1863 Enfield

[cchriste]

I am looking for information on an 1863 Enfield of my father in laws. It was his grandfathers, but he is not sure more than that. His grandfather was in the Utah National Gaurd as a Lt Coronel, and his father was ( as the family story goes the first general, but i havent been able to confirm that).

The question is the markings on the lock plate. All the ones I have seen have a crown, this on has an eagle on the back part. On the front, it only has 1863. There is no "tower" or Enfield or anything else. The barrel has two marks "25", that I read refer to the caliber being .577. There are some other marks, but I can't tell more about them. The story also is this is a smooth bore, no rifling. I looked, but i could not see any rifling; from what I read all were rifled barrels. The cailber is right, at least a 58 caliber minie ball fits about right. I have a not very good video of the gun here:

http://youtu.be/kzmeaiMY-1w

Cory Christensen

[Curt Schmidt]

Re: 1863 Enfield

Hallo!

Any chance of posting some pictures?

Curt

[cchriste]

Re: 1863 Enfield

The only pictures I have right now is the video at http://youtu.be/kzmeaiMY-1w

It is not very good, but you can for a second see the eagle mark. I will try to get some better pictures.

thanks

[Bmanz1085]

Re: 1863 Enfield

Could this be US Contractor Enfield?

[Curt Schmidt]

Re: 1863 Enfield

Hallo!

I will await pictures, as my monitor is too small, grainy, and fuzzy to get a good look.

From what poor glimpse I get, it is reminiscent of the ones assembled by the New York Company of John P. Moore Sons, Colt's NY agents who after haivng a proposal for Enfields rejected by the Ordnance Department, got a second chance in 1862 delivering some 1,080 "American rifles, Enfield pattern." Followed by some sales to one ro two states in 1863.

I don't want to write too much in error.

Curt

[cchriste]

Re: 1863 Enfield

http://www.flickr.com/photos/91638912@N05/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/91638912@N05/

I took some better photos. These have all the marks I could find. note the one that is 3799 is by the front site on the barrel.

thanks for your help

[cchriste]

Re: 1863 Enfield

Also, this rifle barrel probably has not been cleaned for many many years and has a layer of white crud. Anyone suggest what to do? should it be cleaned or just left alone? If it should be cleaned, what should be used?

thanks

[LeatherHead]

Re: 1863 Enfield

Mssr. Schmidt is quite right. It's a Moore, by the diagnostic lock plate markings...Generally they had very deep rifling, (apparantly shot out or more likely abraided away to use for shot loads), barrels and ramrods an inch longer than standard Enfields. Very cool that there might be a family-use connection...

Sincerely,

Dean Nelson
1st Maryland Infantry, CSA, N-SSA

[Curt Schmidt]

Re: 1863 Enfield

Hallo!

Thanks for the images.

Yes, it is an "M Rifle."

More than likely, the wnitish-gray "crud" in the bore is uncleaned-out blackpowder residue. It probably has already done its dirty work being acidic, but IMHO it would help stabilze things if it were cleaned out and the bore oiled or greased.

It is not uncommon to also find that it is "loaded," with its last charge as these family guns or surplus guns are often used as shotguns and one finds old newspaper as wadding in the bore with shot.

Curt

[cchriste]

Re: 1863 Enfield

thanks
I am concerned this is still loaded; i put a dowel in the barrel and it stops at 35 inches. The end of the barrel is 39 inches. Earlier i had a light on the nipple and could not see any light in the barrel, so i have been thinking it might be loaded.
What in the world do you do to unload a gun like this?
Help!
I am sure the family had no idea it could be loaded.

[JimKindred]

Re: 1863 Enfield

It is not uncommon to also find that it is "loaded," with its last charge as these family guns or surplus guns are often used as shotguns and one finds old newspaper as wadding in the bore with shot.

In such cases it never hurts to squirt some penetrating oil into breech through the cone to neutralize any powder that may remain.

[Jimmayo]

Re: 1863 Enfield

Once bought a 42 model with two loads of bird shot still in the barrel. Drenched the load with Hopps black powder solvent and then proceeded to worm out the charges. The last charge dropped on the floor and little lead balls went everywhere. If the load is a pellet load it is no problem to worm it out. Just take layer by layer. If it is a bullet it will be much harder. The breech plug may have to be removed.