Original British P-1861 Enfield Two Band Short Rifle Converted to P-1866 Snider Mk.I* with Saber Bayonet – dated 1862 Original Items

Original Item: Only One Available. This rifle is 100% all British manufacture, starting life in 1862 as a .577 caliber two band ENFIELD Percussion Short Rifle model of P-1861. The “two band” short rifle was first introduced in 1856, and was updated in 1860 with 5 groove “fast twist” rifling, and again in 1861 with the recessed screw “Baddeley” bands, as with the 4th Model of the Long rifle. With the 5 groove rifling and Baddeley bands, this definitely started out as a Pattern of 1861, and as with almost all produced, was later updated with the Snider breech loading system.

The lock is plate on this example is stamped “CROWN” over V.R. on the tail and ENFIELD / 1862 in front of the hammer, indicating manufacture at the Royal Small Arms factory at Enfield Lock. This was a military issue, as indicated by the royal monogram. The breech area of the barrel by the rear sight has the correct British proof marks, with more on the Snider conversion breech. The rifle is in very nice condition, with a great patina of age, indicating it saw long service, but it is still quite sound functionally. The lock functions correctly, the breech opens and ejects, and the rear sight is intact with the slider, though it is loose.

There is the correct I. * stamped on top of the breech, indicating it is the MkI* version of the breech. This version modified the chamber to have a square shoulder, as the earlier rounded shoulder ammunition would blow the breech open, definitely not a good thing. Later versions would make additional improvements, culminating in the lever locking mechanism of the MkIII Breech. The barrel has the correct 5 groove “rapid twist” rifling, and the bore shows clear lands and grooves, with a mostly bright finish. There is some wear and oxidation, as to be expected from a black powder era rifle. The metalwork overall has a lovely aged gray patina.

The stock is in good condition, with no major structural issues, though it does show overall wear and damage from use. There are also faded proof markings on the exterior of the stock. The butt stock retains a visible cartouche on the right side, something we almost never see, reading R “Crown” M / ENFIELD / 1 with a proof in the center. Both sling swivels are present, as is the original cleaning rod.

The included P-1856 Saber bayonet shows only faded markings on the ricasso, and definitely shows evidence of long service. It has a lovely aged patina overall, but is still in very good shape, and locks onto the muzzle of the rifle securely.

An All British P-1861 Converted Snider Short Rifle made at ENFIELD in lovely condition. Come complete with the original bayonet and is ready to display!

Specifications (Rifle):-

Year of Manufacture: 1862 – Converted Later
Caliber: .58 inches
Ammunition Type: .577 Centerfire Cartridge
Barrel Length: 30 1/2 inches
Overall Length: 48 1/2 inches
Action: Side Action Lock
Feed System: Side Hinge Rotating Breech block

Specifications (Bayonet):-
Blade Length: 22 1/4″
Blade Style: Single Edge “Yataghan” w/ Fuller
Overall length: 27 1/2“
Crossguard: 4 1/8”

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.

History of the Snider rifle– Jacob Snider, an American from New York, developed this breech loading system for the P-1853 Enfield, the most prolific imported Percussion rifle in use by both the North and South during the U.S. Civil War. When the British Board of Ordnance appointed a Select Committee in 1864 the Snider system was swiftly adopted with the first breech loaders being issued in 1865 to British forces.

Improved in 1867 by the use of Colonel Boxer’s center fire brass bodied cartridge, the rifle was used very effectively in the Abyssinian Campaign of 1868. The system utilized a hinged breech block with an internal firing pin assembly that permitted the use of a self contained cartridge of lead bullet in cardboard, and, after 1867, brass casing. This highly efficient conversion system prolonged the active life of the P-1853 rifles up until 1871 when the Martini System was adopted. Snider rifles saw continued use throughout the Empire but were officially obsoleted by the late 1880s.

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