Guns International #: 102892439

Category - Antique Rifles - Percussion - Enfield Rifles

Category
Antique Rifles - Percussion
Enfield Rifles

Enfield Model 1856/1858 Short (“Bar & Band") Rifle With Bayonet

Description:
The P-1856 was the first “short rifle” in the new .577 calibre family of muskets made for the British Army. The long three band rifle musket which was used by the regular line infantry was introduced in 1853 as the P-1853. The P-1856 was intended to be issued to all sergeants of Line Regiments. Unlike the 3 band P-1853 that had a 39” barrel and was called a "rifle musket", the 2 band P-1856, with a 33” barrel, was called a "short rifle" or just a "rifle". The P-1856 replaced the old Baker and Brunswick rifles which were used in the British Army prior to the adoption of the Minié system. The decision was made to “compensate for its short length” with a long sword bayonet in a “Yataghan” curved blade configuration. When initially produced in 1856, the bottom mortise channel on the bayonet was intended to slide onto a lug mounted on the forward surface of the barrel.   But this did not prove quite stable enough to satisfy. So, the lug was redesigned into a longer bar shape and installed as a part of a reinforced front rifle band. Once this change was introduced in 1858, the rifle became known as “the Bar and Band Rifle”. The P-1856/1858 rifle was only made during the period 1856 through 1858. While records are incomplete, it appears this rifle was not made in great numbers and was exclusively produced by private manufacturers in the British isles. Even less examples of the bayonet designated for the rifle were produced, and those only by private manufacturers in England and Germany. Because of the gun’s compactness and accuracy, it became a bit of the rage for militia units throughout the British Isles who competed with the army for the limited supply available.
As to the provenance of the particular Bar and Band gun now for sale....
This gun has ”J D Dougall, Glassgow” stamped on the lock plate. He was a gunmaker notable enough in his craft to have the patronage of both the Prince of Wales and the Duke of Edinburgh. His factory was located in Glasgow but he also maintained sales offices in Edinburgh and London. While there are additional marks on this barrel, none reflect this gun was ever acquired by the British Army or any militia unit.  Rather, on the right rear exposed side of the barrel appears the stamp “Royal Bank No. 6”. Shortly after acquiring this gun in 2011, I had a discussion with the Director of Archives for the Royal Bank of Scotland who confirmed this gun had been issued for use by the bank’s uniformed security guards in the 1850’s and was probably sold off when the Bank substituted cylinder pistols for long guns in the early 1860’s. I acquired this gun from an antique gun dealer who reported he had acquired it from a stateside of a civil war gun collection. There are no 1860’s import stamps on the gun, so we can only speculate as to whether or not this gun found use during the civil war here in the 1860’s. All we know is the gun has been stateside for a while and not in the British isles.
As to the properties of the gun itself…
This gun has the same rifling twist, progressive rifling depth and number of riflings as the 3-band P-1853. The bore on this gun is bright and the rifling remains well defined. The lock and trigger are in good operating condition. The gun has its original unique ramrod and chained nipple protector in good condition. The exterior metal surfaces are all clean with only normal gray patina and no rust. The lock stamp is relatively crisp as are the marks underneath the barrel. The Bank stamp on the exterior of the barrel is fainter but still clearly legible.  The stock is solid with no firing gouges at the tang, throat splits or other integrity defects. There are some minor dings and scratches on the stock, only natural for the age and service of the weapon. The finish on the furniture is original and remains in good condition. 

For whatever it is worth, the gun was shot once in competition by the seller, at a regional NSSA competition in 2012 held at Fort Shenandoah. It proved a tack driver, producing high score targets at both 50 and 100 yards and medaling in the Marksman class. Targets from this exercise are included with the photos attached.

…And as to the bayonet assigned for this gun…
If not the first Yataghan style blade for a British military arm, the one assigned to the P-1856/1858 was certainly one of the first, and this style continued to be used with various British arms, most notably the Martini Henri, for another some 50 years.  The bayonet has a blade 23” long, designed for slashing. Like the gun, the bayonet to fit the P-1856/1858 was made only by private manufacturers, and then only in Britain and Germany, and only in a few numbers. The gun now for sale did not come with a bayonet when I purchased it in 2011. However, I managed to later procure one of these bayonet unicorns from a separate source. According to the view mark appearing at the ricasso, “[Crown]/S/8”,  the bayonet was produced in Solingen, Germany where it was inspected by a British military inspector, which indicated the bayonet was intended for a military application. The number “261” stamped into the  pommel, would appear to indicate a number assigned among a regimental unit issuance of bayonets, but no army or militia mark appears above that number to identify a particular unit. This bayonet has a screw rather than rivet holding the spring release for the mortise slot. That feature indicates that it was part of a later date production designed for the 1858 bar and band support system. The bayonet blade is bright with limited patina and no rust. All metal surfaces on both the bayonet and sheath are intact and in good serviceable condition. The leather on the sheath is in very good condition for its age, and intact without tears or gaps. There is only minor wear seen on the very top of the sheath reverse (the side which rubbed against a uniform while in service).
In summary:
Both the rifle and the matching bayonet are unique, rare and historically significant and should be a nice addition to any collection.
The price is $2,500, one money for both the rifle and the bayonet, plus $50 towards packaging and shipping. Payment by Zelle, money order or cleared personal check, with shipment only within the continental United States
 

Curio/Relic: Yes
Antique: Yes

Price: $2,500.00