Enfield cone protector

[David Fox]

I recently acquired an attic queen three-band P.53 Birmingham Enfield, dated 1862. Though the wood's battered it has its original finish and the metal is spectacularly clean (national armoury bright, by the way). The original cone protector (w/ inspection stamps intact in the leather face) is attached to a tiny iron ring in the forward tang of the brass trigger guard, forward of the bow. Now I've seen this arrangement on various two-banders, either lacking a rear sling swivel or having the rear sling swivel in the buttstock belly. I've not noticed this arrangement in a three-bander, the cone protector chain when present being usually anchoured to the rear sling swivel itself. Any insights? Dave Fox

[Curt Schmidt]

Re: Enfield cone protector

Hallo!

Dunno...

The ball or type mounting stud for the protector is a common feature on carbines and rifles, such as the P1858/P1860/P1861 Short Rifle, P1861 Cavalry Carbine, P1861 Artillery Carbine, etc.
And they do appear on some experimental Lancaster and Whitworth (three band) rifles as teh rear sling swivel is mounted behind the trigger guard plate.

I know of no P1853 RM's that used that arrangement. In ignorance, I would have to question whether the trigger assembly was, at one time, from something else either possibly when the gun was assembled or sometime in the Past since.

Curt

[David Fox]

Re: Enfield cone protector

Could be, Curt, but I doubt it. This piece appears untouched. It was missing both sling swivels, the rear sight, and, as usual, the rammer. The assembler's name ("C. Maybury"?) is still present in the buttstock belly. The triggerguard of this non-interchangable piece fits perfectly into its inletting and shows no signs of being disturbed. It doesn't appear a two-bander triggerguard plate w/ the cone protector stud was substituted at some later date. I'd swan it came from the stocker's shop that way. Anyone know of other examples?

[Uncle Pig]

Re: Enfield cone protector

Pictures please!

Thanks,
Mark C. Foster

[David Fox]

Re: Enfield cone protector

Shall cheerfully send a picture when it's back from the gunsmith's where it's having an original replacement rear sight soldered on. Otherwise, the arrangement is precisely as appears in the Confederate volume of Time-Life's "Echoes of Glory", page 50 and the stud, w/ hole to accept the cone protector chain's split ring can be seen in illustrated carbines and rifles facing pages 50 and 75 of Bailey's "British Military Long arms 1815-1865".