Enfield Markings

[Texas Johnny]

Please pardon my ignorance, but can someone help with the engraving on the butt plate of my 1862 Enfield? Attached is a photo showing the initials "C D" and the number "80" I have also attached a photo of the lock plate and the marking on the side of the barrel. The musket has been in the family since 1985 when it was acquired by a family member at a gun show in Ft. Worth, so I have no provenance on it. I cannot find any other markings, on the stock or on the metal. Thank you for your help!

 

[UCVRelics]

Paging @Craig L Barry and @Lanyard Puller

 

[Texas Johnny]

After I posted the above photos, I noticed what appears to be markings on the stock, inspector marks? It is obviously a circle with what looks like letters within, one of the letters looks like a S. With my old eyes I could not see this with the naked eye, I only noticed in the photo. See close-ups.

 

[Jeff in Ohio]

That's a classic viewers mark considered by serious collectors to show this was inspected in England for confederate purchase.

 

[captaindrew]

The number was most likely an inventory number.

 

[OldSarge79]

Jeff in Ohio is correct. Page 115 of The English Connection refers to the SL mark as follows: "This location and shape (of the mark) is atypical for federal inspectors. These marks are probably those of other unidentified English viewers employed by Confederate agents." It further states that "Only two examples are known at this time," so it might be a bit rare.
There is another example for sale here:
http://azswords.com/F233.htm
Scroll about 2/3 of the way down the page.

It's a shame yours was sanded down like it was, since the mark is a bit difficult to make out.

Hopefully Craig Barry or Lanyard Puller can add their evaluations.

 

[Texas Johnny]

Jeff in Ohio is correct. Page 115 of The English Connection refers to the SL mark as follows: "This location and shape (of the mark) is atypical for federal inspectors. These marks are probably those of other unidentified English viewers employed by Confederate agents." It further states that "Only two examples are known at this time," so it might be a bit rare.
There is another example for sale here:
http://azswords.com/F233.htm
Scroll about 2/3 of the way down the page.

It's a shame yours was sanded down like it was, since the mark is a bit difficult to make out.

Hopefully Craig Barry or Lanyard Puller can add their evaluations.

Thank you very much OldSarge79!

 

[Lanyard Puller]

A variation of the "SL" mark without the circle was also used in the same location. I have it noted as Samuel Lawton, but who knows.
This is on a Bently & Playfair assembled P53 also with a 1861/Tower lock. It's about in the same well used condition as the OP so the photos are pretty iffy. The maker's roundel on the right butt stock could possibly be misidentified as the BSAT mark, but it is quite a bit smaller.

 

[Texas Johnny]

A variation of the "SL" mark without the circle was also used in the same location. I have it noted as Samuel Lawton, but who knows.
This is on a Bently & Playfair assembled P53 also with a 1861/Tower lock. It's about in the same well used condition as the OP so the photos are pretty iffy. The maker's roundel on the right butt stock could possibly be misidentified as the BSAT mark, but it is quite a bit smaller.

View attachment 352144
View attachment 352145

Thank you very much!

 

[relichound]

It was many years ago, and at work one day my supervisor came in my office, and his question was not about
my job, but it concerned an old gun that he had in his family. He knew it must be from the Civil War, but
what kind of a gun was it? I was no gun expert, as some of you are, but I knew right away what it was.
His diagram of the lock simply said "1861 Tower" and there was a crown. I told him, and how many of them
were used in our Civil War, by both sides, and how they were a favorite of Southern soldiers. He thought I
was a Civil War expert for sure, and later he brought to show me a Civil War Vet's medal. It had 1913 on it,
and something about Gettysburg, so I told him about the 1913 Veteran's reunion of Vets from both sides.
It had been his grand-father's who had been a Southern Veteran, and surely he had been at that reunion.
He really was convinced then that I knew all about the Civil War! If only I was an expert!