Original British P-1853 Tower and V.R. Marked 4th Model Enfield Three Band Rifle – dated 1861 Original Items

Original item: Only one Available. This came to us out a private collection we recently acquired, and did not come out of Nepal. This very nice Fourth Model P-1853 Enfield is marked 1861  / Tower on the Lock Plate and also carries the stamping of the CROWN / V.R. across its tail, indicating acceptance at the Tower Armory in 1861. The V.R. proof indicates this rifle was made for the British Military, and was not an export or colonial service rifle.

In fine shape, it is fitted with the correct “Baddeley” bands, which were the main difference between the 3rd and 4th model Enfield rifles. The barrel still has the original proof marks on the left side of the barrel, and there are proof marks on many other parts of the rifle as well. It still has a visible stock stamping as well. The lock still functions, though if you pull the trigger hard it can fire at half cock. The stock has a great color, but has definitely had some repairs around the lock area.

Very clean, well serviced and comes complete with ramrod. Bore is clean, and while worn, still shows the three groove rifling correctly. There is no major pitting, though the area around the breech is a bit dark. Genuine British made P-1853 rifles are difficult to come by in today’s market. Ready to add to your collection and display! 

More on the P-1853 Rifle-Musket: The Enfield Pattern 1853 rifle-musket (also known as the Pattern 1853 Enfield, P53 Enfield, and Enfield rifle-musket) was a .577 calibre Minié-type muzzle-loading rifle-musket, used by the British Empire from 1853 to 1867, after which many Enfield 1853 rifle-muskets were converted to (and replaced in service by) the cartridge-loaded Snider-Enfield rifle.

The term “rifle-musket” originally referred to muskets with the smooth-bored barrels replaced with rifled barrels. The length of the barrels were unchanged, allowing the weapons to be fired by rank, since a long rifle was necessary to enable the muzzles of the second rank of soldiers to project beyond the faces of the men in front. The weapon would also be sufficiently long when fitted with a bayonet to be effective against cavalry. Such guns manufactured with rifled barrels, muzzle loading, single shot, and utilizing the same firing mechanism, also came to be called rifle-muskets.

The 39 in (99 cm) barrel had three grooves, with a 1:78 rifling twist, and was fastened to the stock with three metal bands, so that the rifle was often called a “three band” model.

The rifle’s cartridges contained 68 grains (4.4 g) of black powder, and the ball was typically a 530-grain (34 g) Pritchett or a Burton-Minié, which would be driven out at about 850 to 900 feet (259 – 274m) per second. It was developed by William Pritchett in the 1850s.

The Enfield’s adjustable ladder rear sight had steps for 100 yards (91 m) – the default or “battle sight” range – 200 yards (180 m), 300 yards (270 m), and 400 yards (370 m). For distances beyond that, an adjustable flip-up blade sight was graduated (depending on the model and date of manufacture) from 900 yards (820 m) to 1,250 yards (1,140 m). British soldiers were trained to hit a target 6 feet (180 cm) by 2 feet (61 cm) – with a 2 feet (61 cm) diameter bull’s eye, counting 2 points – out to 600 yards (550 m). The target used from 650 yards (590 m) to 900 yards (820 m) had a 3 feet (91 cm) bull’s eye, with any man scoring 7 points with 20 rounds at that range being designated a marksman.

American Civil War

Confederates dead after the Second Battle of Fredericksburg on May 3, 1863. A number of Enfield 1853 rifled muskets can be seen where they have been dropped or fallen.

The Enfield 1853 rifle-musket was also used by both the North and the South in the American Civil War, and was the second most widely used infantry weapon in the war, surpassed only by the Springfield Model 1861 Rifled Musket. The Confederates imported more Enfields during the course of the war than any other small arm, buying from private contractors and gun runners. It has been estimated that over 900,000 P53 Enfields were imported to America and 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. The gun was highly sought after in the Confederate ranks. According to a survey taken by British officials during the early stages of war on the arms of the Western Confederate Forces, nearly 70% were armed with smoothbore arms, such as the Model 1842 Springfield, among others. Later in the war the same survey was taken, they found that more than 75% had attained a rifle and most being the Pattern 1853 Enfield.

Specifications: 

Year of Manufacture: 1861
Caliber: .58 inches
Ammunition Type: Minie Ball and Powder Paper Cartridge
Barrel Length: 39 inches 
Overall Length: 55 inches
Action: Side Action Lock
Feed System: Muzzle Loader

NOTE: International orders of antique firearms MUST be shipped using UPS WW Services (courier). USPS Priority Mail international will not accept these.