Gunroom Gossip. A British Gun for the U.S. Civil War.

[T'owd Mon]

I thought it about time I had another delve into the gun cabinets and came up with this that may be of interest. An 1858 Enfield Rifle. Much used by the British in many of its conflicts across the world it also found favour with both sides in the American Civil War. British Gunmakers actually became quite wealthy as a result. This particular example is what is referred to as a Volunteer Model inasmuch as it was a rifle privately purchased rather that Government issue although it is identical in all respects with fully interchangeable parts. The only difference is that the Volunteer models were hand finished by experienced Gunmakers and sometimes bear the names of quite well known British Gunmakers; this one is unnamed however. There are tales of Government factories employing young lads to move around the factory to warn of the whereabouts of prospective purchasers as both Union and Confederate representatives may be in the building at the same time. It being thought unwise that they should unexpectedly meet. Some private contractors selling to the Confederate States would request payment in raw cotton rather than Confederate Dollars; a wise move as it turned out and far more lucrative.

Volunteer Regiments were contracted to serve on home soil and could not be sent overseas unless they requested. We needed to protect ourselves from the French! This particular example was a private purchase by someone in the Black Watch Volunteer Regiment according to the buttstock markings which have been neatly engraved rather than crudely stamped as on Military issue guns. A photograph of an original cartridge from my collection is also shown.

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[Chiro1989]

That is very cool, have you shot it?

[Castle]

That is a beautiful rifle, so much history there. Nice to know it has a good home.

I can't tell by looking but what caliber is that (.577)? Basically, a .58 caliber with a .55 miniball?

Royal Small Arms Factory developed the Pattern 1853 Enfield in the 1850s. The 39 in (99 cm) barrel had three grooves, with a 1:78 rifling twist, and was fastened to the stock with three metal bands, so that the rifle was often called a "three band" model. The rifle's cartridges contained 2+1⁄2 drams, or 68 grains (4.4 g) of gunpowder, and the ball was typically a 530-grain (34 g) Boxer modification of the Pritchett & Metford or a Burton-Minié, which would be driven out at approximately 1,250 feet (380 m) per second.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pattern_1853_Enfield

Enfield Pattern 1858
https://www.rmg.co.uk/collections/objec ... bject-2519

Have you shot it? I suspect I would shot it already

[sakodude]

Amazing piece of history. Thanks for sharing.

[Freezer]

Thanks, Mike, I really appreciate it when you open your safe.

[Bigslug]

Very cool!

My Dad's dabbled with replicas of the Whitworth and the paper cartridge Sharps breechloaders, but oddly never brought home a rifle musket. It would be fun to cast Minie balls.

I would STRONGLY recommend anybody interested pick up a copy of Earl J. Hess' The Rifle Musket in Civil War Combat - Reality and Myth. It's a very learned study challenging the common belief that the carnage of the conflict was largely due to the fact that rifled barrels had become a general issue item. Goes pretty deep into the technical aspects of the gun and ammo, as well as the training and doctrine of the "labor pool". Well worth the twenty odd bucks it seems to be going for lately.

[T'owd Mon]

Only shot out of curiosity but not with the original cartridges as they are too collectable to use. Easy to get cast bullets.

Two other books that cover this rifle and cartridge are: 'The English Cartridge' by Brett Gibbons ISBN: 979-8-645-98897-5 and 'The Destroying Angel' by Brett Gibbons ISBN: 978-1-719-85727-7 He is an American author so both books should be readily available and neither is expensive.

The Birmingham company Parker-Hale did produce these rifles in the 1970's and 80's. Although modern the were made from the same patterns with parts interchangeable; more or less a newer example of the same rifle. Illustrated are a full length model and a cavalry carbine made by Parker-Hale but not from my collection.

Don't worry Freezer I shall shortly be having another delve into the depths of my gun cabinets.

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[Castle]

You have quite the remarkable cabinets there, can't wait to see what's next.