1853 Enfield hammer

[musketbal]

hey guys,
Just recieved a 1853 Enfield hammer for my euroarms. I checked evevry where to find an original hammer, rarer than chicken's teeth to find. However I checked Amazon and found a place who has them for $ 25.00. I was some what skeptical until I recieved it today. After a little filing it works perfect.
Perhaps Craig Barry can chime in. It is the same hammer shown in the picture of the ad. I would post pictures however, I am unable at this time to do it because my computer won't allow me to do so.

IMA-USA.COM product code is BN3045

Brent Conner

[WpnsMan]

Re: 1853 Enfield hammer

Brent,

These are part of the Nepali cache that IMA bought in conjunction with Atlanta Cutlery a decade ago. These are contemporary Nepali made P53's of the type II (hardband) variety. While not finished to the standards of a British made Enfield they were serviceable guns and should not be confused with Kyber pass copies of dubious origin.

I also used one of these hammers to replace the Snyder conversion hammer on a Barnett marked lock that resides on my P53.

[musketbal]

Re: 1853 Enfield hammer

HI Brian,
Thanks for the info. Like you I also put it on my Barnett enfield. I am sending the lock and hammer off to be color case hardened by Classic Guns L.T.D. Would the hammer still be OK for the time period of my enfield ?


Thanks,

Brent

[WpnsMan]

Re: 1853 Enfield hammer

Brent,

I would say so. It is a contemporary copy of those found on a British made Enfield in form and function. The only cosmetic detail I would suggest is that your lockplate has the same double line engraving around it's perimeter as does the hammer. If not, delete (or add) one or the other.

[musketbal]

Re: 1853 Enfield hammer

Thanks Bryan, very much appreciated.


Brent

[Craig L Barry]

Re: 1853 Enfield hammer

I have used those Nepalese hammers before, great if they fit. The challenge will be fitting the hammer to the Euroarms arbor shaft. If the opening is too small, it may need to be filed. If it is too large, you can "sleeve" the arbor shaft so it fits snugly. Here is the kicker, and there is no way to know this until the hammer arrives. Being non-interchangeable hand-made weapons, sometimes the opening in the hammer for the arbor shaft may be asymmetrical, for example, shaped like a baseball diamond instead of a square. Not much you can do there. Also, the hammer may be either a little too short (usually) or too long in the nose. Not much you can do there, but it affects the lock geometry if it does not meet the cone squarely. This can also send percussion caps flying in fragmented pieces. Also, not good.

For $25, though...it is worth a shot. Don't expect it to just slide on there perfectly though and work like a charm. It could of course, but it would be a long shot. These usually take some fitting to function properly.

[musketbal]

Re: 1853 Enfield hammer

Thanks Mr. Barry for your input, your the man when it comes to the enfield. I recieved the hammer two days ago and believe it or not, it fit perfectly. I also fired several caps with it and no problems. Today I sent the lock and hammer off to be color case hardened by Classic Guns.
Thanks Again for your input,
Brent

[WpnsMan]

Re: 1853 Enfield hammer

Mine went onto an original Barnett lock that was on a commercial Snyder conversion and fit perfectly. Craig is quite right though, you never know what you're going to get in regards to the workmanship on these things. In my experience they have been pretty consistent in fit and quality, YMMV.

[pipthelimey]

Re: 1853 Enfield hammer

Another option is the Rifle Shoppe in OK. They do castings from originals. I've purchased one from both IMA and from Rifle Shoppe. My IMA one had some very deep pitting around the double line engraving. It ended up making a good Non- engraved LAC hammer. I used the rifle shoppe casting for my BSAT rifle and was most impressed.

[Curt Schmidt]

Re: 1853 Enfield hammer

Hallo!

I do not know the particular RS internal workings or circumstances at the time of my order for their Enfield hammers, but...

what I received was a casting of the too small, aka "anemic," modern Italian reproduction hammer. :(

Curt

[pipthelimey]

Re: 1853 Enfield hammer



I hate to hear that. Below is the one I received. One pic shows it out of the box, and the other shows the powder costing polished off and fitted to one of my locks.

- - - Updated - - -



I hate to hear that. Below is the one I received. One pic shows it out of the box, and the other shows the powder costing polished off and fitted to one of my locks.

[LibertyHallVols]

Re: 1853 Enfield hammer

That's quite an improvement!