Enfield barrel...to blue or not to blue?

[Artyman]

Gentlemen,

Was looking at the Lodgewood site to get started defarbing a Euroarms Enfield. In their rundown they show a defarbed Enfield with an "armory bright" polished barrel. The text goes on to say they do the same thing with the barrel bands and lockplate. They don't say anything about replacing the barrel bands with the correct style.

I'm sure you have anticipated my question: is the blued barrel right, wrong, rare, common? I need some advice before I put my money where their research is!

Thanks

Harry

[Silas]

Re: Enfield barrel...to blue or not to blue?

Welcome to the forum. The search function here isn't the greatest, but it can reveal things for which you seek and things you hadn't considered. Follow this link which is for a two word search I performed : http://www.authentic-campaigner.com/...archid=1409578 Many threads about Enfield's and blueing.

[maillemaker]

Re: Enfield barrel...to blue or not to blue?

Hi Harry,

Here is a nice article on the Enfield rifle:

http://www.authentic-campaigner.com/articles/walden/enfauth.htm

Here is a sub-article that addresses Enfield bluing specifically:

http://www.authentic-campaigner.com/articles/walden/enfblue.htm

Also I highly recommend this inexpensive book ($25):

http://www.amazon.com/The-Civil-War-Musket-Accuracy-Lock/dp/0974220124

Enfield were manufactured in England with a blued finish. It seems that some may have been struck bright intentionally, but there is debate as to how widespread this practice was. Many Civil-War era Enfields survive with bluing, and many that are now struck bright today may not have been struck bright while in actual service.

Steve

[Michael Comer]

Re: Enfield barrel...to blue or not to blue?

The Geoff Walden article is a very good one on the Enfield. Blued or bright can both be correct depending on time, place and unit.