Difference between 1853 Enfield Manufacturers?

[matfor13]

Hi all,

I'm looking at getting my 1853 Enfield defarbed by Lodgewood and planning on getting the lock plate replaced with a few other things. I'm wondering if anyone can explain any differences between the London-based Enfield manufacturers. The options are Potts and Hunt, Barnett, E.P. Bond, Parker Field & Sons, and RT Pritchett. Were there any differences between these manufacturers in which side they supplied more than the other or any other information? Any information about each you can provide would be helpful as I decide. Was one much more common than others or did one supply just the Union or just the confederate? Again, any information would be appreciated!

Thank you!
Matthew

 

[Jeff in Ohio]

I would say that of the London makers, Barnett provided a higher percentage to the South

 

[UCVRelics]

Lets see what the man that wrote the book has to say. paging @Craig L Barry

 

[Jeff in Ohio]

I didn't write the book, but I would add that of these makers, Barnett provided more arms to America than any of the other London makers, and, as previously mentioned, I think Barnett provided more to the South than any other maker.

 

[matfor13]

I didn't write the book, but I would add that of these makers, Barnett provided more arms to America than any of the other London makers, and, as previously mentioned, I think Barnett provided more to the South than any other maker.

Good to know! I do a U.S. impression, so while it's not a HUGE deal, I would like some background on each manufacturer before I spend $100+ on it. I tried to do some research and didn't find much.

 

[hrobalabama]

Most of the P-53 Enfields that went to the South were the BSAT, Birmingham Small Arms Trade.
I don't have the figures handy but they outnumber those made in London.

 

[Craig L Barry]

There is a chapter in one of the books, I think it was The Civil War Musket that discussed the statistics as far as they are known. IIRC the conclusion was that over the course of the entire Civil War, the ratio was about 50/50 in terms of London vs Birmingham going to the South. Union contracts were more heavily tilted toward Birmingham Small Arms Trade. In July 1863 the Union cancelled their existing contracts with Birmingham Small Arms Trade and afterwards their only American customer was the Confederacy. However, early in the war, it was noted by US Consul FH Morse (in correspondence back to Washington) that the Commission Houses of Sinclair, Hamilton and SIC & Co had entered contracts which tied up the capacity of many of the London gunmakers for the CS. Things are seldom that cut and dried though.There were very early Union contracts with LACo. The commercial gunmakers in London & Birmingham sold arms to whomever it was legal to sell to, as long as they could pay for them. It is worth mentioning that one CS contract with JE Barnett went into Union hands when the Confederates did not pay in a timely manner. US Consul FH Morse reported to the Secretary of War on November 6, 1861:

"I have the satisfaction of informing you that one of the gun manufacturers here who had a contract with the rebels running to March (1862) has had a difficulty with them, broken the contract, and will hereafter send his guns, Enfield rifles, to New York on his own account. His name is Barnett and his rifles stand very well here."

Hence, neither side solely did business with only Birmingham or London. If it were me and the P53 was for primarily a Union impression...I would go with the Tower marked Birmingham Small Arms Trade with 24 (.58 cal) provisional and final proof marks. My .02 worth.

 

[matfor13]

Most of the P-53 Enfields that went to the South were the BSAT, Birmingham Small Arms Trade.
I don't have the figures handy but they outnumber those made in London.

Good to know! I thought London-based manufacturers made more.

 

[matfor13]

There is a chapter in one of the books, I think it was The Civil War Musket that discussed the statistics as far as they are known. I think the conclusion was that over the course of the entire Civil War, the ration was about 50/50 in terms of London vs Birmingham going to the South. Union contracts were more heavily tilted toward Birmingham Small Arms Trade. In July 1863 the Union cancelled their existing contracts with Birmingham Small Arms Trade and afterwards their only American customer was the Confederacy. However, early in the war, it was noted by US Consul FH Morse (in correspondence back to Washington) that the Commission Houses of Sinclair, Hamilton and SIC & Co had entered contracts which tied up the capacity of many of the London gunmakers for the CS. Things are seldom that cut and dried though.There were very early Union contracts with LACo. The commercial gunmakers in London & Birmingham sold arms to whomever it was legal to sell to, as long as they could pay for them. It is worth mentioning that one CS contract with JE Barnett went into Union hands when the Confederates did not pay in a timely manner. US Consul FH Morse reported to the Secretary of War on November 6, 1861:

"I have the satisfaction of informing you that one of the gun manufacturers here who had a contract with the rebels running to March (1862) has had a difficulty with them, broken the contract, and will hereafter send his guns, Enfield rifles, to New York on his own account. His name is Barnett and his rifles stand very well here."

Hence, neither side solely did business with only Birmingham or London. If it were me and the P53 was for primarily a Union impression...I would go with the Tower marked Birmingham Small Arms Trade with 24 (.58 cal) provisional and final proof marks. My .02 worth.

Thank you, Craig! I appreciate you responding in such detail! I will go the direction of Tower marked Birmingham Small Arms Trade with the 24 provisional and final proof marks. Very excited about this!

 

[Craig L Barry]

As far as total numbers produced by London vs Birmingham, if you trust the statistics reported at the time in The Resources, Products and Industrial History of Birmingham and the Midlands (Samuel Timmins, editor, 1866) p.418, the following chart is insightful:

Number of Rifles Supplied to America During the War of 1861-1865
Birmingham..........743,303
London.................344,802
Total 1,078,205

There are also charts that show production year by year, but in terms of the total P53 Enfields exported during the US Civil War-era, Birmingham gunmakers outproduced their London counterparts by over 2 to 1. The largest numbers were exported in 1862, followed by 1863.

 

[Saphroneth]

Making things trickier is that "Enfield" became a bit of a catch-all term in the US, including for rifles not on an Enfield pattern. Lorenz rifles were sometimes called "Austrian Enfields" for example.

 

[Kyle Kalasnik]

I have a Potts and Hunt 1853 Enfield (Pedersoli Reproduction) that I bought and had defarbed from Lodgewood. It is a beautiful rifle and a literally a blast to shoot. It hangs in the wall of the bar in my house with the Springfield 1842 Musket. Great conversation pieces as well.