M1856 Enfield Carbine

[LtRusell]

I have been interested in weapons in all wars. While I know that Springfields, Enfields, Richmonds, ETC were used, I was wondering about the M1856 Carbine.
I think was fairly rare due to the destruction of I think 1,000 of them that were marked (no tower of JS pun intended) for Forrest. That being said I have no idea how many made it through the blockade.

I was wondering if anyone knows of them and their role in the war. If anyone has one, I would love to see more photos of one. I found a few photos online, but that was about it. I have also found a reproduction if anyone is interested. It's smooth bore, so that might be a problem, but I'm pretty sure that a decent gunsmith with knowledge of CW weapons can make a new barrel.

The really nice thing about it is the ram rod. It is connected to the barrel via a hinge so it cannot be lost on horse back. Very interesting and almost lost piece of history.

Let me know if you do know. I would enjoy more info on it.

Thanks.

 

[kevikens]

I owned one many years ago. The swivel rammer certainly helped a cavalryman reload the weapon from horseback. I fired it a few times. The light weight made it somewhat uncomfortable to shoot. I was very much into reenacting at the time and found out I could not use it very much so I sold it. I have no idea if it had ever been used in our Civil War or had been issued for use in India, which many were. The smoothbore repro that you have, was it manufactured in India or Pakistan? There, these arms are made as smoothbores because of the more complex process of rifling which some of these manufactories cannot master. I have never handled or fired a repro of this arm.

 

[LtRusell]

I don't own it yet. Part of the reason I was asking if anyone had ever had or fired one. Seems there is one person out there and you're it. I tend not to buy anything without asking questions first.

The carbine is made in India. The company that I might be purchasing from gives per tenants on the weapon in the FAQ on their site. They are transparent on the FAQ. Kinda funny too. They leave no stone unturned, with the exception of backorder. I understand the wait time is longer than they say. I have read a few beefs on the back order and screw up on a CC order. That doesn't apply to everyone though. I have heard more good than bad about them. Considering the wait time they have from India I can understand the wait. I can handle that as my impression is an officer. In a very obscure end of reenacting any ways (Florida Volunteer Coast Guard).

From what I gather from them the specifics are the smooth bore, which I will need to rectify. I really don't like having a weapon I can't fire with more than a little accuracy. One may as well have a Brown Bess. Or fire back and ball.

The stock is made of rosewood, making it a little heavier too. I've shot M1 carbines, pretty light, and it isn't an issue for me. I've fired '03 Springfields as well. Both fine weapons. I see it a little more as personal taste thing. To each their own.

From what I have looked up the cache of carbine earmarked for Forrest were destroyed at Selma, AL. As his troops fought dismounted quite a bit it would have made sense, especially for someone as practical as he was, to try to acquire them for his men. I doubt very seriously the dent they would have made in the Union advance.

If and when I do get one, I will post some video of it being fired on youtube. I'm also going to spend the extra $100 to have it proofed. I know they make serviceable weapons in India, and this is no wall hanger. It will look pretty good though when I'm not using it.

Thanks and I will keep you informed.

 

[kevikens]

I don't own it yet. Part of the reason I was asking if anyone had ever had or fired one. Seems there is one person out there and you're it. I tend not to buy anything without asking questions first.

The carbine is made in India. The company that I might be purchasing from gives per tenants on the weapon in the FAQ on their site. They are transparent on the FAQ. Kinda funny too. They leave no stone unturned, with the exception of backorder. I understand the wait time is longer than they say. I have read a few beefs on the back order and screw up on a CC order. That doesn't apply to everyone though. I have heard more good than bad about them. Considering the wait time they have from India I can understand the wait. I can handle that as my impression is an officer. In a very obscure end of reenacting any ways (Florida Volunteer Coast Guard).

From what I gather from them the specifics are the smooth bore, which I will need to rectify. I really don't like having a weapon I can't fire with more than a little accuracy. One may as well have a Brown Bess. Or fire back and ball.

The stock is made of rosewood, making it a little heavier too. I've shot M1 carbines, pretty light, and it isn't an issue for me. I've fired '03 Springfields as well. Both fine weapons. I see it a little more as personal taste thing. To each their own.

From what I have looked up the cache of carbine earmarked for Forrest were destroyed at Selma, AL. As his troops fought dismounted quite a bit it would have made sense, especially for someone as practical as he was, to try to acquire them for his men. I doubt very seriously the dent they would have made in the Union advance.

If and when I do get one, I will post some video of it being fired on youtube. I'm also going to spend the extra $100 to have it proofed. I know they make serviceable weapons in India, and this is no wall hanger. It will look pretty good though when I'm not using it.

Thanks and I will keep you informed.

If you are set on a carbine, there are a gazillion cut down original muskets out there waiting for someone to give them a loving hand at restoration. If you are doing reenacting you might want to find out if you can use an original for your depiction and make your carbine the way they sometimes did back then.

 

[LtRusell]

You know, that I never thought of. I found a gunsmith today, so contacting him tomorrow. Closed on the weekend.

As to the carbine itself I am rather set on it, just to add to my collection really. I doubt I will have more than a 1851 Colt on my person. As I will be looking for more people to join in the area, no small feat, and the lack of information on the volunteer CSCG, I'm scouring looking for anything I can find.

Also I was thinking about the salt. If I'm inland, an old cut down would make a lot of sense. In the salt and on the beach, it might not. I'm also planning on building a boat, nothing huge, as would be used to get blockade runner's goods to shore. I have researching the era's boat making.

I tell you what though, you brought up an excellent point there. And darned good idea.

 

[LtRusell]

You know, I was looking into it. Apparently a rifle from India blew up at the 150th of Gettysburg. That being said, I'm wondering just how many weapons failed during the war it self. I'm not calling BS or racism here, but maybe a little bit of the devil you know, as Italian rifles ain't all they're cracked up to be either.