P53 Enfields

[Hawg]

Top is an original dated 1861. Bottom is an Armi Sport I bought back around 1980. The repro will tear hell out of a five gallon bucket at 300 yards with 70 grains of Pyrodex and a 510 grain minie. The destructive power is unbelievable. I haven't shot the original that far because the rear sight ladder is missing.



The bayonets are both original.



This is a recovered minie after it buried itself  in the soft dirt of a pond bank from 300 yards. It left a hole four inches across and nine inches deep.

[Captainkirk]

Beautiful! How did you wind up with two?

[Hawg]

I've always been a C.W. buff and IIRC it was in 1980 I bought the repro. I just looked at the date code and it's AC so I bought it in 77, so much for memory  . Then in the early 90's I was making enough money to buy pretty much what I wanted and started going to C.W. reenactments. In 95 I went to one in Corinth MS. From there it wasn't far to the Shiloh battlefield park and there was a relic shop/museum on the edge of it. That's where I met Rafe and Lori Eledge. You may have seen Rafe on Antiques Roadshow. Anyway it was a small place chock full of original pieces and it was a hands on museum you could buy stuff from. He had the original there and I bought it for 900 bucks. After that I'd make two or three trips a year just to shop for C.W. stuff. Then in 99 my world went to shit in a hand basket and I don't have much of my C.W. stuff left but I do still have the Enfield.

[Hawg]

The rear sight is the most glaring difference. The lock markings are noticeably different and there's a few subtle differences I doubt a soldier during the war would have noticed.

[Captainkirk]

The rear sight is the most glaring difference. The lock markings are noticeably different and there's a few subtle differences I doubt a soldier during the war would have noticed.

So....spill the beans. What are the differences?
I really enjoyed the Uberti/Pietta show & tell (a.k.a. Find The Differences?)

[Hawg]

The repro has a kind of a rounded version of the 73 trapdoor sight and the original looks more like a non windage adjustable Buffington rear sight. You can't see any detail in the pics but you can tell there's a major difference.

[old fogey]

Shoot Hawg, show a few more pictures of yer Enfields (both the real and repop - I'm liking both [the original naturally has a edge] and would like more pictures please!).

[Hawg]

I'll see what I can do but might be a few days. Not feeling too sporty.

[old fogey]

Truly sorry to hear that. Flu? Whatever the cause, hope you get back to feeling yerself shortly!

[Hawg]

Truly sorry to hear that.

yeah, feeling pretty miserable.

[old fogey]

Re-read this thread;
Captainkirk:
                    *** So....spill the beans. What are the differences? ***;

 + 1 - Was thinking meybe onna these days saving up enough moola fer onna them Pedersoli Enfields or (if'n I's ta hit the Lottery -) a Whitworth!(Enfield a heck of a lot more probable!)

 So, how bout spillen them beans with a little photo display of the differences 'twixt the gennie and a faux?

[dromia]

Here are some of my reproduction Enfield Muzzle Loaders, all UK made Parker Hales.




Left to right P61 Artillery Carbine "Musketoon", P58 Naval rifle, P53, Volunteer two band, Volunteer three band, Whitworth.