Is this an anchor S?

[Ferd454231]

Before the question a bit of background. I bought this Enfield two years ago knowing nothing about CS marks. I just wanted one because my G Grandpa used one in the war (6th OVI). When I won the bid a gentleman sitting next to me who had been buying revolvers and pistols told me I had a Sinclair and Hamilton. I didn't know what that was. Another gentleman last year told me the wood stamp behind the trigger tang was an S & H. Now we get to Saturday and I am looking at this rifle which is finally mounted on the wall and I see this dot pattern on the butt tang which resembles an anchor and a weird S or it is initials or signs of alien visits. There is an X on the butt plate but I do not know if it is just wear or what. Finally on the shoulder stock there are marks on both sides. On one side is a dot marked M and then an upside down V with an X and on the other side a V or an A. Stock marks are,I'm guessing, a soldier personalizing his weapon. I included the 1862 lockplate because I thought the anchor S mark did not show up until 1864. And I have never seen this dot pattern anyway. My last question is more of a comment. How is it it took me two years to find this dot pattern?
So HELP!!!!! Hope all the vets are having a good day. H

 

[redbob]

The symbol that you are looking for is a small stamped anchor with a J on one side of it and an S on the other side of it.

 

[Lanyard Puller]

Here ya' go.

 

[hrobalabama]

Here is the "Anchor over S" on my beautiful 1863 "Tower.

"

 

[Lanyard Puller]

That's a great mark.
Normally this one was lightly stamped, especially on the late war P56 carbines. The "timed" screw in your photo, with awesome finish in the brass at the slot is indicative of a gun which has never been messed with.

 

[redbob]

That's a great mark.
Normally this one was lightly stamped, especially on the late war P56 carbines. The "timed" screw in your photo, with awesome finish in the brass at the slot is indicative of a gun which has never been messed with.

Showing my ignorance, what is the difference between the "S" & the "JS"? Different Inspectors? I guess that I just need to stick with cannonballs.

 

[hrobalabama]

I think the "JS" was in a different place. The new book THE ENGLISH CONNECTION goes into great detail about the p-53's that were sent to the CSA. Tim Prince at College Hill Arsenal is the authority on these Confederate markings

 

[Jobe Holiday]

Tim Prince is most certainly an authority on CS import markings......as is Lanyard Puller!
J.

 

[zburkett]

One of those hand done marks on the stock, #64, looked like it might have been Masonic.

 

[Lanyard Puller]

The "anchor/S" {1863-64} mark was the same inspector, John Southgate, who used the "JS/anchor" {1861-1862+-} mark.
Dies break, contracts change and the later die was cheaper to make than the earlier one..

Masonic symbols as well as Monrovian {Amish, etc} "hex" signs are common on Confederate used weapons.

 

[redbob]

The "anchor/S" {1863-64} mark was the same inspector, John Southgate, who used the "JS/anchor" {1861-1862+-} mark.
Dies break, contracts change and the later die was cheaper to make than the earlier one..

Masonic symbols as well as Monrovian {Amish, etc} "hex" signs are common on Confederate used weapons.

Now I know, thank you.

 

[Ferd454231]

Thank you all for the clarifications. I was pretty sure I was not seeing a regulation anchor/S; but I was curious as to what else it could be. The Masonic thing now makes a great deal of sense. I was raised in a Knights of Columbus home so until you all pointed out the obvious I was incapable of making that distinction. Further I thought that the penned marks on the butt tang and those of the M to the left of the Masonic marking were too similar and therefore probably home made. I guess some of this stuff is lost forever; but I still can't believe it took me two years to see it! Thanksagain H