RARE**American Civil War 1863 Union Contract British 1863 Dated Enfield Tower Pattern 1853 .577 Calibre (US .58 Calibre) 3 Band Muzzle Loading Rifle Musket With Union Army Acceptance Mark, British WD Pattern 1853 Socket Bayonet & Scabbard. A 1100 Muzzleloader .577 Rifles

**RARE**American Civil War 1863 Union Contract British 1863 Dated Enfield Tower Pattern 1853 .577 Calibre (US .58 Calibre) 3 Band Muzzle Loading Rifle Musket With Union Army Acceptance Mark, British WD Pattern 1853 Socket Bayonet & Scabbard. A 1100 - A 1100

During the American Civil War both the Union & Confederate forces imported large quantities of European firearms to assist them in arming their troops. The most widely used was the British Pattern 1853 Enfield rifle-musket because it was accurate and well made. An important factor for both sides was that the .58 calibre bullet used by both Union and Confederate forces was interchangeable with the .577 Enfield. Many Enfield rifle-muskets were successfully smuggled into the South by the Confederacy during the war. The Enfield 1853 rifle-muskets saw service in every major engagement from the Battle of Shiloh (April 1862) and the Siege of Vicksburg (May 1863), to the final battles of 1865. An original period black & white photograph of Confederate dead after the Second Battle of Fredericksburg on May 3, 1863 is illustrated in image 1. A number of Enfield Pattern 1853 rifled muskets are visible in the image. This is an excellent original British Pattern 1853 Infantry rifle musket one of those ordered by the American Union Government in 1863 for use in the American Civil war. It has a 39” barrel and measures 55” overall. The barrel’s bore has well defined rifling and just staining & residue consistent with age and use. It has its original undamaged walnut stock and regulation brass fittings. It has a heavy military hammer, block & blade fore sight & adjustable ladder rear sight. The action plate is marked with Queen’s Crown VR (Victoria Regina), ‘Tower’ (Enfield) and ‘1863’ date. The barrel has a small American Union army acceptance mark and 1863 date (illustrated). The rifle has sling swivels and iron ramrod. The rifle’s cocking and firing action is crisp. The rifle is accompanied by an original period British P1853 socket bayonet. The bayonet measures 20 ½” overall length and has a clean 17” triangular blade. It has the correct swivel locking catch at the socket. The blade has a British WD inspection mark. The bayonet has its original brass mounted leather scabbard. All leather and stitching are clean and intact. The price includes UK delivery. NB As an antique percussion weapon no licence is required to own this item in the UK if retained as part of a collection or display. A 1100

£1,595.00