This is a good example of the British Pattern 1853 Rifle Musket that would fit well in a collection of Northern and Southern Civil War arms. Made by a number of British manufacturers, but generically known as the Enfield, these rifle muskets were imported in the hundreds of thousands by North and South through government and commercial channels. Among longarms used in the war, their numbers were only exceeded by the different versions of the .58 caliber Springfield, whose development they influenced.

The gun is completely original and correct. The mechanics are good and the rifling is fair, visible but showing a dark patina and some peppering. The exterior of the barrel is generally smooth metal with just some freckling around the muzzle, some light scattered crustiness and some light pitting on top of the breech near the nipple from the corrosive effects of percussion caps, indicating the gun has been used. The bolster shows some corresponding roughness. The barrel is largely a deep plum brown with some mottled gray showing through at points, but fairly uniform. The barrel is Both sights are in place and the rear sight has all its components: ladder, etc.

The left breech shows provisional and definitive proof and view marks, separated by gauge numbers, “25,” indicating the rifle is .577 caliber. The lock has a tight fit and the lockplate is marked with a crown behind the hammer (appropriately lacking a VR, which would indicate a British army weapon) and “Tower” forward of the hammer under the manufacture date of 1864. All bands and swivels are in place, as is the correct ramrod. The screws have good slots indicating not too much gun smithing over the years. The brass has a very nice, dark, untouched patina, matching the gun well, the only lighter area being the triggerguard tang, which is the natural spot for fingers to rub it when holding the gun by the wrist.

Stock is full length, with no breaks or cracks, good edges, and a good fit to the metal. The left side flat has some minor dings and scratches, but still shows a small J.T. stamp, likely a British stocker’s or finisher’s mark. The wood under the hammer is not burned out, and it has a good fit along the edges, breech, and breechplug tang. The right butt flat shows a few scratches and a drag line, with one small divot on the bottom about two inches from the toe. The only fault we find is that it was lightly sanded and darkened, perhaps to remedy some moisture damage to the surface. One area on either side of the stock between the middle and lower band shows some surface loss and there is some crustiness to the metal in the same area that might indicate a cloth wrapped around it had gotten wet.

Since the rifle bears no specific southern or northern markings this would be a good fit for a collection focusing on either side or on long arms typically used in conflict. It could be complemented with an Enfield bayonet, but a standard cap box and cartridge box would be appropriate to display with it since the ammunition was the same as for U.S. .58 caliber rifle muskets.  [sr]

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