.60 smoothbore. 31.875" barrel. NSN. Thickly oxidized plum brown patina with traces of blue on the metal, brass furniture, smooth walnut military stock. Single shot percussion muzzleloading rifle musket shortened to "short rifle" configuration. The gun was originally a 39" barreled "three band" Pattern 1853 Enfield Rifle Musket imported by the Confederacy that was later altered to its "two band" Short Rifle configuration. The non-standard barrel length of nominally 32" versus 33" is the first indicator of the modifications and the shadow of where the rear sight was originally located indicates it was in the rifle musket rather than the rifle position. The gun is missing the rear sight and has an old, added semi-shark fin blade front sight, it is missing both sling swivels and has a thin shank, jag head ramrod that is likely the cleaning rod form a Snider rifle. Lock marked "1862/TOWER" forward of the hammer with the usual {British Crown} without a "VR" underneath at the tail, which is correct. Proof marks at the breech are no longer visible. The stock comb is stamped with the Confederate Sinclair, Hamilton & Company viewers marks of a "{Crown}/SH/G3" forward of the buttplate tang. Additionally, Isaac Curtis's viewer marks of a script "JC" cartouche (Curtis signed his "I" in the archaic form like a "J") is present on the counterpane.

During the course of the Civil War a reasonably large number of Enfield Rifle Muskets were repaired and put back into the field in "short rifle" configuration with nominally 33" barrels. Sometimes the saber bayonet lugs were reattached and sometimes they were not. This is a nice example of what appears to be a southern altered Enfield with two good Confederate inspection marks that prove its southern purchase and use. {ANTIQUE}

Good. Bore bored to smooth with no rifling, showing heavy oxidation and some pitting. Metal with a thickly oxidized plum brown patina mixed with traces of blued finish. Lock markings remain legible. Markings in wood vary from crisp and clear to worn but legible. Mechanically functional lock. Both barrel band screw keepers are missing. Ramrod is a good looking, but incorrect replacement. Wood with moderate wear, showing scattered bumps, dings and mars, some wood loss under the lock and a small crack at the rear lock screw. Wood lightly sanded long ago from the wrist back toward the butt, possibly as part of the rebuilding of the gun as a short rifle.