of some sort might do better

 

[UCVRelics]

Makes total sense on why someone would. Turns a $450 buttplate and a $1200 Enfield into a $4k+ rifle.

Its a big problem If you don't know what your looking at. Being hand fitted a replaced butt plate would standout like a diamond in a goats.. sore thumb. LP could spot it from the parking lot of the gun show.

 

[Lubliner]

The P53s were a major design change for the British Military.
The first Pattern to use barrel bands {earlier barrels were pinned to the stock}. Bore size was reduced to .577". Rifling was changed, barrels were shortened, etc.etc.

The P53 type I used screw clamping bands and other changes such as the rear sight, 39" barrel 3 L&G with one turn in 78" {slow twist}.
This type was made from 1854-1855

The Type II used from 1855-1858 used solid barrel bands secured by band springs into the wood ahead of the band. It used a "swelled" ramrod head, rather than a spring device in the belly of the stock. There was a bit of variations in the parts and rifling in the later Type IIs. as the Pattern 53 was still being perfected.

The Type III, which most collectors are familiar with, was produced from 1858 and 1863 noted with a thick jag-head ramrod and screw clamping bands. Contractors continued to produce them after that date but the locks were not dated. The rod was now retained by a spoon-spring in the stock. Sights went from 900 to 1000 yards. The caliber remained at .577 but the 3 groove rifling now used progressive depth from breech to muzzle. Some London Armory rifles and P53s were purchased by the CSA.

A IV model was also made but only at the Royal Enfield Arsenal and at The London Armory. These machine made guns had interchangeable parts. All of the prior types made by contractors had hand-fitted parts.

Some type 1 and 2's were shipped to the CSA, but were most likely case fillers, purchased by civilian purchasing agents, and none were contracted as far as is known.

Thank you for explaining that. It looks as though the Type II with the band springs were inefficient, as the Type 3 reverted back to the Type I screw clamping bands.
Lubliner.

 

[Cornpone and Molasses]

A few last pictures.