I have recently been discussing an interesting Enfield rifle-musket with its owner, a fellow Canadian. It is a family heirloom and bears the date "1861". It also has a breech-loading mechanism, which would indicate a Snider-Enfield conversion. The first instinct would be that this is a converted Pattern 1853 rifle-musket, but now let's look at the pictures:
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The odd thing here is that the forestock is so short, that there is only one band! This would make sense if this were a carbine or musketoon, but there is a long barrel! Normally, the 1853 pattern would have three bands. So we are at a loss at present to positively identify this firearm.
Further details:
The odd thing here is that the forestock is so short, that there is only one band! This would make sense if this were a carbine or musketoon, but there is a long barrel! Normally, the 1853 pattern would have three bands. So we are at a loss at present to positively identify this firearm.
Further details:
- Left to right, the action plate is marked with: a big crown, "1861", "Enfield", a small, downward-facing brad arrow (indicating government/military property), and a smaller crown.
- On top of the action are the letters B.S.A.C., which would indicate the Birmingham Small Arms Company (could it be that they did the conversion to "Snider" breech-loading action?). Also two parallel swords, pointing down, joined by a crossbar at their tips, and other more minute markings.
- Total length is 54 inches.
- There is a channel on the underside of the stock indicating that at one time there was likely a ramrod.
