An Indianapolis Enfield

[LibertyHallVols]

Springfield Armory NHS has many great displays. One of them is of soldier-marked muskets. With the Colts winning the Superbowl last night, I thought it might be fun to show some pics of this Enfield.

Go Colts!

[paulcalloway]

Re: An Indianapolis Enfield

Thanks for posting that John - here's a link to a pretty detailed diary of the 63rd IVI.

[LibertyHallVols]

Re: An Indianapolis Enfield

Here is some more info from the Springfield Armory Collection site:
http://www.rediscov.com/spring/VFPCG...ABASE=35651500,

(Note the weight on the description... 8.6lbs!!!)







You gotta love that "Mattie Be True"!

Enjoy!

[DJCasey]

Re: An Indianapolis Enfield

Very interesting rifle. However, the Bears should of won.

[markj]

Re: An Indianapolis Enfield

Interesting. I just sold an image ID'd to a guy in Company B, 63rd IVI. These two individuals may well have known each other.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ih=002&sspagename=STRK%3AMESO%3AIT&viewitem=&item=120078549511&rd=1&rd=1

Regards,

Mark Jaeger

[paulcalloway]

Re: An Indianapolis Enfield

Here is some more info from the Springfield Armory Collection site:
http://www.rediscov.com/spring/VFPCG...ABASE=35651500,
Enjoy!

Interesting note on that site:

Army# 337 - "This man, Chas. H. Roberts, was made prisoner and put into Libby. Died three months after being released through exchange of prisoners. Gun recognized by his comrade, Mr. Henry Griffin, in 1918, who died two months after recognizing the gun. Died in the Old Man's home."

[theknapsack]

Re: An Indianapolis Enfield

Go Colts!

:(
Nice image of the musket.

[Curt Schmidt]

Re: An Indianapolis Enfield

Hallo!

VERY nice! Thanks for sharing!

A nice "commemoration" carving. I am wondering why he dated it "1865?"
Was that his year of service perhaps??

I would expect may be "1861-1865" for the War, or maybe say "1862-1865" for a particular enlistment or service...

Curt

[KyCavMajor]

Re: An Indianapolis Enfield

Very interesting rifle. However, the Bears should of won.

Maybe if they had been issued rifles lol, but then again Rex would have just shot himself in the foot....

[paulcalloway]

Re: An Indianapolis Enfield

Maybe if they had been issued rifles lol, but then again Rex would have just shot himself in the foot....

:lightbulb Lets stick to talking about the rifle and related subjects.

[ewtaylor]

Re: An Indianapolis Enfield

According to NPS Civil War Soldiers & Sailors website:

Charles H. Roberts (First_Last)
Regiment Name 63 Indiana Infantry.
Side Union
Company F
Soldier's Rank_In Corpl.
Soldier's Rank_Out Sgt.
Alternate Name
Notes
Film Number M540 roll 65


I thought Libby Prison was in Richmond, Va. ? It looks as if the 63rd did most of its fighting in the West from 1862-1865.

everett taylor

[FlaYankee]

Re: An Indianapolis Enfield

Nice post!:)
Thanks for sharing.
Actually I was observing the color of the stock, maybe do to ageing of 140 years+. I haven't seen too many P53's with this stock colorization, although they do exist. Most I have seen and held have a much darker tone.
One will also notice, the brightened steel, with no bluing in evidence, however, this weapon was probably blued and it may have worn off, from cleaning. The proof markings on the side of the barrel are nice and crisp showing very little pitting. It would be nice to see the other side, but the writing is the highlight of this fine piece.
Again nice pic!
Kindest Regards;

[KyCavMajor]

Re: An Indianapolis Enfield

:lightbulb Lets stick to talking about the rifle and related subjects.

You are of course right Mr Calloway, I appologize to the membership...

Edit: No need to apologize. Just want to keep the discussion on topic and out of the 21st century.

-Paul Calloway

[ACo.]

Re: An Indianapolis Enfield

Nice post!:)
Thanks for sharing.
Actually I was observing the color of the stock, maybe do to ageing of 140 years+. I haven't seen too many P53's with this stock colorization, although they do exist. Most I have seen and held have a much darker tone.

The lighter color is not terribly uncommon, as with any wood walnut is found in varying shades from light to dark. It may be that this stock is largely sapwood? Enfield stocks were varnished and varnish allows the true color of wood to show through. It also seals the wood effectively and dosn't allow as much dirt into the stock as the linseed oil dip used by American arsenals and contractors. Linseed oil also oxidzes over time and will darken even a light walnut, especially with exposure to UV light and air polutants, something the oil based varnish the English used will not do. It is a very interesting gun.
__________________

[Enfield]

Re: An Indianapolis Enfield

Nice post!:)
Thanks for sharing.
Actually I was observing the color of the stock, maybe do to ageing of 140 years+. I haven't seen too many P53's with this stock colorization, although they do exist. Most I have seen and held have a much darker tone.
One will also notice, the brightened steel, with no bluing in evidence, however, this weapon was probably blued and it may have worn off, from cleaning. Kindest Regards;

Many of the Enfields (and other guns) in the Springfield Armory have been extensively cleaned. When I visited there in the late 1980s, the curator told me that most of these guns had the usual age/dirt-darkened stocks, until they cleaned them up. There is another Enfield there with elaborate stock carving, and I don't recall now whether it was this Indiana gun or that other one, but the curator told me that NONE of this carving was visible before they cleaned the gun - it was a big surprise to them! The bright metal is also likely a result of the armory cleaning process.

Geoff Walden