One of the funniest questions I've had to ask on here

Appalachiannative

Appalachiannative

Member
Joined
Dec 2, 2021
Messages
1,145
Location
The Beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains NC
So I went to a LGS/ pawn/ jewelry (place I bought the wife's ring in fact) today and saw a repro civil war musket I liked the look of. It was an ArmiSport .58 cal 1853 Enfield 3 band. Looked like a reenactor ruffed up the finish on purpose. They wanted $600. Question is not about whether that's a good price. The musket had attached to the wrist of the stock by way of a bunch of plastic wrap what appeared to me at least to be a bolt assembly off an older .22 lr bolt action rifle. I asked the clerk what this was and why is came with the gun. The staff at this establishment knows absolutely nothing about firearms. The kid was honest that he had no idea what it was but offered the suggestion that it's "maybe something to pour the powder in" lol I know it's not that. So question is did Enfield muskets have some kind of accessory or perhaps cleaning tool that upon first glance might resemble a rimfire rifle bolt assembly?
 
And I guess we will get to solve this mystery since I went ahead and put it on lay away. They wanted $600 but they will let you make an offer on a 60 day layaway and they have to honor the price they accept so I managed to talk them into $500 because it's been in there since August of last year. I love how no one around here seems interested in BP so I find all these deals
 
Appalachiannative said:
And I guess we will get to solve this mystery since I went ahead and put it on lay away. They wanted $600 but they will let you make an offer on a 60 day layaway and they have to honor the price they accept so I managed to talk them into $500 because it's been in there since August of last year. I love how no one around here seems interested in BP so I find all these deals
Click to expand...
They didn't let you inspect it before putting it on lay away?
 
Appalachiannative said:
And I guess we will get to solve this mystery since I went ahead and put it on lay away. They wanted $600 but they will let you make an offer on a 60 day layaway and they have to honor the price they accept so I managed to talk them into $500 because it's been in there since August of last year. I love how no one around here seems interested in BP so I find all these deals
Click to expand...

Since bp is no longer a requirement for primitive weapons season nobody has any. Walmart doesn't even try to sell inlines anymore. People that have bp guns have them because they want them and don't sell them.
 
hawg said:
Since bp is no longer a requirement for primitive weapons season nobody has any. Walmart doesn't even try to sell inlines anymore. People that have bp guns have them because they want them and don't sell them.
Click to expand...
In my state wal mart still sells in line guns and substitute. Here bp season has gotten pretty loose but still not THAT bad. I think our laws even allow loading from the breach as long as it's some kind of loose black powder or substitute. Heck maybe that the reason for lack of interest in traditional is the full embrace of modern. Only guys I ran into last season had inlines while I a flintlock
 
Appalachiannative said:
They did. They even let me run a bore light down the muzzle BUT it was made clear that whatever it is under the plastic wrap comes with the musket.
Click to expand...
That's what I'm getting at, You didn't unwrap the plastic to look at the gun and identify the part?
 
hawg said:
The only thing I can think of is a rifled musket tool.
Click to expand...
Probably a good guess. There were privates' and sergeants' Enfield combination tools, with the sergeants' differing by including a mainspring clamp and a ball puller. These also functioned as oil bottles.

Repro Enfield combo tools run anywhere from $30 to $60, depending on quality. Originals can go for $200.

If one of these is included, it could affect the price of the gun.
 
Appalachiannative said:
This stuff would have to have been cut off. Didn't want to end up on a you break it you bought it situation but maybe I'll see if they will let me when I go in to pay on the layaway next Saturday
Click to expand...
Oh and in case there is some confusion the plastic wrap is only around the wrist of the stock holding what I am now starting to assume is the musket tool. The rest of the gun is not wrapped up I was able to get a good look at the lock and barrel and all that good stuff. Like I said it's brightened into the white with some superficial scratches but no significant rust so probably the handy work of a reactor who wanted it to look authentic
 
Appalachiannative said:
Like I said it's brightened into the white with some superficial scratches but no significant rust so probably the handy work of a reactor who wanted it to look authentic
Click to expand...
When I was doing reenacting, it was fashionable for some reenactors with Enfields to brighten them up to match the Springfields. This was done by soaking the barrels in vinegar, or rubbing with Naval Jelly. As issued, Enfields were blued (that was true for both originals and reproductions).

Another thing to look at are the barrel bands. Many reproductions were made with the smooth Baddeley bands, which aren't really correct for Enfields used in the Civil War. So reenactors replaced them with the earlier Palmer bands. For information on this, see https://www.authentic-campaigner.co...vil-war-enfield-barrel-bands-by-craig-l-barry and https://www.authentic-campaigner.co...rums/14442-palmer-bands-for-euroarms-enfields
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

forward observer
New addition to the ACW pile, A rare P1853 Enfield maker
Replies
17
Views
650
forward observer
forward observer
Panzerschwein
  • Locked
M1841 Mississippi Rifle Questions
2
Replies
30
Views
5K
kBob
K
K
  • Locked
Saw "something" today
Replies
3
Views
621
hawkeye74
H
A
  • Locked
Enfield Question???
Replies
6
Views
690
DougW
DougW
N
  • Locked
Enfield No1 MkIII Questions
Replies
13
Views
502
bigedp51
B
Back
Top