1853 3 Band Enfield Rifle Musket

This is the black powder version of the well known 3 Band Enfield. This weapon was number two in use throughout the American Civil War. Used I might add by both sides. It was thought by Civil War Historians that about 900,000. were bought from the all the Enfield locations such as the Enfield Company, The London Armory Company, and the factories of Liege, St. Etienne and Windsor, Vermont. The Federals purchased 500,000 and the Confederates about 900,000 from early in 1862 through March 1865 just prior to Lee’s capitulation at Appomattox Court House, Virginia on April 9,1865.

The P53, 3 Band Enfield had an effective range of 1000 to 1100 yards. The length overall was 53inches from butt plate to muzzle tip. Barrel length was 30 inches and was known as a rifle-musket .The barrel was 39 inches so that the tip of the muzzle projected beyond the shoulder of the soldier in the kneeling  front rank first to keep any blast from hitting him and so that the length would favor it being used when the bayonet was attached .

This weapon had a life time from 1853 to 1867 when it was superseded by the more modern cartridge-loaded Snider-Enfield Rifle. I believe this was the first of the more modern rifles that was a breech-loader. The Snider variation was invented by an American by name Jacob Snider and applied by the British to their existing P 53 Enfields.

3 BAND ENFIELD, .58 Caliber Black Powder Rifle – $ 695.00
Retail Price: 820.10
You Save: $125.10
From: NetLink Enterprises, Inc.