Guns International #: 102219410
Seller's Inventory #: 220572

Category - Civil War Rifles - Enfield Rifles

Category
Civil War Rifles
Enfield Rifles

CIVIL WAR Antique UNION & CONFEDERATE Tower ENFIELD Pattern 1856 SHORT RIFLE 1861 Dated 2-BAND Pattern 1856 “SERGEANTS” RIFLE

Description:
CIVIL WAR Antique UNION & CONFEDERATE Tower ENFIELD Pattern 1856 SHORT RIFLE

1861 Dated 2-BAND Pattern 1856 “SERGEANTS” RIFLE

Here we present an antique British Proofed Percussion Tower Enfield Pattern 1856 Short Rifle made in 1861 in Birmingham, England, for export to the United States at the beginning of the Civil War. During the Civil War, Pattern 56 Short Rifles were imported by both the United States and the Confederate governments. The Ordnance Department and northern state governments (notably Massachusetts) purchased approximately 8000 Pattern 56 Short Rifles during the Civil War. Roughly half of these were imported by Colt and Schuyler, Hartley & Graham. By February of 1863, the Confederacy had imported 9,715 Pattern 56 Short rifles from Great Britain. In comparison with the more than 900,000 Pattern 53, Enfield Rifle-Muskets imported for issue to the Union and Confederate Armies during the Civil War, the Pattern 56 Short Rifles are very rare. These were light, handy rifles that were popular with the troops on both sides.

The right side of the barrel has a lug for a sword bayonet. The barrel is secured by two screw fastened bands. The flat, flush-mounted lock plate is stamped with the British Crown behind the hammer with “1861/TOWER” in front of it. The top of the barrel is stamped with three British export proof and view marks of either side of two “25” gauge marks. These are the correct view, proof, and gauge markings for commercial rifles exported from Great Britain to the United States during the Civil War. This rifle was manufactured by the Birmingham gunmaking trade for export and has no British military “Broad Arrow” or other property marks. Popularly known as the “Sergeants Rifle”, the Pattern 56 was adopted by the British Army in 1856.
The overall condition is good. Strong action. The bore is in good shape for its age with clear rifling. A few stable cracks are present in the stock around the action. “1861/TOWER” dated lock. There is a small “T.H.” stamped behind the trigger guard tang and something else in a sunken box that isn’t quite clear. This is a nice example of a scarce Civil War Tower Pattern 56 Short Rifle.

Own the original! This is a legitimate antique and not a reproduction.

Barrel is 33 inches.

Caliber: .577 Percussion

Overall condition as seen in photos.

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ancestryguns

$1800

#220572
 

SOLD

Antique: Yes