This British longarm is a .577 caliber, Enfield Pattern 1853 Type 1 rifle-musket, single-shot muzzleloader in very good original condition. Of all the British arms, the Pattern 1853 rifle-musket is perhaps the best known and regarded weapon that replaced all earlier infantry models in the British Army. Weapon measures a total length of 55” with a 39” long barrel. The lockplate surface is dark plum/gray and exhibits scattered fine rust pitting over the surface. Lock markings are the standard “Victoria Crown” in back of the hammer with clear block letters “1862 / TOWER” in front of the hammer. Mechanics are strong and crisp. Barrel surface never cleaned and wears a dark plum brown patina with spotty rust pitting. Weapon has the long range, folding leaf rear sight and the small blade front sight. Gauge and viewer marks appear on the left side of barrel breech and show “viewer stamp / 25 / viewer stamp / 25 / viewer stamp”.

Just over 500,000 Pattern 1853 muskets were purchased / imported by the US Ordnance Department during the Civil War. Specimen has a bore that is dirty with scattered rust oxidation. Brass triggerguard and the brass buttplate show no markings. Black walnut stock is strong with a surface that is dark and uncleaned. No cracks in stock but it does shows numerous minor dings, dents and light scuffs from age and use. Right cheek of the stock is marked with the maker’s large circular stamp that exhibits “BIRMINGHAM SMALL ARMS TRADE” along the outer edge of the circle and a small “Victoria Crown / B / S A / T” within the circle. Adjacent to the maker mark are ¼” high stamped letters and numerals that read “21, G A R, P, 96, ”. No information on the GAR post as yet but this weapon makes for a wonderful research project. A nice Enfield Pattern 1853 Rifled Musket marked “Tower”.

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