British made Enfield Repro?

[raymo7521]

I was looking on Gunbroker and came across the following: http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewIt ... =199986152 (http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=199986152)
Is anyone familiar with this model of enfield. It is an obvious repro, but has a british proof mark.

[R. McAuley 3014V]

Not certain just how recent a musket it may be but the front and rear sight typify the type of sights found on the P/53 smoothbore muskets manufactured for native Indian troops following the Sepoy Munity of 1857. The fact that it bears a particular style of the “crown/BP” proof-mark on the breech-piece only means it was proved at the Birmingham Proof House sometime in the last 142 years as that style proof-mark was adopted in 1868 to represent the arm having passed second proof for blackpowder muzzleloaders. A great number of these muskets were built in India by the British government using civilian contractors from the Birmingham-trade as well as native labor especially after 1878 when India passed the Indian Arms Act prohibiting the importation of firearms into the empire.

The ostensible object of the Order was to prevent the importation of military weapons, particularly of long-range, small-calibre rifles of the British Enfield .303 type. Rifles of certain calibers, and taking certain cartridges, were specified and their importation prohibited. Either from insufficient knowledge, or from carelessness, the Order was so drafted as to exclude from the Indian market, not only the English military rifles— the only kinds of military rifles made in England— but also certain rifles of sporting type much manufactured in England for the Indian market, also the ammunition for them. Latterly, the Order was amended to insert that an exception should be made in favour of all double-barrelled sporting rifles.


Extracts from The Encyclopaedia Britannica (1888) on “Arsenals”:

“There are no arsenals, properly so called, in the British colonies. The troops are supplied from stores and workshops in charge of the Control Department. In India the army is equipped and supplied by the Ordnance Department of Bengal, Madras, and Bombay; and the arsenals come under the head of second class, being establishments for storage, issue, receipt, repair, and partial manufacture. Warlike stores are partly obtained from England, but to a great extent manufactured in the military factories of India. The chief arsenals are those of Fort William (Calcutta), Madras, Bombay, Allahabad (in the N.W. Provinces), and Ferospore (in the Panjab). These arsenals are administered by commissaries of ordnance (artillery officers), assisted by warrant officers chosen from the army, and non-commissioned officers. Natives are employed as artificers, writers, and labourers. The native establishment is usually divided into “permanent” and “extra,” the former class being permanent Government servants, and the latter merely hired according to requirements.”

The military factories comprise— (1) Foundry and shell factory at Cossipore, near Calcutta; (2) Gun carriage factories at Fathinhur (N.W. Provinces), Madras, and Bombay; (3) Small arms ammunition factories at Dumdum, near Calcutta, and Kirkee (Bombay); (4) Powder factories at Ishapore (near Calcutta), Madras, and Kirkee; (5) Harness and saddlery factory at Cawnpore (N.W. Provinces). The factories are administered by warrant officers, civil and military mechanics, native artificers, workmen, and labourers.

[raymo7521]

Thank you for the informative reply.

[Southron Sr.]

I am wondering IF a smoothbore version of the P-53 Enfield has ever gone out of production in India.

Back in the early 1970's. I saw an ad in Shotgun News and I ordered a half-dozen smoothbore Enfields from an importer at dirt cheap prices. They all were original, made in Birmingham in the 1860's and had seen a lot of use (and abuse).

The importer told me that those arms had been used as late as WWII to train Indian recruits in basic drill.

Also, in the 1970's one could purchase brand new Indian made P-53 Enfields smoothbores. I understand that under Indian firearms laws, smoothbore muzzleloaders are legal for Indian citizens to possess. Which accounts for the fact that these arms are still produced.

Needless to say, these modern made P-53's were crude compared to the original, brand new military issue smoothbores issued to Sepoy troops in the late 1850's and 60's.