This rifle musket is complete, all original, was assembled and sold by a firm shipping large quantities of arms to the Confederacy, shows wear typical of Confederate used British arms, and also has traces of a viewer/inspector stamp associated with Confederate purchases. It rates Good-plus to about Very Good by standard grading criteria and Near Fine when applied to Confederate arms, which typically show wear from significant military service and often from use around the farm or homestead after the war.

This was cleaned to bright at some point in its past and is now toning down again, which better represents its age. The barrel has a dove-gray patina with some scattered darker spots or crusty areas, and some pitting around the breech and bolster, typical of Confederate percussion long arms from the use of imported British “high-pressure” percussion caps that were meant to ensure ignition by a more powerful spark, but were withdrawn from British service after complaints. All bands, swivels, rod, and sights are in place. The rear sight is complete and nicely marked “P.W.&S.” by Webley. The upper swivel itself may be an old replacement: slings were not necessary around the farm. The screw threads on the end of the ramrod show wear. The bore shows even, light pitting, and not much rifling for the first third of its length, likely from postwar civilian use.

The barrel shows the London provisional proof, view mark, and final proof (reading from the bottom up.) These are stamped over an “[oval]/ELG/*” marking indicating Barnett sourced the barrel from the Liege guntrade, something not at all unusual as British gunmakers hustled to meet demand in the first two years of the war. Barnett could make complete arms in house, but relied heavily upon subcontractors for parts he would assemble into finished guns to meet larger contracts. He is even known to have purchased complete arms and added his “Barnett/London” stamp to the stock, delivering thousands of Pattern 1853 “Enfield” rifle muskets, as well as Pattern 1853 Artillery and Pattern 1856 Cavalry carbines to the Confederacy as well as obsolete arms like Brunswick rifles and Pattern 1851 Minié Rifles, fulfilling Confederate government as well as Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina state contracts.

The lock markings are very good: BARNETT / LONDON forward of the hammer, with an English [CROWN] / TOWER at the tail, one of at least six Barnett markings shown in The English Connection, and one considered a “Confederate” mark by Edwards in Civil War Guns, but perhaps added by Barnett as a marketing ploy for Americans to suggest a British military association. The interior is marked by Barnett and has mating marks matching screws and also the underside of the barrel, which also has a Barnett stamp, the number 5981, and a Belgian entwined “EL” stamp, confirming its source. The mechanics of the lock are fine.

The brass mounts have a uniform, pleasing, medium patina. Like the metal, the wood was cleaned at some point, but is solid and full length with good color. It has expected the scattered handling wear- rounding of edges, with some dings and bumps and a few deeper scratches, but no breaks or major repairs. The lock apron shows a 3” hairline crack running forward that is tight, glue repaired inside the barrel channel, and not obtrusive from the exterior. There is also the common short, tight, crack on the counterpane running from the upper lock screw to the barrel channel from over-tightening the screw.

Perhaps most significantly, the stock bears a worn but visible stamp on the comb, just forward of the buttplate tang that appears to be an “SL” in a circle or oval. This is in the same position as the “CH/1” in a circle stamp conclusively identified as the mark of Curtis and Hughes acting as Confederate viewers/inspectors, a “JS” thought to be John Southgate, and is pictured with those marks and some others on Page 115 of The English Connection, in two variations: a block SL in a circle and a script SL in an oval. It has not yet been linked to a known viewer/inspector and some think it may be the mark of a private arms dealer shipping weapons to the Confederacy on speculation.

As noted, the gun is well used and worn which is typical of Confederate arms, but has eye appeal and displays well as a solid example of a southern purchased Civil War musket. For a collector looking for a classic example of a Confederate Enfield this is a nice opportunity to obtain a solid southern gun that is complete, correct and affordably priced.  [sr] [ph:L]

DISCLAIMER: All firearms are sold as collector's items only - we do not accept responsibility as to the shooting safety or reliability of any antique firearm. All firearms are described as accurately as possible, given the restraints of a catalog listing length. We want satisfied customers & often "under" describe the weapons. Any city or state regulations regarding owning antique firearms are the responsibility of the purchaser. All firearms are "mechanically perfect" unless noted, but again, are NOT warranted as safe to fire.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

THIS ITEM, AS WITH ALL OTHER ITEMS AVAILABLE ON OUR WEB SITE,

MAY BE PURCHASED THROUGH OUR LAYAWAY PROGRAM.

CLICK HERE FOR OUR POLICIES AND TERMS.

THANK YOU