December 16, 17, & 18, 2020 Field & Range Firearms
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 12/16/2020
Commercial production English Pattern 1853 Enfield rifle musket with experimental alteration to Lindner percussion breechloading system. Barrel secured by 3-screw clamping Palmer patent barrel bands, brass furniture, walnut stock. Lock marked 1863/TOWER” forward of cock with English royal crown at tail. Breech with Birmingham commercial view, provisional proof, and definitive proof marks as well as a pair of “25” gauge marks. Retains correct pattern long-range military ladder rear sight, combination front sight/bayonet lug, and both sling swivels. Thin shank cleaning rod is not a ramrod and although apparently period is a replacement. Edward Lindner tried to sell his patent percussion breech-loading to the US Ordnance Department by building sample guns on obsolete US Model 1816 Muskets. It is probable that this alteration on a British Pattern 1853 Enfield that was almost certainly a Civil War import was done for the same purpose, to sell the Lindner concept to a potential client, possibly a foreign military or for early US military breech-loading trials. A very interesting gun worthy of additional research. CONDITION: Good. Retains no finish with a dull grey appearance typical of a chemical cleaning, showing mottled oxidized discoloration over most of the surfaces. Barrel with moderate pitting on the exterior and interior. Bore fair, with some visible rifling. Percussion lock and breech-loading mechanism both functional. Brass furniture with a medium gold patina. Stock with moderate wear and a substantial repaired break through the forward portion of the lock mortise, extending to the Lindner stock reinforcement bolt near the back of the rear sight. Although a serious break, the repair is expertly executed and appears completely stable. Stock sanded and refinished. TP
Caliber/Bore
25 Bore - .577 Caliber
Model
Experimental Lindner P1853