Pattern 1853 Enfield facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Pattern 1853 Enfield rifle-musket |
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1853 Enfield rifle-musket
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| Type | Rifled musket |
| Place of origin |  United Kingdom |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1853–1867 |
| Used by | |
| Wars |
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| Production history | |
| Designer | RSAF Enfield |
| Designed | 1853 |
| Unit cost | (1861) |
| Produced | 1853–1867 |
| No. built | approx. 1,500,000 |
| Variants | Carbine |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 9.5 lb (4.3 kg) unloaded |
| Length | 55 in (1,400 mm) |
| Barrel length | 39 in (990 mm) |
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| Cartridge | .550 expanding conical bullet |
| Calibre | .577 in (14.7 mm) |
| Action | Percussion lock |
| Rate of fire | User dependent, usually 3-4 rounds a minute |
| Muzzle velocity | 1,250 ft/s (380 m/s) |
| Effective firing range | 300 yd (270 m) |
| Maximum firing range | 1,250 yd (1,140 m) |
| Feed system | Muzzle-loaded |
| Sights | Adjustable ramp rear sights, fixed blade front sight |
The Enfield Pattern 1853 rifle-musket was a powerful firearm used by the British Empire and many other countries from 1853 to 1867. It was a type of Minié-style weapon, meaning it used a special bullet that expanded to fit the barrel's grooves. This made it much more accurate than older smoothbore muskets. It was loaded from the front (muzzle-loading) and fired a .577 calibre bullet.
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History and Design
A "rifle-musket" was a new kind of musket. It had a rifled barrel instead of a smooth one. This made the bullet spin, helping it fly straighter and hit targets farther away. These weapons were still long, like traditional muskets. This length was important for soldiers to fire in lines and to use a bayonet effectively against cavalry.
The Royal Small Arms Factory in Enfield, England, created the Pattern 1853 Enfield. Its barrel was about 39 in (99 cm) long. It had three special grooves inside that made the bullet spin. The barrel was held to the wooden stock by three metal bands. Because of these bands, people often called it a "three-band" rifle.
The rifle used cartridges that held gunpowder and a special bullet. The bullet was designed to expand when fired. This helped it grip the rifling inside the barrel. Soldiers could adjust the rear sight to hit targets at different distances. They were trained to shoot accurately up to 600 yards (550 m). Skilled shooters could even hit targets up to 1,250 yards (1,140 m) away.
The Crimean War
The Enfield rifle-musket was first used in a big war during the Crimean War (1854–1856). Britain knew war with Russia was coming. The British Army was upgrading its weapons from old smoothbore muskets to new rifled ones. By late 1853, the Enfield was approved for the army. British troops started using the Enfield rifles in February 1855.
The Filibuster War
In Central America, after the Federal Republic of Central America broke apart, Costa Rica needed to improve its army. This was especially true after Nicaragua threatened to invade in 1848. In 1855, Costa Rica bought between 500 and 2000 Enfield 1853 rifles. Later that year, an American adventurer named William Walker took control of Nicaragua. He brought back slavery and wanted to conquer all of Central America. Costa Rica used the Enfield rifle in the Filibuster War. They used it in important battles like the Battle of Santa Rosa and the Second Battle of Rivas in 1856.
Indian Rebellion of 1857
The Enfield P53 was given to Indian soldiers serving under British rule in 1856. This rifle played a part in starting the Indian rebellion of 1857. Rumors spread among the Sepoys (Indian soldiers) that the new rifle cartridges were greased with animal fat. This fat was said to be from cows or pigs. This was against the religious beliefs of both Hindu and Muslim soldiers.
To load the rifle, soldiers had to bite open the paper cartridge. This would release the gunpowder. Then they would pour the powder down the barrel. They would snap off the greased end of the cartridge, which held the bullet. Then they would push the bullet down the barrel. The idea of putting animal fat in their mouths was unacceptable to the Indian soldiers.
When the soldiers complained, they were told they could make their own cartridges using vegetable oil or ghee. This made many believe the rumors were true. Some suggested tearing the cartridges open with hands instead of biting. But soldiers had been biting cartridges open for years, so it was hard to change. After the rebellion, new instructions said to tear the cartridge open with fingers.
Because of these fears, the British later changed some of the Enfield rifles used by Indian infantry. They removed the rifling, making them smoothbore muskets. This made them less accurate. They also changed the adjustable sights to fixed sights. These modified rifles were called the Pattern 1858. However, these smoothbore barrels were weaker and could sometimes bulge or burst.
New Zealand Wars
The Enfield 1853 rifle-musket was also used in the New Zealand Wars. British Army regiments, local volunteer groups, and the New Zealand Armed Constabulary all used it. The first Enfield rifles arrived in New Zealand in 1858. The Enfield was not always the best weapon for fighting in the thick forests of New Zealand. It was long and heavy.
Special units called Forest Rangers were formed to fight in the bush. After their first trip into the forests, most of their Enfields were replaced. They got shorter, lighter weapons like carbines and revolvers. However, some Enfields were kept for long-range shooting. British soldiers continued to use Enfields in more open areas.
The Maori people also got Enfield muskets during the wars. They bought them from British traders or other Europeans. After the war, many Enfield muskets were sold to the public. They remained popular for hunting in New Zealand for many years.
American Civil War
The Enfield 1853 rifle-musket was very important in the American Civil War. Both the North (Union) and the South (Confederacy) used it. It was the second most common infantry weapon, after the Springfield Model 1861 Rifled Musket. The Southern states bought more Enfields than any other small weapon. They smuggled them into their ports to get around the Northern blockade.
It's thought that over 900,000 P53 Enfields were brought into America. They were used in almost every major battle, from the Battle of Shiloh in 1862 to the end of the war in 1865. Confederate soldiers especially wanted this rifle. Early in the war, most Southern soldiers had older smoothbore weapons. But later, over 75% had a rifle, mostly the Enfield.
However, many soldiers on both sides did not get enough training. They didn't learn how to estimate distances or adjust their sights. This meant they often didn't use the Enfield's full accuracy. After the war, many Confederate Enfields were sold to Japan. They were used in the Boshin War and later in the Satsuma Rebellion.
Modern Reproductions
Today, the Enfield 1853 rifle-musket is popular with people who re-enact the American Civil War. It is also liked by gun collectors and black powder shooters. Companies like Davide Pedersoli & C. and Armi Chiappa in Italy make new versions of the rifle. These modern copies are available for people to buy.
The British company Parker Hale also made copies of the Enfield 1853 in the 1970s. These were made to look like the original rifles. However, they were based on a later version of the Enfield. This means they are not quite right for American Civil War re-enactors who want historically accurate weapons.
See also
- British military rifles
- Rifles in the American Civil War
- Pattern 1861 Enfield musketoon, a shorter version of this weapon.
- Snider–Enfield
