rob63
First Sergeant
- Joined
- Jul 13, 2012
- Location
- PA, but still a Hoosier
Several years ago I started a thread on a P53 Enfield that I own that is something of an odd duck. Here is that thread in its entirety.
To summarize, the Enfield that I have has non-standard proof marks at the breech of the barrel consisting of crowns over crossed-scepters and the date of 1862. This is very odd, but there have been other similarly marked P53's that have turned up.
I have subsequently realized that the crown over crossed scepters is the type of proof markings that were applied to Brown Bess muskets that were made for the commercial market rather than the British military. Why they would be on my P53, at a time when they supposedly were no longer in use, I still don't know.
The same barrel also has unusual markings on the bottom, consisting of the numerals 14.4 and 23. I theorized in the previous thread that perhaps the provisional proof was done in Continental Europe and the final proof in England. Typically, the provisional and final proof sizes would both be in English bore sizes, with 24 and 25 being what is usually seen. My theory seemed to raise more questions than it answered.
14.4 would correspond to a bore size of .567 or 26 gauge.
23 gauge would correspond to .585, which is the same size the bore actually measures.
The previous thread basically ended with the whole thing remaining a mystery. I am bringing it back up because I know there have been some excellent reference works that have been published since this was first posted, and because I have found additional examples with the 14.4 marking.
The first is another P53 that I now own. It is an example made by London gunmaker E.P. Bond and has markings indicating it was imported by the Confederacy. It was subsequently, post-war, modified into a shotgun and is in pretty rough shape. It has the typical London barrel proofs at the breech. However, it also has the exact same 14.4 marking on the bottom of the barrel, along with the number 25, several other markings, and the names Bond and Barnett.
When I first took this apart I was very surprised to once again see the 14.4 marking, thinking what are the odds I would come across two of these oddities?
Well, very recently, I came across yet another one at an auction. I didn't win this one, so I can only include the auction catalog photo and some photos I took with my phone while I was there. It is another example that was converted into a shotgun, but this one had the stock cut back. Once again, on the bottom of the barrel that is now exposed due to the stock being cut back is the number 14.4. This example also has odd breech markings that I have not seen before. I'm hoping maybe someone else knows what these are?
I thought I would share all of this just because I think it is kind of interesting, and in the hopes that perhaps more is now known about the 14.4 marking than was the case previously.
Another P53 Enfield Question | Small Arms & Edged Weapons
This is a P53 Enfield that I purchased roughly 30 years ago, '85-86 time frame. The many books that have come out lately, such as Craig Barry's work, have caused me to give it a closer look that has raised questions that I hope he or maybe Jobe can answer. The proof marks at the breech are not...
civilwartalk.com
To summarize, the Enfield that I have has non-standard proof marks at the breech of the barrel consisting of crowns over crossed-scepters and the date of 1862. This is very odd, but there have been other similarly marked P53's that have turned up.
I have subsequently realized that the crown over crossed scepters is the type of proof markings that were applied to Brown Bess muskets that were made for the commercial market rather than the British military. Why they would be on my P53, at a time when they supposedly were no longer in use, I still don't know.
The same barrel also has unusual markings on the bottom, consisting of the numerals 14.4 and 23. I theorized in the previous thread that perhaps the provisional proof was done in Continental Europe and the final proof in England. Typically, the provisional and final proof sizes would both be in English bore sizes, with 24 and 25 being what is usually seen. My theory seemed to raise more questions than it answered.
14.4 would correspond to a bore size of .567 or 26 gauge.
23 gauge would correspond to .585, which is the same size the bore actually measures.
The previous thread basically ended with the whole thing remaining a mystery. I am bringing it back up because I know there have been some excellent reference works that have been published since this was first posted, and because I have found additional examples with the 14.4 marking.
The first is another P53 that I now own. It is an example made by London gunmaker E.P. Bond and has markings indicating it was imported by the Confederacy. It was subsequently, post-war, modified into a shotgun and is in pretty rough shape. It has the typical London barrel proofs at the breech. However, it also has the exact same 14.4 marking on the bottom of the barrel, along with the number 25, several other markings, and the names Bond and Barnett.
When I first took this apart I was very surprised to once again see the 14.4 marking, thinking what are the odds I would come across two of these oddities?
Well, very recently, I came across yet another one at an auction. I didn't win this one, so I can only include the auction catalog photo and some photos I took with my phone while I was there. It is another example that was converted into a shotgun, but this one had the stock cut back. Once again, on the bottom of the barrel that is now exposed due to the stock being cut back is the number 14.4. This example also has odd breech markings that I have not seen before. I'm hoping maybe someone else knows what these are?
I thought I would share all of this just because I think it is kind of interesting, and in the hopes that perhaps more is now known about the 14.4 marking than was the case previously.