Question about a garage-sale find: Snider-Enfield 1862

louthepou

louthepou

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Good day folks,

First antique to make its way into my shop; took it apart this evening and I think I'm not missing too many parts. I'm definitely not in my familiar territory so I hope you don't mind me asking questions...

1. What do I have? How bubba'ed or original is it?
As far as I can tell, it's an 1862 Snider-Enfield (on the side of the lock I can read "1862 Enfield"). I am not sure if the stock was shortened; there were two bands holding the barrel in the stock. There is no butt plate on the stock. One spring is broken (cocking spring?) and the trigger guard is missing. The barrel measures about 35 1/2 inches.

2. My hopes are to turn this into a decent wall hanger, which could #### and click; where could I find a replacement for the broken spring? And a trigger guard / screws? Thanks for any help, tip, info, etc... :)

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How do you guys find such neat stuff at garage sales? The best I've found is a couple of old cartridge wallets and corroded 22 ammo :S

Nice find! Other than that, i have no other constructive input. Tagged to see the restoration :)
 
Hi, Louthepou: I may be wrong, but looks to me like a standard Snider Enfield Long (originally 3 band, shortened to 2), in .577 caliber. You can porbably find parts (butt plate, etc) at NUMRICH Gun parts, out of the US. A restored good condition gun can go for about $500 to $900. FYI.
DoctorNo0070
 
Yes it has been sportered, they can be reloaded with 24 gauge shotgun brass and are alot of fun to shoot!

Another place to look for parts is IMA in the states

Cheers, McLean
 
the broken spring is called a sear spring (puts tension on the sear to ensure that it goes into the half #### and full #### notches). Not that hard to make and can be forged out of drill rod. You mention that you have a shop of some kind; machine shop or gun store type shop?

original barrel lengths were 39" for a 3 band and 33" for a 2 band and 24" for a carbine

cheers mooncoon
 
Looks like it is definitely a Mark II, but I can't see a Star.

Mark II had the new-model Extractor.

Lou, you like to retrofit Lee-Enfields. We all know that; it's in your sig line. This thing is just a Lee-Enfield's great-great grandfather. You can do it and make it look good.

Forget about a wall-hanger: Sniders are absolutely the most FUN of anything I know just to take out and waste some powder.

You look to be missing a firing-pin. If you're missing that, you might be lucky but you might also be missing the spring for it. Firing-pins can be made from a nail, given that you have a small lathe and a few minutes to play with it.

The LOCK disassembles very easily, but you NEED a Mainspring Vise to do it. Anything else is just begging for a broken Mainspring..... and they are few and far between and the replacements often don't fit worth beans.

You need another band for the front. The bands are all different sizes, so you need a Front Band for a Snider, Snider-Enfied or for an 1858 Enfield muzzleloader: all the same part. The bobbed Fore-end you are entirely competent to make: we have all seen your work.

Snider parts turn up on the EE from time to time, so be sure to check there.

The Snider-Enfield was the FIRST breech-loading military rifle using centrefire ammunition in the world. It was also the first rifle used by the Canadian Department of Militia and Defence. The Fenian scare was bad enough that Canada had Sniders long before many British Army formations. The Great Eastern Steamship (SS LEVIATHAN, to give her proper name) actually interrupted a CABLE-LAYING voyage to return to England and pick up a load of Sniders for Canada. YOUR rifle could have been aboard on that voyage!

Only thing more CANADIAN than a Snider would be a Ross. I have both..... and I have no idea which is more pure FUN to shoot.

Congratulations, Lou! You have a Keeper!

Hope this helps.
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Thanks everyone, this is turning out to be an even more interesting find than I thought!

I'll see about the firing pin, I think there's some leftover stuff hiding in there (hopefully a spring) but it'll need a bit of work.

Looks like I have another project to work on...

Mooncoon, my "shop" is simply my garage turned into a comfy place to spend my evenings, working on objects that can go click-bang... pretty therapeutic. :)

Lou
 
mr.e moose said:
By any chance is BSA stamped on the breech block and a Mk11*on the receiver?
Click to expand...

I scrubbed some rust and grime and - well I believe that's what's stamped on it. Have you been in my garage during my absence? :D Actually there are two stars.
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I also removed the nipple (chipped, not my doing), and freed the broken firing pin and broken firing pin spring.
Picture%20090_zps0e48e90e.jpg


Lou
 
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