I've posted this on another board but thought you folks might also like to see it.
It's the latest acquisition for my small but select collection of ACW small arms. I started with an M1863 Springfield a year or two ago, then got a Burnside 5th model cavalry carbine--and now to finally represent the South--a Pattern 1853 Enfield manufactured by Robert Pritchett of London.
Robert Pritchett and gun designer Robert Medford co-invented what is known as the Pritchett bullet and cartridge--which became the standard load for the Enfields for much of their service. Pritchett was reported only to have shipped rifles to the Confederacy—however, never in the numbers of the other London makers and especially not the Birmingham builders who supplied the most. Prichett ended up dissolving his business during the ACW a few years after his other major customer--the East India Company. Consequently, examples of his P1853s tend to be rare. Being only in his mid-30s by that time he embarked on a career as an artist specializing in watercolors. Queen Victoria became one of his patrons and he became quite successful. He passed away in 1907.
Here's a shot of the musket along with a nice original bayonet plus an original scabbard and frog in pristine condition. The Enfield cartridge box and snake hook belt are repops but were popular with the South when they happened to make it through the blockade
Here's the lockplate showing the Pritchett name
Here are the London proof marks
Here are the barrel markings. The 25 gauge stands for .577 while if marked 24 gauge it was .58 cal. Generally, the Union got the 24 gauges and the South the 25s if they didn't get caught running the blockade. The hash marks were used for assembly. J.R. Cooper was a Birmingham-based barrel maker so it's possible that the barrel was made in Birmingham and sent to London. All of the 900,000 or so 3 band and 2 band Enfields shipped to the US were made by commercial makers in either Birmingham or London. The Royal Small Arms Factory in Enfield supplied the British military with their rifles and it's thought that it's unlikely that any of their production was use in the ACW. Unfortunately there are no known Confederate markings on the rifle but that is not an uncommon thing.
Lastly, whether this rifle-musket was used by the Confederates or not, I thought a glamor shot on the 2nd national 11-star flag would help it whistle Dixie a little. The private's combo tool is a repro while the clay pipe depicting a Native American has been in my family since at least the 1830s. I also added an British style cap pouch that fits on the cartridge box sling at an angle.
comments or corrections welcome
Cheers
It's the latest acquisition for my small but select collection of ACW small arms. I started with an M1863 Springfield a year or two ago, then got a Burnside 5th model cavalry carbine--and now to finally represent the South--a Pattern 1853 Enfield manufactured by Robert Pritchett of London.
Robert Pritchett and gun designer Robert Medford co-invented what is known as the Pritchett bullet and cartridge--which became the standard load for the Enfields for much of their service. Pritchett was reported only to have shipped rifles to the Confederacy—however, never in the numbers of the other London makers and especially not the Birmingham builders who supplied the most. Prichett ended up dissolving his business during the ACW a few years after his other major customer--the East India Company. Consequently, examples of his P1853s tend to be rare. Being only in his mid-30s by that time he embarked on a career as an artist specializing in watercolors. Queen Victoria became one of his patrons and he became quite successful. He passed away in 1907.
Here's a shot of the musket along with a nice original bayonet plus an original scabbard and frog in pristine condition. The Enfield cartridge box and snake hook belt are repops but were popular with the South when they happened to make it through the blockade
Here's the lockplate showing the Pritchett name
Here are the London proof marks
Here are the barrel markings. The 25 gauge stands for .577 while if marked 24 gauge it was .58 cal. Generally, the Union got the 24 gauges and the South the 25s if they didn't get caught running the blockade. The hash marks were used for assembly. J.R. Cooper was a Birmingham-based barrel maker so it's possible that the barrel was made in Birmingham and sent to London. All of the 900,000 or so 3 band and 2 band Enfields shipped to the US were made by commercial makers in either Birmingham or London. The Royal Small Arms Factory in Enfield supplied the British military with their rifles and it's thought that it's unlikely that any of their production was use in the ACW. Unfortunately there are no known Confederate markings on the rifle but that is not an uncommon thing.
Lastly, whether this rifle-musket was used by the Confederates or not, I thought a glamor shot on the 2nd national 11-star flag would help it whistle Dixie a little. The private's combo tool is a repro while the clay pipe depicting a Native American has been in my family since at least the 1830s. I also added an British style cap pouch that fits on the cartridge box sling at an angle.
comments or corrections welcome
Cheers
