P53 Tower Rifled Musket by Barnett of London……………..SOLD
Created on March 25th 2015
Privately made P53 Pattern Rifled Musket by Barnett of London
The rifle was found in the USA so could be presumed to be one of the many privately produced weapons that ran the blockade to the America in the civil war. Which side it ended up on is anybody’s guess. There are hints but further research is needed to add meat to the bones that surround the history of this item. It is built in the standard pattern of the time as any other Pattern 1853 musket would be.
Overall the rifle is 55″ in length. The round barrel is just over 39″ and has a three grove caliber of .577. It is of course a single shot muzzle loader as used on both sides of the conflict. This is a three band P53 with two sling swivels, one on the front band, and one on the front of the trigger guard. An additional fitting attached to the rear sling swivel is the nipple protector and chain.
The full length walnut stock is in excellent condition with only a couple of hundred years usage marks upon it. Truth be told it was probably only used in its early years and has spent the rest of its life languishing in retirement, avoiding conversion to a breech loader. The walnut stock has brass fittings as standard in the form of the heavy shaped butt-plate, the trigger guard and the for-end nose-cap. All have a pleasing golden-green tarnish about them. The brass butt-plate is devoid of any trace of markings to units etc. Under the barrel is a full length correct Enfield cleaning rod of steel. The easily identifiable three bands are all steel but, unusually for a British rifle, and rather in the style of the Springfield armory, marked with inspectors initials. It is almost impossible to see what they are but with a glass it is just possible to make out “E.M”.
The front sight of the rifle also acts as a bayonet lug for the triangular socket bayonet that comes with the rifle, The rear sight is a standard ramp and ladder type, graduated on the side from 1 to 4 the ladder is then marked from 5 to 8 (hundred yards) There is a simple register mark on the barrel tang to allow the hut to be re-aligned if removed. the outside of the round barrel on this P53 has turned to a pleasing even plumb brown color, silvering toward the rear around the nipple where there is minimum pitting from flash-over during use. In a straight line on the obverse to the nipple are three British London proof inspectors markings. Also visible in bright light are two other markings on the same face of the stock, the first and more obvious is the name “J.FIELD” and the second an oval cartouche encircling the letters “I.C.” also meaning uncertain.
The hammer is the usual sturdy type with minimal engraving and a cross-checkering to aid grip in grim conditions. The bore has mild corrosion that is expected of a rifle of this type, with no serious problems discovered thus far. The rifling is intact. The flat lock face is border engraved and is clearly marked behind the hammer with a Tudor crown over “TOWER”. In front of the hammer are the words “BARNETT / LONDON” During the American Civil War Barnett, a well established maker in the gun-making district of London, occupied an address at Brewhouse Lane Wapping. On the opposite side to the lock-plate the name “T.BOYD” has been stamped into the stock numerous times! as to the meaning of this we can only guess, could it be the agent who supplied – unknown?
Included in this sale is a P53 triangular socket in possibly a repro’ scabbard. The blade is 17.1/4″ long with a locking ring which closes behind the rear sight. It is good condition and looks to be made by “REEVES” and has an Enfield inspectors mark including crown on the blade face. When attached to the rifle in makes the whole thing 6′ 1″ long. That’s a long way to go in a struggle to get to your opponent! The scabbard is intact but devoid of any inspectors markings, although on the plus side it has started to tarnish nicely.
A fine P53 rifled musket from a turbulent period of history……….. if only these things could talk !
£ 1850………….SOLD
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