Barnett Enfield?

[Knapper51]

I need a little help. I came across a P1853 Enfield that has Barnett London stamped on the lock and Barnett Gunmakers London inside an oval stamped on the buttstock. The overall condition of the rifle seems to be far too good for it to be an original. On the other hand, I can find no reference to a reproduction being made with those markings. CAn anyone help?

Thanks,
Knapper

 

[Artificer]

The fastest way to tell if it is a reproduction is to check the screws in the lock. If they are metric, then it is a reproduction.

If it started out as an English Parker Hale made reproduction, then the screws are on the inch pattern.

Here is a link showing the barrel stampings of a real Barnett M1853. If they are not on your gun, then it probably is a repro or put together gun.
http://www.nramuseum.org/guns/the-...del-1853-enfield-percussion-rifle-musket.aspx

Gus

 

[garra]

When I Goggled that maker, I was surprised at the amount of information available. Did find one site that had a lot of their proof marks. Seems many came in through Texas during Civil war. Did run across pictures of nice original examples, so no telling on the condition being original. Seemed they go for a high $$ amount now a days.
Looks like they were providing muskets for a long time to states, before CW, even Indian trade ones. I did not find any references to imitations.

 

[bpd303]

hotoSmile:

 

[TFoley]

I need a little help. I came across a P1853 Enfield that has Barnett London stamped on the lock and Barnett Gunmakers London inside an oval stamped on the buttstock. The overall condition of the rifle seems to be far too good for it to be an original. On the other hand, I can find no reference to a reproduction being made with those markings. CAn anyone help?

Thanks,
Knapper

IMO it is EXTREMELY unlikely to be a replica. Far more likely is that is is a genuine rifle made by Barnett as a Volunteer rifle. This perios in Europe was one of uncertainty as to the intentions of Napoleon III, who was intensely distrusted by the British [nothing new there, eh?].

The Volunteers were, in effect, locally-raised militia, often paid for by local aristocracy, many of whom also paid for uniforms and accoutrements as well.

The National Rifle Association of UK was born out of the Volunteer movement, where marksmanship was a pre-requisite, and some very fine rifles, all of the same P53 style, were made until the advent of the breech-loader. Parker-Hale, back in the day, actually made a .451cal version of the P53 that was called the Volunteer model.

Proof of the pudding lies in the proof marks.

ALL Parker-Hale rifles were proofed in Birmingham Proof House, and marked up, in accordance with the UK and CIP proof laws. They are marked

Parker-Hale Birmingham England on the top of the barrel, and

Crown over BP on the breech.

.577 cal

XXX gr Black powder

Crossed scepters with code letters.

Anything else you might see on an original will usually be crossed scepters under a crown, with the letters B P C and a similar mark with V [view].

Your rifle is a national treasure, as I'm sure that Mr Minshall, reading this, would vouch for.

tac