IMA's "As Found" 1853 Enfield Musket from Nepal cont.

What should I do with this beast?

  • Clean it up! restore this to it's former glory!

    Votes: 70 82.4%

  • Leave it alone. A example of 100 + years of storage

    Votes: 10 11.8%

  • Tuff it out. Don't waste your time.

    Votes: 2 2.4%

  • meh, who cares

    Votes: 3 3.5%
  • Total voters
    85
Extra fine steel wool, oil, and lots and LOTS of TLC ..... Mooncoon was the victim of one such mistake of mine once when I tried to use garden-variety metal cleaners to try to figure out what the heck that hunk-o-rust was, he spotted it right away when I posted pictures on CGN and traded me something I could use for it, probably out of pity for the poor thing so I wouldn't do any more damage to it than was already done.

I'm sure he found the bits of paper towels and rags and harsh metal cleaners and whatnot that I had tried to clean the thing up with before I had any clue of what I was doing in the gun's every nook and crannie, all I was looking for was a make and model and serial number, like you would on a modern firearm.

To this day I feel sorry for the gun, and Mooncoon whom accepted the gun in a trade, whom no doubt shook his head in disbelief when he realized what I had done, stupid newbie that I was.

Patiently, slowly, carefully, meticulously clean up the outside, then dissassemble it and clean up the inside, just don't clean it <too much>. To my untrained eye it sure looks like you have a shooter there if you play your cards right.
 
Any progress??


I think Im going to put aside a little from each paycheque and get one of these as is jems in 2-3 months.

For 250 bucks I think you can't go wrong.
 
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The barrels on the Nepalese Enfields are rifled with three lands and grooves.The one I got has a better looking stock but the mainspring and sear spring are both broken.I've heard of a individual using a patched .570 round ball in one.I'm going to try the Hornady .58 Minie bullet after I get the springs for the lock.
 
Took mine shootin today, works good. Used 40gr. FFG with 325g light slugs and butter. Has at least 8 inch capability at 100yds..
Bore is tight, rifleing shallow, but every original part works. All it needed was a loose piece of wood reglued.
 
I received mine from Atlantic Cutlery yesterday. I am please but was hoping for a better fitting lock and better hammer. I cannot get the lockplate to sit in the stock when I tighten up the rear screw? I cleaned-up some of the gunk in the inletting, but the the lock wants to bend out of shape and stick- out at the rear of the stock throwing the hammer out of alignments. This is what led to the hammer nose being smashed out of shape. Anybody have a clue as to why the lock is not sitting correctly? maybe a lack of support? Help!

There is a crack that runs thru the lock and into the tang. It will led to a big chunk removal if I don't fix it right away. With the use of some good glue/clamps I should be able to stabilize it. The bore is rusty and I cannot make out any rifling, but no heavy pitting either. These pictures are taken as removed her from the box. I have since rehydrated the wood and metal with a generous soaking/cleaning of BLO mixed with terps. Fiqured I would try to re-hydrate things before any more work.

So, any tips on how to fix the lockwork? (the pictures do not show how bad it is when the screws are tightened. It not so bad just sitting in the stock without the screws.

p1853.jpg

p1853_a.jpg

p1853_b.jpg

p1853_d.jpg

p1853_e.jpg
 
OBF,

Very nice looking "As Found". Did they send all the screws and bits? Definately nicer than mine. I think mine was one of the last of this current batch at IMA. They removed the ad just after I bought mine. I am sure there will be more for sale soon. They bought over 50,000 rifles from Nepal. IMA/AC paid $5,000,000 and expect to recoup $25,000,000.

Is the rear side plate nail, screw, too long? It could also be the cut out for the bridle isn't high enough.


It is difficult to find a good photo of a '53 lock. The bridle is the lazy "C" shaped bridge.
f_lockm_62f2000.jpg


Progress report on my '53. I have replaced a large chunk of wood around the lock and inletted the lock, a bit sloppy IMHO.
 
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Just look at the potential!!

You guys are killing me!!

I have to get one and restore it!!

One bar fly, I bet if you properly repair that crack you mention the lock would sit properly.

A couple of hours hitting the bore with a phosphor bronze bore brush should clean that barrel.

Hows the nipple look?
 
antique said:
did you get it from BUD HANES LAST auction it looks like the $15.000 worth of juuunk i got from them
Click to expand...

Huh??? :confused:


Steppenwolf said:
Did they send all the screws and bits? Definately nicer than mine. Is the rear side plate nail, screw, too long? It could also be the cut out for the bridle isn't high enough.
Click to expand...

They send me a new screw for the butt plate. Because of the stock shirkage, I will likely need to trim the brass a little - just so that it will look right.

As it concerns the cut-out for the bridle, do you mean that I need to add material to the cut-out in order to suport it? The screw does seem a little too long and doesn't screw-in as smoothly as the other when I switch them around.

Also, the ram rod is a little "pretzelled" and appears too short for the job. The end is tapered and missing the threads, so must have been broken/cut.


Musketfire said:
. Hows the nipple look?
Click to expand...


The nipple is fine - The hammer is NFG







.
 
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OBF,

With inletting my lock I noticed that I had to remove wood almost to the edge of the lock cut-out at the spot the bridle sat. My thoughts for yours is that the bottom of the lock would stick out to accommodate the bridle top. Or The rear screw is too long and goes through the lock plate and pushes the hammer out of line. Try switching the front and rear screw, which ever is shortest use in the rear hole.
 
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