need help ID'ing a enfield

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mauser96

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A friend at work has been given an old enfield. He say's it is an indian pattern enfield dated 1862 and had a crown with E in the midddle. I haven't seen it, but he's going to send me pic's of it. I was wondering if the experts here would could tell me what the difference's are, if any, between the canadian, british, and indian patterns. Also, he wanted to get it appraised but I don't know anyone in the area that could do this.

thanks,
mauser96
 
I think we need some photos before we commit ourselves. The Indian pattern is a flintlock with a 39" barrel and I very much doubt was made in 1862.
I am guessing you misheard about the crown and E which in 1862 should have been crown over V and even that is not a particularly accurate description. Further many of the percussion enfields were converted to (cartridge) Snyders and carry the earlier date on the lock.

cheers mooncoon
 
ya, he was saying that it had the convertion to the breech loading system.
when would they have started the convertion?
 
The adoption of the Jacob Snider design for converting Muzzleloaders (in this case Enfield Rifles) was recommended by an adoption committee in 1865, however the original trials cartridge was unsatisfactory and it was left to Col. Edward Boxer, Superintendant of the Royal Laboratories to come up with a suitable design and in Sept 1866 the first conversions using the Snider breech and the Boxer cartridge were approved and placed into production.
 
thanks p53enfield,

did they shorten them when the convertions were done? were there diferent lenghts for different patterns?

thanks,
mauser96
 
The Lancaster Rifle, Long Rifle (3 Band ) Short Rifle (2 Band) and Artillery Carbine were all converted to the Snider system. This means that there are a number of differing barrel length that will be encountered.

31.5 ins, 39 ins and 24 ins to be exact.

After 1869 as all old muzzloading weapons were used up, a further improved Model , the Mk III was put into production, and on this new model the barrel was shortened to 31ins. The MkIII is a much improved version having the addition of a locking latch applied to the breech mechanism.

Apparently, four models of the Snider Enfield were issued to Canada. They were the Long Rifle, the Short Rifle, the Artillery Carbine and the Cavalry carbine. The Cavalry Carbine had a 19 in barrel and no provision for a bayonet (not much need on a horse really!) It also has no forend cap and a short forend stock giving it the appearance of a somewhat "sporterised" carbine. This was the weapon issued to the North West Mounted Police when they were formed up in 1873.

This is a short version of its history in particular to the differing Marks and Models, but i hope you find it useful.
 
Conversions of the Enfield

There are several conversion types for the P-53 Enfield of which the Snider is the most often encountered however, the Braendlin-Albini amongst many other more unusual conversion solutions can at times be found. Here in Canada the Snider is the overwhelming majority.
 
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