Parker-Hale 1861 Enfield musketoon?

I just bought a Parker-Hale 1861 Enfield musketoon, I don't have received the rifle yet but I have some pics, my question is about the front sight, I've never seen one like this before (see pic), does anyone know what's this?

Originally bein’ a military arm the sights were regulated for pretty long distances. Looks like your gun had a taller front sight added to lower point of aim at more reasonable yardages.


Those are awesome guns by the way. One of many I wish my fool self woulda kept.

Mine has the original sight fitted, which shoots about ten inches high at fifty yards. I aim low. Please, when you get it, would you post images and the serial number here for Mr David Minshall, a frequent poster here, who is, among other things, keeping a register of P-H serials numbers.

TIA

My guess is it was set up for Skirmish competition shooting, since these Parker Hale Musketoons were / are popular for those matches.

Both of my P-H's hit high at 100 but not high enough to worry about.

TFoley said:

Mine has the original sight fitted, which shoots about ten inches high at fifty yards. I aim low. Please, when you get it, would you post images and the serial number here for Mr David Minshall, a frequent poster here, who is, among other things, keeping a register of P-H serials numbers.

TIA

Click to expand...

Here are more pics, the serial number is 1544.

Beautiful, and the real thing, as well! Congratulations on your new acquisition!!! Mine is #1187. Be aware that that gorgeous colour case-hardening is protected by a very thin layer of clear lacquer, and it WILL wear off quite easily.

Buster95 said:

... the serial number is 1544.

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Quite an early one, c1974 manufacture. If you ever remove barrel from stock and look at the proof load information, there'll be a tiny stamp at the end with 2 letters and a number. Let me now this and I'll let you know what year the barrel was proofed.

David

It amazes me that these seemingly unused examples are appearing out of the woodwork. Every one I've seen here in England has been well-used, my own included. It gets an outing around every other month on a guest day and is total hit with guests. Imagine, never having shot a real gun of any kind, and then get handed a .58cal BP rifle!

Interesting to read your date for that Musketoon, Mr Minshall. Mine was bought 'new' by me in 1976 from a well-known dealer in North London - it must plainly have been in stock for some time before I walked in and took it home.

Like most civil war rifles, both of my Enfields, 1861 musketoon and 1858 Naval rifle, shoot very high at 50 and 100 yards. Someone raised your front sight to allow a direct hold on the bullseye at short and moderate ranges. I've been wondering how I could do the same thing on my rifles and this looks like a good way to do it. Can you tell, please, how the top brass portion is attached to the original sight base. Is it soldered or pinned? Was the original sight blade filed off?

Thanks in advance.

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Looks like it's just brazed on or maybe soldered.

A lot of these P-H Enfields , some even new in box are surfacing because I think people are unfortunately finding them in closets as people pass away and the kids, grandkids etc. have 0 interest in muzzleloaders , or reenactors are getting older or moving on to other interests.

I bought my two off Consignment from a reenactor, one well used with "reenactor field wear" and one is brand new with just a few closet bumps on it. The new one was his backup piece that he never needed.

It's lucky for Americans that in many states of the union a black-powder gun is not even considered to be any kind of a firearm, although one state, I bleeve has it that it becomes one the first time it's fired. Many countries in Europe allow single-shot BP arms to be bought by anybody over 18, although getting hands on the BP is a different matter. Here in UK you CAN buy any antique BP muzzleloader, but you cannot shoot it unless it is registered on your firearms certificate. ALL newly-made rifled replicas/reproductions are classed as firearms, and, if the barrel are smooth-bored and more than 24 inches long, as shotguns. Less than that, like a percussion coaching gun, is classed as a Section 1 firearm.

ResearchPress said:

Quite an early one, c1974 manufacture. If you ever remove barrel from stock and look at the proof load information, there'll be a tiny stamp at the end with 2 letters and a number. Let me now this and I'll let you know what year the barrel was proofed.

David

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Mr Minshall - yesterday I found a P-H two-band .451cal rifle serial #203. It is beautiful, having fired maybe a dozen shots.

It was probably raised by a competitor in the North South Skirmish Assoc for competition use. Most of these guns shoot high without some sight adjustment and we shoot at 50 and 100yds. My musketoon shoots 2moa all day once I found the right load for it. Here's 5 shots into less than 2in

TFoley said:

... yesterday I found a P-H two-band .451cal rifle serial #203.

Click to expand...

Thanks. Best guess likely a 33" barreled Volunteer with Rigby rifling. c1978

David

I will just say these guns are tremendously superior to the Pedersoli ones on the market.

The Parker Hales have a progressive depth rifling. They’ll stabilize a Minie up to 0.006” below bore diameter. The Pedersolis need a Minie no smaller than 0.001” smaller than more diameter to get anything resembling a good group at 100 yards. Because of the tight fit, they foul out within a few shots, completely negating the entire Minie concept to begin with.

KEEP THAT PARKER HALE UNTIL YOU DIE.

I spend the $ and get the Pritchett cartridges from paper cartridges. Com.

These will totally change the way you and others will think of muzzleloading military rifles. An 80 year old guy who is a big Buffalo Match shooter was watching me use these and was fascinated by the fact that I was loading and shooting one after the other, 40 of them with no cleaning.

Also, regular Minies or Burton Balls shoot well in these too.

The Italian copies are good but not in the same league as the P-H rifles. The Musketoons seem to be the most common , maybe because of their popularity with skirmishers.

Agreed with all your points. Here in UK there is nobody who makes ready-to-shoot cartridges - unless you count yourself. Very odd when you consider the comparatively large numbers of BP shooters... Our LGS has about eight musketoons of all vintages on the rack, from around £250 up to £450.

Watching the ever-popular capandball - a great proponent of the products of Pedersoli and a frequent visitor to the factory as well as exhibition stand presenter - shooting the DP version of the Enfield and the Whitworth just gets my teeth itching. Shooting these rifles at 50m/100 and maybe as far as 200m is like driving your Ferrari to the end of the parking lot.

Thanks for the front sight (shooting high) info.
Mine aint had a cap popped through it yet.

satwel said:

Like most civil war rifles, both of my Enfields, 1861 musketoon and 1858 Naval rifle, shoot very high at 50 and 100 yards. Someone raised your front sight to allow a direct hold on the bullseye at short and moderate ranges. I've been wondering how I could do the same thing on my rifles and this looks like a good way to do it. Can you tell, please, how the top brass portion is attached to the original sight base. Is it soldered or pinned? Was the original sight blade filed off?

Thanks in advance.

Click to expand...

[/QUOTE]
I have not yet received the musketoon but I will let you now how the brass portion is attached. Btw I paid $600 CAD shipping included for the rifle, good deal or not?

Yup. Very good deal. I'd say these guns don't get the recognition they should for accuracy. With good ammo, they are as accurate and quite often more accurate than many modern rifles.