This is a really great example not only of the renowned British Enfield Pattern 1853 Rifle Musket, used extensively by both sides in the Civil War, but one made by the London Arms Company, the only manufacturer in Britain other than the Royal Small Arms Factory to use machine manufacturing to create fully interchangeable parts and guns recognized by both sides as high quality. It rates as Fine-plus or near-Excellent for condition. If you want to know what one looked like coming out of the crate, it would be difficult to find a better example. It is complete and all original, with only a sling added for display. All the metal is smooth and the barrel has better than 95% original blue, which is matched on the bands. The brass has a very pretty, medium patina. The wood has a warm, honey-brown tone, a tight fit to the metal, very good edges, and just scattered small handling marks.

Barrel bands and rear sight match the barrel in color and coverage. The middle and lower bands are the correct Baddelay form with recessed screws adopted by the British army in 1861 and in production by late in the year at the Royal Small Arms Factory and at the London Arms Company, which was producing the guns on a government contract until mid-1862. The bottom of the lower band shows a trace of rubbing to the color as a natural point of contact in holding the rifle. The ramrod is correct and in place, showing largely as a muted silver.

The long range rear sight is in place and complete, with nice color and bearing a Z/[crown]/7 inspection stamp. To the rear of the sight the top of the barrel just forward of the breech is stamped [crown]/GV/B. The left breech has typical London proofmarks: a provisional proof of [lion]/G at bottom; the [crown]/V London view mark; the 25 gauge (.577 Cal.) mark; and the [crown]/GP final London proofhouse mark. Running along the top of these, closer to the center line of the barrel are two “LAC” stamps.

The hammer and lock plate are plain. The plate has no border line, has thin, smoky case color, and is crisply marked “1863 / L.A. Co.” forward of the hammer and with the “[crown]/V.R.” to its rear. The hammer shows some thin color on the top and more silver gray with some bluish-gray spots on the bottom. The nipple protector (“snap cap”) is in place, secured by its brass chain and ring to the lower swivel. The lock screw washers on the counterpane show the rounded anti-twist wings or flanges that are correct for London Armoury guns. The buttplate tang shows a small, off center, “EA” stamp that, from its position, is perhaps an issue or ownership mark.  Mechanics function well, bore is immaculate with good rifling.

The story of Confederate efforts to secure as many London Armoury Company weapons as they could, and the problems arising from the British government contract and rival US purchasing agents does not need retelling here: see The English Connection or Suppliers to the Confederacy for details. Suffice it to say that Confederate agents had the inside track on non-British government foreign sales through the company’s managing director Archibald Hamilton, who was part of Sinclair, Hamilton and Company, principal agents in Britain for Confederate arms purchases. The guns were eagerly sought for their quality, were issued and used by whoever got them, making them scarce and desirable in any condition and this one is a “top of the gun rack” example.  [sr] [ph:L]

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