Original Enfield Rifled Muskets

[Lance Stifle]

Something interesting;
I've had a tip from an old collector mate that there's a stand of 50 rifles held over on an old family estate in Victoria, who maintained a private militia company here in Australia in the 1870's during the Russian invasion scare.

They definately are 1853, 3 band Enfield rifled Muskets, and he believes most only used for drill and occaisonal range practices.

I'll be travelling down to the auction next month for a look, it's expected there will be considerable interest in what will be an auction of the familys effects.

Kim Stewart

"I am with the South in death, in victory or defeat...I never owned a Negro and care nothing for them,
but these people have been my friends and have stood up to me on all occasions."
Patrick Cleburne 1860.

[tsgalloway]

Re: Original Enfield Rifled Muskets

Interesting...keep us in the loop...

[flattop32355]

Re: Original Enfield Rifled Muskets

Rifled muskets, as in rifled after initial manufacture, or rifle muskets, as in that way from the start?

[Lance Stifle]

Re: Original Enfield Rifled Muskets

No idea, I'll find out.

Kim Stewart

"I am with the South in death, in victory or defeat...I never owned a Negro and care nothing for them,
but these people have been my friends and have stood up to me on all occasions."
Patrick Cleburne 1860.

[KPavia]

Re: Original Enfield Rifled Muskets

If they are definitely P-53 Enfields then they are rifle muskets, right? I've never heard of any P-53's being smoothbore than rifled later on.

[Craig L Barry]

Re: Original Enfield Rifled Muskets

1. P53s were a rifle-musket. The post-Sepoy Rebellion Enfield type arms issued to Indian troops were smoothbores.

2. These 50 Aussie P53s are most likely going to end up being government marked guns, rather than the Birmingham or London commercial variant used here in America during the Civil War-era. It is possible that some of them were Civil War arms sold back into the gun trade post-bellum and found their way down under, but it's not how I would bet.

[Lance Stifle]

Re: Original Enfield Rifled Muskets

Hello Barry
I called the auctioner who I know and specialises in antique weaponry, and he told me they are definately the 1853 Rifle Musket (my typo being "rifled musket"), and lack any pre-federation (1900) colonial state government markings.

They are that of a private armoury common for those times in this country.

Like you he doesnt believe theyre post-bellum vintage.
In addition theres three Adams revolvers and various items of period equipment.

I'll let you know how it goes after the big day.

Kim Stewart

"I am with the South in death, in victory or defeat...I never owned a Negro and care nothing for them,
but these people have been my friends and have stood up to me on all occasions."
Patrick Cleburne 1860.

1. P53s were a rifle-musket. The post-Sepoy Rebellion Enfield type arms issued to Indian troops were smoothbores.

2. These 50 Aussie P53s are most likely going to end up being government marked guns, rather than the Birmingham or London commercial variant used here in America during the Civil War-era. It is possible that some of them were Civil War arms sold back into the gun trade post-bellum and found their way down under, but it's not how I would bet.