Enfield rifle authentic

[ctilton62]

I'm hoping that someone will be able to help me in the identification of this weapon. I received this enfield from another SCV member who told me that he received it from his Great-Grandfather that he was in the organization through. His great-grandfather told him that it was brought aboard a blockade runner and given to him and his unit. This ancestor is from NC. I attached all the pictures that had any marking on them, and via online could find nothing on it. Reading through this forum for civilian impression assistance I figured maybe someone could shed some light on it; and let me know if it is authentic or not and a year. Thanks.

-Charles L Tilton, Esq.

[Pumpkinslinger]

Re: Enfield rifle authentic

My first thought is Nepalese.

[ctilton62]

Re: Enfield rifle authentic

Mike,

Thank you for your reply. Based on what you said I was able to match up the markings and also found out that, "This Enfield 1853extremely popular and rare model was the first rifle to become standard issue in the British Army... 39" barrel with the signatures three steel bands, brass trigger guard, cleaning rod, functioning lock with nipple, adjustable ladder-back sight, and brass butt plate. This rifle changed military tactics with its capabilities; imported extensively for use in the U.S. Civil War." This is great because now I know I have a weapon that came aboard a blockade runner here in NC! Now I just have to figure out what I am going to do with it.

-Charles L Tilton, Esq.

[Curt Schmidt]

Re: Enfield rifle authentic

Hallo!

IMHO, and sorry to say...

While it is a P1853 2nd Model, it is a "colonial service gun." Not likely to have come here from England on a blockade runner for the ACW.

I believe the rear sight graduations, and the barrel stampings, are Nepalese. It is likely to have gotten here from the Museum Replicas/Atlanta Cutlery purchase of about ten years ago or so.

(And missing butt plate screws expediently replaced with modern Phillips head screws.)

Curt

[Don Dixon]

Re: Enfield rifle authentic

[QUOTE=ctilton62;255912]"...another SCV member who told me that he received it from his Great-Grandfather that he was in the organization through. His great-grandfather told him that it was brought aboard a blockade runner and given to him and his unit. This ancestor is from NC..."

Bulls**t! Pure fabrication! I hope you bought the gun and not the story, and that the man was not a friend, because he defrauded you. He's truely an honorable SCV brother.

The markings on the weapon indicate that it was manufactured in Nepal for Nepalese troops. I know of two large batches of such arms that were imported into the U.S. The first was in the early 1970s by Sam Cummings of Interarms, Alexandria, VA. Cummings brought in some really interesting military surplus. I have a Snyder-Enfield from that batch of weapons. The range markings on the rear sight are exactly the same as on your weapon. I also owned a Nepalese made Martini-Henry with similar range markings on the rear sight, also from Interarms. The second batch, as stated, came in through the Museum Replicas/Atlanta Cutlery importation. Based upon my examination of the Interams guns after they came in and photos of the Museum Replicas/Atlanta Cutlery weapons, the Interarms imported weapons were probably the best of what came out of Nepal.

Regards,
Don Dixon

[maillemaker]

Re: Enfield rifle authentic

This is great because now I know I have a weapon that came aboard a blockade runner here in NC!

Highly unlikely. As was stated, this is almost certainly an Indian gun, and moreover, as I understand it 2nd model Enfields were extraordinarily rare in the ACW. The 3rd model is the variant of Enfield most commonly used during the ACW. The difference is easily seen by the springs that hold the barrel bands in place on the 2nd model.

Steve

[Craig L Barry]

Re: Enfield rifle authentic

Yes, I'm afraid it is Nepalese... you don't see many US Civil War arms with Sanskrit markings.