Two Pattern 1853 Enfield Rifle-Muskets both lock plate dated 1861.

D

drm3m

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Montreal Quebec
Purchased March 15 2018.

The lock of the gun is marked 1861/Tower forward of the lock, with the usual British “Crown” to the rear of the hammer. The gun bears no British military marks at all, which is typical of guns bound for export markets. The upper left of the breech is marked with the usual London commercial View, Proof and Definitive Proof marks, and with a two 25 gauge mark, indicating .577 caliber.





The P53 came with a bayonet.



I had an extra scabbard and frog for a P53 bayonet so that worked out well.







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Purchased on January 26 1994.





24 bore which is .58 caliber.




1121 is the Confederate "control number." If the ramrod is original to the piece, it will also have 1121 engraved on it near the jag head.



Brit regulations specified that all arms were to have a number not to exceed four digits engraved "and in no instance stamped or punched" on the butt plate, the ramrod, the bayonet socket, the bayonet scabbard stud, and the waist belt. In short, each stand of arms had all of the components numbered together.

Faint Confederate J S / Anchor viewer’s mark of John Southgate.



I ran into a collector from South Carolina who has a large collection of Confederate stuff----on one of his Confederate marked muskets he has the ramrod for my P53 numbered 1121.
I asked him if he would sell it and he said $1,000 USD--that is almost $1,300 Cdn.
I decided to pass---but at least I know where it is.

His ramrod for my gun.

 
I bought this P.53 Enfield in Canada on January 26 1994 with no idea that it might have had a C.S. history.

In 2014 l learned what the #1121 butt plate tang marking meant---and all of the rest of the stuff discussed above.

His comment----I'll take US$ 1000 for the rod, which includes shipping, etc. to you.
I am certain it will add more than that in value to your Enfield.

My response.

As I am in Canada the market for C.S. marked P.53s is different than in the U.S.
I don't know how many Canadian collectors there are for C.S. marked P.53s---or how many would know about the matching serial numbered ramrod.

Comments from my P53 Guru in the U.S.

That is indeed a rare ramrod. The ramrod alone is probably worth more than it would add to the value of its matching P53. It is not unusual to find CS numbered P53's with mismatched ramrods.

So, what is the ramrod worth? A friend with a loose numbered rod wanted to trade it for a French rifle, but would not part with the ramrod for the cash equivalent of the rifle. That was about $480-700. You are in the realm of beauty being in the eye of the beholder as getting a matching ramrod for your P53 would be a real coup. You should consider that haggling on an open forum might entice higher bidders.

Ultimately, you will have to weigh how badly you want the ramrod and also if it is still in a condition that matches that of the P53. The ramrod should be worth at least $500-600, but perhaps a better rule of thumb would be that it is probably worth 15-20% as much as the P53.
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I would probably have gone forward if it was $500 Cdn but between $1,200 and $1,300 Cdn was more than I was ready for.

The 1121 numbered ramrod was not in the condition of my P53.



I just bought the P53 shown above with bayonet for $1,200 Cdn.

 
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john@ If I sold it (the butt plate) for $1,000 U.S. the poor old girl would have a naked butt.

This whole ramrod story took place on 28/12/2017.
He put the #1121 ramrod back on P53 # 198 B.

The two P53s together with the two bayonets with scabbards.



The two bayonets alone.

 
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The paper cartridge on the right is a .58 caliber cartridge the cartridge on the left is a .577 caliber cartridge.



This U.S. Civil War cap pouch with the nipple pick is a recent acquisition---marked-- R. White/U.S. Ord.Dept./ U.S. Inspector

 
Enfield Pattern 1856 Cavalry carbine--lock plate marked 1861/ Tower---Crown / VR.

This is a British gun because of the VR stamped on the lock plate as well as the stamped stock roundel and other barrel markings.



Apparently the commercial version of the P56 carbine (without the VR marking) was imported by the South and used and appreciated by General Jeb Stuart and his Confederate Cavalry.







 
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