walshie Posted June 14, 2016 Report Share Posted June 14, 2016 I've been after a musket as a wallhanger for while and finally got one yesterday for the right price. It's going to look good hanging over the fire, but purely out of interest, can anyone give me any more info on it? Clues I've been given are early to mid 1800s and British. Probably used in India. I think it looks like a Brown Bess, but it's not a flintlock, it's percussion. It's not the .75 bore of a BB, but it's 0.51" (at least at the muzzle it is.) It's 52" long overall and heavy as hell. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danger-Mouse Posted June 14, 2016 Report Share Posted June 14, 2016 They did convert some Brown Bess flintlocks to percussion, the 1839 Pattern, but the calibre is wrong. I can`t find any reference to a Brown Bess in less than .75 calibre. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
walshie Posted June 14, 2016 Author Report Share Posted June 14, 2016 No me neither. But then they all look pretty much the same to me. And does anyone know what that brass hinged "banjo" thing is in the butt? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
panoma1 Posted June 14, 2016 Report Share Posted June 14, 2016 No me neither. But then they all look pretty much the same to me. And does anyone know what that brass hinged "banjo" thing is in the butt? For percussion caps? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zapp Posted June 14, 2016 Report Share Posted June 14, 2016 And does anyone know what that brass hinged "banjo" thing is in the butt? Patch box. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
walshie Posted June 14, 2016 Author Report Share Posted June 14, 2016 Patch box. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ditchman Posted June 14, 2016 Report Share Posted June 14, 2016 just a thought................the crown looks a bit strange....are you sure it is english and not danish/swedish ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
walshie Posted June 14, 2016 Author Report Share Posted June 14, 2016 just a thought................the crown looks a bit strange....are you sure it is english and not danish/swedish ? I thought that, but I've been informed it is an Enfield. I'll have another google now you've said that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aldivalloch Posted June 14, 2016 Report Share Posted June 14, 2016 (edited) Google "Enfield Tower musket", there's images of the 1839 and 1861 models (amongst others). Edited June 14, 2016 by aldivalloch Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zapp Posted June 14, 2016 Report Share Posted June 14, 2016 I'm not convinced it's an Enfield; the trigger guard is wrong, patch box in the wrong place, stock too short at the muzzle end, ramrod/cleaning rod wrong... Not saying it isnt, as there were variations and this one, it may have been modified at a later date and the patchbox added, but it just doesnt feel right. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clakk Posted June 14, 2016 Report Share Posted June 14, 2016 (edited) Could it be an Indian copy of an Enfield made in the smaller calibre,my India pattern Bess isnt actually .75 cal it takes .69 cal balls atb Edited June 14, 2016 by clakk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ditchman Posted June 14, 2016 Report Share Posted June 14, 2016 I'm not convinced it's an Enfield; the trigger guard is wrong, patch box in the wrong place, stock too short at the muzzle end, ramrod/cleaning rod wrong... Not saying it isnt, as there were variations and this one, it may have been modified at a later date and the patchbox added, but it just doesnt feel right. certainly with you on that zapp........an enfield shouts at you..the tough no nonsense finish..........its like the difference between an original broomhandle mauser and a good chinese copy.... still think its a scandinavian copy ...but yet again the scadinavian stuff was very good and well finished and better steel than the english stuff...could well be indian as someone said... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zapp Posted June 14, 2016 Report Share Posted June 14, 2016 I think it might be a copy too, possibly a Khyber Pass Enfield clone? The crown looks wrong as does the font and alignment of the numbering. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
walshie Posted June 14, 2016 Author Report Share Posted June 14, 2016 But is it still ok to hang on the wall with no ticket? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ditchman Posted June 14, 2016 Report Share Posted June 14, 2016 I think it might be a copy too, possibly a Khyber Pass Enfield clone? The crown looks wrong as does the font and alignment of the numbering. think i found the culpret...............i googled enfield tower musket...............and as i said.....very nicely finished......then googled enfield indian musket...........thats what it must be......the gun is a historic very functional weapon...and made in india to supplement the growing forces of the empire... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zapp Posted June 15, 2016 Report Share Posted June 15, 2016 The one here appears to be a strong match in terms of trigger guard shape: http://www.middlesexvillagetrading.com/MENFComparison.SHTML Maybe the patchbox and checkering are later editions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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