EARLY WAR CONFEDERATE SINCLAIR HAMILTON INSPECTED ENFIELD RIFLE-MUSKET

EARLY WAR CONFEDERATE SINCLAIR HAMILTON INSPECTED ENFIELD RIFLE-MUSKET

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$2,295.00 ON HOLD

Quantity Available: 1

Item Code: 2026-735

The British made Pattern 1853 “Enfield” rifle-musket was the second most used infantry long arm of the American Civil War. It was the first “small bore” rifled long arm to see general issue to all British military personnel, effectively making every soldier a “rifleman” and the smoothbore musket obsolete. The .577 caliber rifled bore was a significant ballistic development. The Pattern 1853 would significantly influence the design of the new American Model 1855 Rifle-Musket and all arms production going forward. Approaching a million Enfields  including rifles, rifle-muskets, musketoons and carbines saw use in the American Civil War. Today, it is difficult to determine if a specific Enfield was exported from Britain to the North or South. Recently, the Horse Soldier acquired a collection of imported British Enfield rifle-muskets that were destined for the Southern Confederacy. This "study collection" offers weapons by various contractors with varying dates of manufacture all having distinctive markings that make them exclusively Confederate imports. The rifle-musket offered was exported to the Confederacy by the English firm Sinclair, Hamilton & Company.

Sinclair, Hamilton & Company entered into several contracts with the Confederacy to deliver Pattern 1853 Enfield rifle-muskets and appears to have received at least five of these contracts for Pattern 1853 Enfield rifle-muskets from the Confederate central government.  Sinclair, Hamilton & Company acquired their arms through a series of sources referred to as "Furnishers". Most were well-established gun making firms that were able to fill the large Sinclair, Hamilton & Company orders in a reasonable period of time or at least arrange with additional contractors to make the deliveries needed.

This British Pattern 1853 Enfield (with the modifications based on field use is today called by many collectors the Pattern 1858 or 3rd Pattern) rifle-musket is dated "1861" over "TOWER" on the lock plate. At the rear of the lock plate is the Queen's crown. The lock functions well but the screw holding the hammer is replaced. The gun is devoid of any British military inspection or acceptance markings and is a typical Birmingham-made contract gun for commercial sale that was destined for export from Great Britain. The 39-inch barrel is Birmingham proofed and marked "25" for bore or .577 caliber and has a brown age patina with a little pitting closer to the breech. The 2 remaining barrel bands have an age brown patination. The bore of the gun is good. There is a brass butt plate and brass nose cap. The rear sight is fully intact. The front sight is present. The gun has both sling swivels in place.  The stock is solid and free of any breaks or repairs. The wood is nice  patina and all corners reasonably sharp. Behind the trigger guard stamped twice is the "2nd type" Sinclair Hamilton inspection stamp seen only on arms destined for the Confederacy. This is a CROWN with "SH" over a "C" which is S(inclair), H(amiton) C(ompany); a very desirable marking for the Confederate Enfield collector. This is overall a fine-looking example.   [pe][ph:L]

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!

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