ENFIELD 3 BAND RIFLE/MUSKET, 1853

This is a Musket type rifle, made in 1858, 2nd Pattern,Tower marked (made by contractors) with a P53 bayonet, made in time for the American Civil War. Mass production at Enfield started in 1857, Birmingham Small Arms started in 1861.

The British Army was in the midst of a significant weapons transformation from smooth bore muskets to rifled muskets. While a number of regiments had been supplied with the pattern 1851, the majority of the army still carried the 1842 pattern smooth bore musket.
By the end of 1853, the Enfield Rifled musket, as approved by the War Department for the army and was put into production. The Enfield saw extensive action in the Crimean War which lasted from 1854-1856

This rifle replaced the Brunswick A1035 and Baker A1104 also the Victorian 'Minie' of 1851.

• Detailed view of the Mechanism
  

A1105 A1105b