WBS Rifle

[starman]

What would have been the most common rifle used by Confederate troops during the WBS.

Thanks

 

[Stumpkiller]

I'm gonna guess the Pattern 1853 Enfield (3 band).

 

[Tumblernotch]

You know, I'd have to dig up the figures, but I'm thinking that the South probably captured more M1861's and M1863's (Springfields) than they ever imported from England. Then again, they would have also captured large numbers of Enfields. Without the numbers, it might be hard to call. :hmm:

But I would also probably say the Enfield.

 

[gifford]

Interestingly enough, the new (July 2011) American Rifleman has a long article entitled "Guns of Manassas - 1861" There is a lengthy description of the guns available at the Federal and State Armories at the commencement of hostilities.

The early issue arms ran the gamut from flintlock muskets to the 1855 rifle. Included in the armories were many 1842 muskets and rifled muskets, fewer 1841 'Mississippi' rifles, some 1808 and later flintlock and converted muskets, some Hall's breech loaders and in one case Colt Revolving Rifles.

There is a lot more in the article, it's a great read. G

 

[Tumblernotch]

At the beginning of the War the majority of long arms on boths sides were smoothbore muskets. Most of the rifled arms on the Confederate side were already in the hands of a small number of well established militia companies and the few that were saved from the fire at Harpers Ferry. Of course there were more made there after the Virginia troops captured the place. They kept some of the machinery running as long as they could while dismantling the rest for shipment South. The rifle-musket machinery and parts went to Richmond and the rifle tooling and parts eventually went on loan to the Fayetteville Armory. Meanwhile the Virginia State Armory was issuing every musket it had to not only Virginia troops but also to troops from the Deep South who were assembling in Virginia. They converted as many of the flint muskets as they could as fast as possible (including a big batch of Virginia Manufactory muskets), but many had to be issued as is. Eventually, the South for the most part was well equipped with rifled arms, as Stumpy said a huge portion was of Enfield manufacture, but also 1st class Austrian Lorenz rifles, some good Belgian made Minie rifles and a good portion of not so good smoothbores altered to rifled muskets found their way over here. The yankees ended up with most of those. Caleb Huse spent his money wisely and passed over the junk and outbid the North every chance he got and tied up the London Armory for most of the War in a contract that netted the South many thousands of first class interchangeable P53-3 Enfields. He also got thousands of No. 2 class handmade rifles from the Birmingham makers.

 

[starman]

Thanks for all your replies.

Starman