Confederate Pattern 1853 Enfield Rifled Musket

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Antique Item #C652

Confederate Pattern 1853 Enfield Rifled Musket

  • Licensing Category: Antique
  • Maker: Enfield
  • Model: 1853
  • Caliber/Gauge: .577

  • Description:

    We are pleased to offer an English Pattern 1853 Enfield as issued to and used by the Confederate States during the U.S. Civil War. For reference in this description we refer to "The English Connection" by Pritchard and Huey, a 2014 Book, 608 pages of information photograph and information on the arms and material as supplied to the CSA by Great Britian.  The item as offered is a 1853 commercial Enfield dated 1862.  The bore shows obvious corrosion and strong remnents of rifling.  The finish on the barrel remains mostly as a plum brown and faded blue with pitting in the breech area.  Page 103 of the reference shows the identical Birmingham provision proof, 25 C25 Bore or 577 caliber, cross scepters and Birmingham view mark.  The lock plate shows the crow with no cypher and tower over 1862 date -see pages 102 & 103.  The reverse of the lock show no inspector marks only the mark of the Birmingham lock maker, E&G Hackett, who are listed on the list of furnishers with Confederate Provenance page 100.  The wood is all original to the item and remains in it's sound original configeration.  The bottom of the butt shows the stamped makers name, J. Bourne,who was one of the known Birmingham military contractors.  The right side of the butt shows the "Birmingham Small Arms Trade" roundel, see pages 98&99.  The wood behind the triggerguard shows the crown over SA over 3, page 113, which is a view mark associated with the JS & anchor mark.  The second view mark appears to be a crown over 1B.The comb of the stock ahead of the tang shows the anchor over S marking.  The authors indicate that this marking is in some way related to the JS/anchor mark.  They feel that this scarce marking is from another team of English viewers that were employed by the Confederate authorities during the latter stages of the war, see photo and text on page 113. This Enfield was uneartherd in Atlantic Canada.  There is little doubt that this item is a correct and original Confederate Enfield.  Despite the numerous rifles acquired by the Confederates, a genune example is a difficult item for the collector to acquire especially in Canada.