milsurpshooter
10-16-2016, 07:34 PM
As per my previous thread (http://www.n-ssa.net/vbforum/showthread.php/13097-Most-Authentic-Civil-War-Era-Reproduction), I was debating which repro was the "most" authentic before making a purchase. I was given a lot of good info to digest on the subject. I decided to keep an eye out for an affordable original that could possibly be in shootable condition.
I took the plunge on a BSAT 1863 Tower Enfield. The pre-purchase pics looked as if the stock had been refinished and/or varnished but the metal components looked in reasonably good shape. The only items missing were the ram rod and rear sling swivel. I have since begun a restoration of the stock by gently stripping the varnish using acetone and soft cotton rags followed by multiple coats of BLO. The bore looks like a sewer pipe but has full length rifling and may be a candidate for a reline. I initially thought it was loaded because I could not get a ram rod to pass through to the breech. Upon using a USB bore scope, I discovered that general corrosion and a possible minie ball skirt (or two) are still present.
From my limited research, I've determined that H. Clive was the barrel maker, M. Crosbee the stock maker, and T. Turner the gun maker/assembler. Not sure who Siddons & Sons (stamped on the inside lock face) is.
Please take a look at the pics and let me know if you can add additional info.
Thanks,
milsurpshooter
4766
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4774
I took the plunge on a BSAT 1863 Tower Enfield. The pre-purchase pics looked as if the stock had been refinished and/or varnished but the metal components looked in reasonably good shape. The only items missing were the ram rod and rear sling swivel. I have since begun a restoration of the stock by gently stripping the varnish using acetone and soft cotton rags followed by multiple coats of BLO. The bore looks like a sewer pipe but has full length rifling and may be a candidate for a reline. I initially thought it was loaded because I could not get a ram rod to pass through to the breech. Upon using a USB bore scope, I discovered that general corrosion and a possible minie ball skirt (or two) are still present.
From my limited research, I've determined that H. Clive was the barrel maker, M. Crosbee the stock maker, and T. Turner the gun maker/assembler. Not sure who Siddons & Sons (stamped on the inside lock face) is.
Please take a look at the pics and let me know if you can add additional info.
Thanks,
milsurpshooter
4766
4767
4768
4769
4770
4771
4772
4773
4774