JMMauldwin
32 Cal.
- Joined
- Feb 14, 2013
- Messages
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Greetings and thank you for taking the time to view this post! My name is Michael and yes, I'm ignorant when it comes to BP and I'm trying to overcome that issue.
Last week I purchased a musket that I'm hoping I have done the proper research on. I'd appreciate your input regarding what I "know" and please beat me about the heads and shoulders should if I have strayed down the wrong path..
I did some more digging, and after reviewing my notes I’ve collected thus far, here is what I believe I have identified..
The barrel, lock, and stock all have the War Department (WD) stamps along with the inspector's stampings, so I am confident that this was one of the issued weapons to an Infantry Regiment troop or to an NCO, a Sergeant, which was most common.
The “V.R” (Victoria Regina - Queen Victoria) markings on the lock is usually indicative of British Government manufacture and contracted Enfields. Additionally, after some cleaning, I know the maker of my barrel is Henry Clive, owner of Gun Barrel Works in Birmingham and Master of the Gun Barrel Proof House in Birmingham, was one of the top barrel smiths of that period, supplying barrels to British Ordnance. This barrel is modeled of the Model II, P53 (1853).
Contracted makers were required to mark their identity on the items they produced, so the Board of Ordnance could trace them, say if a barrel failed or the lock for example. It was usually done where it would not be visible externally when the firearm was assembled - i.e on the backside of the lock plate, in the case of a lock maker, and the underside of the barrel for a barrel maker, and so on. My barrel has the inscription of Henry Clive and my lock was built by Thomas Turner ”“ another prominent Gov contractor of the period, in 1857. The stock was manufactured by the Sinclair, Hamilton & Company.
I do not believe my musket is a P58/9 version due to the engraving around the lock plate and the hammer. The P58/59 models were produced via an assembly line as far as I can tell, when mass production was first introduced. Machined parts were interchangeable and did not have the border engraved hammers or lock plates. Additionally, the 1857 Native version had a fixed rear sight and not a graduated one, such as the one I have.
I would say that this is a P56 2-BAND ARMY Enfield as the lock date (1857) coincides with the P56 2-Band model’s production, the rear sight graduates to 1,100 yards, the rear sling swivel is behind the trigger furniture which designates an Army version, and it has the correct length 33” barrel. That would be great were it not for two problems.
The furniture is brass, like the 2 band 1858 Navy model, the Army model was steel, and there is no lug for the Pattern 1856 Yataghan bayonet.
Therefore, I tend to believe this is a P53 Short Rifle, Model II. The stock is dtd 1861 and likely a P56 Army stock with Navy furniture, although I’ve now seen some P53 Enfields with brass furniture that are non-Navy models. I'd like to say it is a P56 Short, but I question whether or not all P56 models had the lug for the Yataghan bayonet?
Can anyone provide additional information to clear the cloud surrounding my head at the moment?
COST: $240.00
Last week I purchased a musket that I'm hoping I have done the proper research on. I'd appreciate your input regarding what I "know" and please beat me about the heads and shoulders should if I have strayed down the wrong path..
I did some more digging, and after reviewing my notes I’ve collected thus far, here is what I believe I have identified..
The barrel, lock, and stock all have the War Department (WD) stamps along with the inspector's stampings, so I am confident that this was one of the issued weapons to an Infantry Regiment troop or to an NCO, a Sergeant, which was most common.
The “V.R” (Victoria Regina - Queen Victoria) markings on the lock is usually indicative of British Government manufacture and contracted Enfields. Additionally, after some cleaning, I know the maker of my barrel is Henry Clive, owner of Gun Barrel Works in Birmingham and Master of the Gun Barrel Proof House in Birmingham, was one of the top barrel smiths of that period, supplying barrels to British Ordnance. This barrel is modeled of the Model II, P53 (1853).
Contracted makers were required to mark their identity on the items they produced, so the Board of Ordnance could trace them, say if a barrel failed or the lock for example. It was usually done where it would not be visible externally when the firearm was assembled - i.e on the backside of the lock plate, in the case of a lock maker, and the underside of the barrel for a barrel maker, and so on. My barrel has the inscription of Henry Clive and my lock was built by Thomas Turner ”“ another prominent Gov contractor of the period, in 1857. The stock was manufactured by the Sinclair, Hamilton & Company.
I do not believe my musket is a P58/9 version due to the engraving around the lock plate and the hammer. The P58/59 models were produced via an assembly line as far as I can tell, when mass production was first introduced. Machined parts were interchangeable and did not have the border engraved hammers or lock plates. Additionally, the 1857 Native version had a fixed rear sight and not a graduated one, such as the one I have.
I would say that this is a P56 2-BAND ARMY Enfield as the lock date (1857) coincides with the P56 2-Band model’s production, the rear sight graduates to 1,100 yards, the rear sling swivel is behind the trigger furniture which designates an Army version, and it has the correct length 33” barrel. That would be great were it not for two problems.
The furniture is brass, like the 2 band 1858 Navy model, the Army model was steel, and there is no lug for the Pattern 1856 Yataghan bayonet.
Therefore, I tend to believe this is a P53 Short Rifle, Model II. The stock is dtd 1861 and likely a P56 Army stock with Navy furniture, although I’ve now seen some P53 Enfields with brass furniture that are non-Navy models. I'd like to say it is a P56 Short, but I question whether or not all P56 models had the lug for the Yataghan bayonet?
Can anyone provide additional information to clear the cloud surrounding my head at the moment?
COST: $240.00
