Collection Rifle markings

[GreyHandle]

I recently acquired another rifle for my collection.
Barnett British 1853 Enfield.

There's a lot marked on this rifle, there is some true history behind it, but other history in question.

first photo shows the name and unit of (supposedly) the second owner of this weapon, first owner being a Confederate soldier.

Second photo showing the maker of the rifle.

Third photo are three to four different markings and I have read through his site and others on some of these markers, but not all.

Forth photo looks to be a serial number? Very hard to make out and unsure how to read it or find a better way to see what it says.

Any help is helpful. I am trying to confirm as much as I can about this rifle

 

[Rhea Cole]

These are London proof marks. The V is a little hard to make here & the crown on the example.

Roster Company C 28th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry

Link:

28th Pennsylvania Volunteers, Company C Muster Roll

Re-enacting groups like the Co C 28th Pennsylvania are a good source of citations.

Link:

Home - The 28th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry Co.C

Welcome to the website of The 28th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry! We are Civil War reenactment group located in and around the Philadelphia area, that specialize in unique programs, living history presentations and battle reenactments.

28thpvi.net

Histories of the 28th

Link:

28th Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment in the American Civil War

History of the 28th Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment in the American Civil War, with timeline of events, battles and movements

civilwarintheeast.com

Link;

28th Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers

This example of an Enfield from the NRA museum.

Link:

Barnett Model 1853 Enfield Percussion Rifle Musket

 

[GreyHandle]

View attachment 567290

These are London proof marks. The V is a little hard to make here & the crown on the example.

View attachment 567292

Roster Company C 28th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry

Link:

28th Pennsylvania Volunteers, Company C Muster Roll

Re-enacting groups like the Co C 28th Pennsylvania are a good source of citations.

Link:

Home - The 28th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry Co.C

Welcome to the website of The 28th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry! We are Civil War reenactment group located in and around the Philadelphia area, that specialize in unique programs, living history presentations and battle reenactments.

28thpvi.net

Histories of the 28th

Link:

28th Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment in the American Civil War

History of the 28th Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment in the American Civil War, with timeline of events, battles and movements

civilwarintheeast.com

Link;

28th Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers

This example of an Enfield from the NRA museum.

Link:

Barnett Model 1853 Enfield Percussion Rifle Musket

Thank you!

I have dug into Bickel and found a few good things on him. I've been trying to figure out if a CSA soldier truly had this weapon during the battle of Gettysburg or not. And I understand that may not be something I'll ever truly know and might be impossible to prove. But, Id like to try

 

[Old Soldier]

CP and V and the (squiggle) are London civilian proofs (Barnett is a London company) Your's is lacking the two gauge number (25 for .577) in between the proof marks.
( Script 'G' (Squiggle) & Lion = Provisional proof; crown/GP = (yes, it is a 'G') final proof; crown/V = final view)

The marking on the counter lock plate is more likely to be a badly struck stamp of the stock maker or assembler since Barnett sub-contracted out for many parts. (Woodvale or Woodward).
No serial numbers were put on any weapons leaving Britain save the 2nd CSA London Contract (30,000 in 3 x 10,000 batches) and that was only applied to the butt plate tang, the ramrod and the bayonet, and was more for accounting than anything. Only that contract was serialled.

Many parts were stamped with the sub-contractors' names and/or the local inspector or assembers marks (no crown). (there may even be some government inspectors marks on some minor internal lock components which were spares from old government contracts, but none on any main components.) Enfield - the government factory - did not supply or contract out any weapons for either side. ALL supplied to federal or confederate contracts were from civilian sources and components were NOT interchangeable.

 

[GreyHandle]

That's some solid information and greatly appreciated.

 

[Rhea Cole]

Thank you!

I have dug into Bickel and found a few good things on him. I've been trying to figure out if a CSA soldier truly had this weapon during the battle of Gettysburg or not. And I understand that may not be something I'll ever truly know and might be impossible to prove. But, Id like to try

I haven't read the 28th history yet, were they at Gettysburg? I am not aware of soldiers engraving their names & units on their muskets during the war. Bickel was a veteran volunteer. Seems likely that he purchased the musket & would have used it for Grand Army of the Republic events. I am always very skeptical of Confederate relic claims. Fortunately, with Bickel you have a rock solid connection. I don't ever recall another quite like it. If you ever wanted to, I am sure one of the 28th Co C reenactors would take it off your hands in a heartbeat.

I would definitely reach out to them. In many cases they have done very deep research on individuals. I am sure that they would be very excited to know about your signed musket.