Hi Guys,
I was hoping that someone out there might be able to help me identify this gun which I picked up from an antiques fair a week ago. I was told by the dealer that it is military which seems most likely from the research I have done. What I would like to know is whether it’s a musket or a rifle (as I lack the expertise to determine this from what I see up the barrel), the model type, and which country it was made as I’m not completely sure but I think I might be British.
I have included a few pictures which I hope will help explain. These also include a couple looking in the muzzle of the gun. Hopefully someone will be able to determine from these whether it is a musket or a rifle.
Here are some specs which may help;
Looking up the barrel there is no definite sign of any rifle grooves or lands, there is one groove which runs centrally down the inside base of barrel and a series of small groove marks on the top left and top right of the inside of the barrel. I wasn’t sure whether these were from manufacture, the firing of ammunition, or purposely created. None of these grooves appear to curve round the barrel as I have read should be the case if it is rifled, they all run in straight lines. The front sight’s wield protrudes slightly into the barrel (visible in pic 3). I’m not sure what the purpose of the base groove would be? I have tried to take pictures of these grooves.
The gun is clearly a percussion model. From my own research it seems that it is based on the Pattern 1853 Enfield British Musket. It has similar fittings and is of the 3-band type, though it appears to be shorter than the standard 55” model (measuring in at 49”), is of a larger bore, has a fixed rear site (see pic), and has no acceptance marks. Because of this and the fact it had a crown stamp but no cipher, I was wondering whether it might possibly have been made by a British sub-contractor contracted under Enfield with the purpose of it being exported to the US during the civil war?
Any help on determining whether this gun is a musket or rifle and its origins would be most appreciated. If any other information is require just let me know. Hopefully the pictures will provide more description.
Thanks so much,
Peter
Pictures;
1. Full Length Right Side

2. Close Up of Crown Stamp on Lock Plate

3. View up Barrel

4. View Up Barrel - Central Groove

I was hoping that someone out there might be able to help me identify this gun which I picked up from an antiques fair a week ago. I was told by the dealer that it is military which seems most likely from the research I have done. What I would like to know is whether it’s a musket or a rifle (as I lack the expertise to determine this from what I see up the barrel), the model type, and which country it was made as I’m not completely sure but I think I might be British.
I have included a few pictures which I hope will help explain. These also include a couple looking in the muzzle of the gun. Hopefully someone will be able to determine from these whether it is a musket or a rifle.
Here are some specs which may help;
- The length of the barrel measures 33 ½” (851mm)
- The full length of the gun measures 49” (1245mm) from the top of the butt to the muzzle.
- The internal diameter of the barrel is 17mm (just short of 11/16”)
- The external diameter of the barrel is 22mm (7/8”)
Looking up the barrel there is no definite sign of any rifle grooves or lands, there is one groove which runs centrally down the inside base of barrel and a series of small groove marks on the top left and top right of the inside of the barrel. I wasn’t sure whether these were from manufacture, the firing of ammunition, or purposely created. None of these grooves appear to curve round the barrel as I have read should be the case if it is rifled, they all run in straight lines. The front sight’s wield protrudes slightly into the barrel (visible in pic 3). I’m not sure what the purpose of the base groove would be? I have tried to take pictures of these grooves.
- There is an image of a crown stamped on the lock plate behind the hammer (see pic), but there is no royal cipher.
- There is what appears to be a makers name stamped on the lock plate in front of the hammer but it is too worn to read. I have managed to decipher two letters and it looks like “S----E-“ (the dashes stand for what I believe to be missing letters).
- There is what appears to be a very small stamp (to hard to read even under a magnifying glass) on the circle of metal near the butt on the lock side of the gun. Apart from these three marks I have noted above, there appear to be no others including no acceptance marks.
The gun is clearly a percussion model. From my own research it seems that it is based on the Pattern 1853 Enfield British Musket. It has similar fittings and is of the 3-band type, though it appears to be shorter than the standard 55” model (measuring in at 49”), is of a larger bore, has a fixed rear site (see pic), and has no acceptance marks. Because of this and the fact it had a crown stamp but no cipher, I was wondering whether it might possibly have been made by a British sub-contractor contracted under Enfield with the purpose of it being exported to the US during the civil war?
Any help on determining whether this gun is a musket or rifle and its origins would be most appreciated. If any other information is require just let me know. Hopefully the pictures will provide more description.
Thanks so much,
Peter
Pictures;
1. Full Length Right Side

2. Close Up of Crown Stamp on Lock Plate

3. View up Barrel

4. View Up Barrel - Central Groove
