.59 caliber smoothbore. 33" barrel. NSN. Richly oxidized brown patina on metal, iron mountings, smooth walnut military stock. Single shot percussion muzzleloading Enfield "short rifle" of the Pattern 1856 Sergeant's Fusil for India Service form in that there is no saber bayonet lug and it appears to be designed to accept a socket bayonet, rather than the saber bayonet. Unlike most Sergeant's Fusils, this one is iron mounted rather than brass mounted. Rifle is equipped with the correct pattern 1,100 yard military ladder rear sight, a Barleycorn front sight that doubles as a socket bayonet lug, sling swivels on the upper barrel band and in the toe line of the stock and a jag head ramrod that is missing the threads at the end. Lock is marked "TOWER/1861" forward of the hammer and with the {British Crown} at the tail, without the British military "VR" mark underneath, which is correct for a commercial gun. No proof marks are visible at the breech but may be under the barrel. The toe of the stock is marked "T TURNER" for Thomas Turner, one of the largest and most successful of the Birmingham gun makers and a founding member of the Birmingham Small Arms Trade (BSAT). A small, weak BSAT mark is present behind the triggerguard.

Thousands of Enfield Short Rifles of many different variant models were imported during the American Civil War by the Confederacy with a smaller number being purchased by Union arms dealers. Georgia in particular is known to have purchased at least 800 of the Pattern 1856/57 Sergeant's Fusils for India Service, and no doubt other similar arms were included in at least some of the shipments to the south. A nice, untouched Enfield Short Rifle with a pleasing dark patina. {ANTIQUE}

Good. Bore is bored smooth, moderately oxidized, dark and with some pitting. Metal with a rich, uncleaned and untouched brown patina with scattered minor surface roughness and some scattered pitting, most notably at the breech. The barrel bands retain the often missing screw keeping washers. Markings on lock clear, weaker in wood. Mechanically functional lock. Wood solid with scattered bumps, dings and mars from service, use and handling through the ages. An old chip of wood is missing forward of the lock mortise.