Exceptional example of a Confederate purchased British Pattern 1858 Naval Rifle with a “JS”-Anchor stamp and an engraved inventory number!

The rifle is in Very Good condition with a pleasing overall plum patina.  The stock is likewise Very Good and exhibits only light handling marks, though there is a small hairline crack running forward a short distance from the rear lock screw escutcheon.  The lock works properly and the bore is also Very Good with visible rifling.  Markings include the British crown, “TOWER,” and “1861” on the lock, as well as typical Birmingham inspection and proof stamps on the barrel.  The caliber is “25” gauge (.577).  The stock is marked below the trigger guard tang with a Crown-“BSAT” stamp, indicating the manufacturer was a member of the Birmingham Small Arms Trade.

Most importantly, the stock also exhibits the “JS”-Anchor viewer’s stamp of Confederate contracted arms inspector John Southgate below the trigger guard tang.  Southgate was a British government viewer (inspector) assigned to the London Armoury Company whom the Confederates hired to inspect the quality of arms they purchased in England.  According to Confederate purchasing agent Edward C. Anderson, Southgate inspected arms for the CSA in Liverpool while ostensibly on sick leave from his government job.  He borrowed a specific anchor symbol, long associated with Birmingham, to disguise his true identity as a government viewer normally employed in London.  Southgate risked dismissal from his government post if found to be working for the Confederates on the side, so he used subterfuge to help avoid compromise.

The rifle also has a Confederate inventory control number “2781” hand-engraved on the butt-plate tang.  The inventory numbers proved necessary to ensure inventory accountability and dissuade fraud among British suppliers and shipping agents.

The Pattern 1858 Naval Rifle entered service with the Royal Navy in December 1858.  Naval Rifles are much more uncommon than the Pattern 1856 and Pattern 1858 short rifles used by the British Army.  Interestingly, the five-groove barrel used on the Naval Rifle proved more accurate than the three-groove barrel utilized on the P1856 and P1858 rifles, so the British Army adopted the five-groove barrel for their Pattern 1860 short rifle.

Collector grade examples of Confederate purchased and marked British short rifles rarely appear on the market!  Perhaps because it became common practice in the Army of Northern Virginia to collect British short rifles from regular troops and redistribute them to the newly formed sharpshooter battalions during the early months of 1863, these guns are now associated with the crème de la crème of Confederate infantry!  [sk]

DISCLAIMER: All firearms are sold as collector's items only - we do not accept responsibility as to the shooting safety or reliability of any antique firearm. All firearms are described as accurately as possible, given the restraints of a catalog listing length. We want satisfied customers & often "under" describe the weapons. Any city or state regulations regarding owning antique firearms are the responsibility of the purchaser. All firearms are "mechanically perfect" unless noted, but again, are NOT warranted as safe to fire!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

THIS ITEM, AS WITH ALL OTHER ITEMS AVAILABLE ON OUR WEB SITE,

MAY BE PURCHASED THROUGH OUR LAYAWAY PROGRAM.

FOR OUR POLICIES AND TERMS,

CLICK ON ‘CONTACT US’ AT THE TOP OF ANY PAGE ON THE SITE,

THEN ON ‘LAYAWAY POLICY’.

THANK YOU!