Ithaca Gunner
06-03-2021, 10:51 AM
While browsing various sites for a collectable American Civil War long arm, I ran across this beauty. Not American and not used in our war of killing each other, but I was attracted to it. It was advertised as a British Pattern 1860 Army Rifle, ( five groove progressive depth 1:48'' twist rifling) but it doesn't fit the Army profile, it's furniture being brass rather than iron of the British Army Pattern. It doesn't fit the Pattern of 1858 Naval rifle either, the rear sling swivel being mounted behind the trigger guard tang into the wood of the stock unlike either the Army or Naval Patterns, yet it's as British as ''Big Ben''.
I couldn't get this rifle out of my mind and consulted Dr. C.H. Roads book on the British Soldier's Firearm and came up with nothing. I called the seller, the reputable world known Simpson LTD company and the only thing gained was, ''It has a perfect mirror bore and no rust or pitting anywhere on it.'' Okay, I wanted this rifle, but was unsure of it's pedigree. Consulted Roads book again and still nothing on this particular ''Pattern'' of Enfield. Almost a week of trying to decide on it, I finally thought that for the price it would make a good original shooter if nothing else and ordered it.
Had I made a mistake? Buyer's remorse set in, but I at least had a three day inspection to send it back... It arrived a day early and the grand unboxing took place and found it in better shape than the ad or salesman said. Okay, check Roads book again. Hmmm, maybe Royal Marines in the index?.. Yes, page 97! No photo, but a short description, ''The majority of Naval rifles have the lower sling swivel attached to the point of the trigger guard, but some examples are to be found with but swivels for special issue, mainly to the Royal Marine Artillery.'' Okay, it's genuine!..and appears unfired with an original sling, just some handling and storage marks.
Now, do I go ahead and shoot this thing, or preserve it? The Naval Rifle of the same Pattern was a prize possession in the hands of Confederate Sharp-Shooters during the war and renowned for their accuracy so, yeah I really want to shoot this gun! On the other hand, it's among the best examples of this pattern I've ever seen, and being a Royal Marine Rifle rather than a usual Naval Rifle P58 makes it even a rarer find.
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I couldn't get this rifle out of my mind and consulted Dr. C.H. Roads book on the British Soldier's Firearm and came up with nothing. I called the seller, the reputable world known Simpson LTD company and the only thing gained was, ''It has a perfect mirror bore and no rust or pitting anywhere on it.'' Okay, I wanted this rifle, but was unsure of it's pedigree. Consulted Roads book again and still nothing on this particular ''Pattern'' of Enfield. Almost a week of trying to decide on it, I finally thought that for the price it would make a good original shooter if nothing else and ordered it.
Had I made a mistake? Buyer's remorse set in, but I at least had a three day inspection to send it back... It arrived a day early and the grand unboxing took place and found it in better shape than the ad or salesman said. Okay, check Roads book again. Hmmm, maybe Royal Marines in the index?.. Yes, page 97! No photo, but a short description, ''The majority of Naval rifles have the lower sling swivel attached to the point of the trigger guard, but some examples are to be found with but swivels for special issue, mainly to the Royal Marine Artillery.'' Okay, it's genuine!..and appears unfired with an original sling, just some handling and storage marks.
Now, do I go ahead and shoot this thing, or preserve it? The Naval Rifle of the same Pattern was a prize possession in the hands of Confederate Sharp-Shooters during the war and renowned for their accuracy so, yeah I really want to shoot this gun! On the other hand, it's among the best examples of this pattern I've ever seen, and being a Royal Marine Rifle rather than a usual Naval Rifle P58 makes it even a rarer find.
283931
283932
283933
283934
283935