online catalog

• What's New
• Reduced Price Items
• Artillery
• Books
• Bottles
• Buttons
• Confederate
• Contemporary Artist Prints
  • Framed Prints
  • Unframed Prints
• Currency, Bonds & Tokens
• Documents & Paper Goods
  • Art
  • Broadsides
  • Commissions
  • Discharges
  • Letters
  • Newspapers
  • Signatures
• Edged Weapons
  • Bayonets
  • Knives
  • Scabbards
  • Swords
• Firearms
  • Carbines
  • Cartridges & Gun Tools
  • Handguns
  • Holsters
  • Longarms
• Gettysburg Items
• Identified Items
  • Accoutrements
  • Edged Weapons
  • Firearms
  • Personal Items
  • Photography
  • Uniforms & Cloth
• Medical Items
• Military Accoutrements
  • Buckles/Plates
  • Canteens
  • Insignia & Badges
  • Leather
    • Belts
    • Cap & Cartridge Boxes
    • Haversacks / Knapsacks
    • Holsters
    • Scabbards
  • Spurs
• Personal Items
  • Amusements
  • Cooking
  • Jewelry
  • Personal Hygiene
  • Sewing
  • Smoking
  • Writing
• Photography
  • Albumens
  • Albums
  • Cabinet Cards
  • CDVs
    • Identified CDVs
    • Unidentified CDVs
  • Hard Images
    • Ambrotypes
    • Daguerreotypes
    • Tintypes
  • Stereoviews
• Relics
• Stock Items
  • Books
  • Clothing
  • Riker Cases
  • Shell Bases
  • Wood Display Cases
• Uniforms & Cloth
  • Flags
  • Headgear
  • Sashes & Hat Cords
  • Uniforms
• Veteran Memorabilia
  • GAR
  • UCV
• WWI / WWII
  • Equipment
  • Posters

1863 DATED P1853 ENFIELD RIFLE MUSKET BY THOMAS TURNER

Hover to zoom

This Pattern 1853 Enfield rates very good or near fine for condition, complete, with all original parts and all bands, springs, swivels and ramrod in place, and showing smooth metal overall with lots of original deep blue on the barrel, slightly thinner blue on the rear sight and pleasing plum brown on the barrel bands, mottled plum and bluish gray on the lock plate and deep plum on the hammer. The brass has an untouched, aged patina, with some age stains on the stock tip. The wood has a warm brown color and surface, showing a tight fit to the metal and very good edges.

This shows “use but not abuse.” There are scattered handling dings to the wood- between the upper band and stock tip, mostly on the right, a couple more between the lower bands, and some scattered small dings and scratches on the buttstock, which shows a couple small spots of white paint on the underside near the buttplate where it rubbed against something. There are some shallow chips around the base of the breechplug tang, with a some narrow pressure dents. The ramrod channel shows some wear from drawing and return of the ramrod- small chipping, with slightly larger chips either at the lower band where the end of the rod would tend to strike when returned during hurried use. Both sling swivels are place, as is the nipple protector and chain, and the long-range rear sight, which shows some slight rubbing on the ladder, but generally good color and clear range gradations. Please see our photos.

The markings are very good. The lock plate is crisply marked TOWER over 1863 forward of the hammer and with a crown at rear of the plate. The barrel is stamped with the Birmingham proofs with 25/25 bore stamps indicating .577 caliber on the left breech, with some roughness underneath, near the edge of the stock, perhaps vise marks from disassembly for cleaning. The wood is clearly stamped “T.TURNER” on the belly, between the buttplate and triggerguard tang with two small cartouches just to the rear of the tang, one of which is clearly “TT” below a crown. The right buttstock shows a crisp, stamped Birmingham Small Arms Trade Roundel. Thomas Turner was a prominent Birmingham gunmaker, member of large family of gunmakers, and is listed in The English Connection among arms furnishers whose names are found on arms with Confederate provenance (p. 100.)

The bore is clean and bright, with good rifling. The mechanics are strong and crisp. The British Enfield Pattern 1853 Rifle Musket was a very common shoulder arm, imported and used in large numbers by both North and South. This is a very good looking example.  [sr][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!

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

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

MAY BE PURCHASED THROUGH OUR LAYAWAY PROGRAM.

CLICK HERE FOR OUR POLICIES AND TERMS.

THANK YOU!