1862 Tower Rifle ?

[Bootsctm]

I acquired this rifle I wish it could talk would love some input or insight on it if you all have any info.
1862 Tower lock
Looks like its original stock that has been cut down
Barrel looks to be a smooth bore and mics .575
"W. Adams" stamped on the back of the lock by main spring
If you want any specific pictures let me know.
Be interested in people input on what everyone thinks this rifle original was and its history
Found at a gun shop in western Kansas

 

[dave951]

Could well be a smoothbore. After the War, many muskets were cut down in this way, rifling reamed out and sold as shotguns.

 

[Bootsctm]

Very interesting. On the lock was it common for a name to be stamped on the back of them? Would the lock off this rifle as it still functions be worth something to anyone trying to restore an original rifle?

 

[springfield art]

I acquired this rifle I wish it could talk would love some input or insight on it if you all have any info.
1862 Tower lock
Looks like its original stock that has been cut down
Barrel looks to be a smooth bore and mics .575
"W. Adams" stamped on the back of the lock by main spring
If you want any specific pictures let me know.
Be interested in people input on what everyone thinks this rifle original was and its history
Found at a gun shop in western Kansas
View attachment 376018View attachment 376019View attachment 376020View attachment 376021View attachment 376022View attachment 376023

 

[springfield art]

Thousands of muskets of all types were cut down after the war for hunting, to give to Indians, etc. The history may be quite mundane, unless it was collected up after the surrender of the South and guided into commercial markets. Fun find!

 

[Conquerordie]

The P53's made by members of the BSAT were the most common musket imported during the Civil War. The North imported around 500,000 and the South around 400,000. I've read that 1862 date Enfields are the most common to come across. I have one in my collection. Yours was altered after the war while being sold on the commercial market. A lot of old war horses ended up like yours. It probably saw service in the war, then service on the farm killing rodents. Just part of it's history.

 

[2 shots]

check for J.S. and an anchor stamped behind the trigger guard.

 

[Rudyard]

Its a commercial Enfield Not Govt but others have spelled out the story very well .In a way its' Attic Pristine 'adds to it .Its survived so robbing it for parts would be retrograde, it is what it is. A Good drink of linseed the mildest rub down that's all Ide give it .What ever history we invent Fair chance its seen a lot on its own .
Rudyard