V-R Crown Stamp

[B-Davis]

Good day, I hope that everyone is well!
I have to opportunity to purchase an Enfield for my personal use, but had a question if at some point I am able to return to skirmishing. An 1860 Enfield has come as a possible opportunity for me to purchase. The rifle in question is correct for being an 1869 short rifle, BUT it has a V-R (Victoria Regina) mark under the crown, essentially stating it was used by the British Army, never seeing usage in the Civil War.
Also, quickly looking in the list of approved firearms, I see the 1856 and the 1858 short rifles are approved, but not the 1860. Is this due to the fact of limited 1860 production and little to no evidence of usage in the Civil War?
Either way, I will purchase the rifle, I am just curious for N-SSA usage. Any information is much appreciated!

[Muley Gil]

You describe this as a "short rifle". What is the barrel length? The Approved Arms list refers to reproductions.

An original is legal, provided it hasn't been modified beyond the sights and barrel length and meets other N-SSA regulations.

[B-Davis]

The barrel length is 33 inches

[Muley Gil]

The barrel length is 33 inches

That is a rifle. Usually, "short rifle" refers to a carbine or musketoon.

Contact John Holland about your Enfield.

[B-Davis]

Doing quick research, the British Commercial production classified 33 inches as ?Short Rifle?, to designate it differently from the model 1853 Enfield. I wonder if it is a Commercial rifle, due to having the VR stamp. It is not in the 1858 style, I believe it is an 1860. Here are some pictures:

[Carolina Reb]

The lock does not appear to have British government inspection marks, which would be an inch or so ahead of the bolster near the top edge of the lock plate. If the left side of the barrel breech has commercial Birmingham or London proofs it is certainly a candidate for CW importation. Also look on the stock for J-S anchor, CH-(number) or other Confederate import markings. Commercial P-56, P-58, P-60 rifles are often mix-n-match, not strictly conforming to the official patterns. The 5 groove barrel is a plus, and your bore looks good. It will probably shoot great. The 5 groove barrels came in officially with the P-60 Navy rifles, but many earlier pattern commercial rifles have them, even the light barrel P-56 rifles and P-58 Bar-On-Band rifles.

John Holland would be the final authority on approval. You should definitely have him, or Bill Adams look it over.

[B-Davis]

The lock does not appear to have British government inspection marks, which would be an inch or so ahead of the bolster near the top edge of the lock plate. If the left side of the barrel breech has commercial Birmingham or London proofs it is certainly a candidate for CW importation. Also look on the stock for J-S anchor, CH-(number) or other Confederate import markings. Commercial P-56, P-58, P-60 rifles are often mix-n-match, not strictly conforming to the official patterns. The 5 groove barrel is a plus, and your bore looks good. It will probably shoot great. The 5 groove barrels came in officially with the P-60 Navy rifles, but many earlier pattern commercial rifles have them, even the light barrel P-56 rifles and P-58 Bar-On-Band rifles.

John Holland would be the final authority on approval. You should definitely have him, or Bill Adams look it over.

Thank you for the info, that does help a bit with dechipering this rifle rifle. Here are some more pics:

[Muley Gil]

I received this info from Bill Adams:

The rifle is not a P60; it's a Colonial pattern rifle and it is loaded with many Brit markings. All true rifles, the P56, P58 Army rifle, P60 rifle, and P61 rifle were totally iron mounted. The P58 Navy rifle had a brass nose cap, trigger guard, and butt plate. The rifle shown is what is often mis-termed a ?Marine Artillery Rifle.? It's basically the same as Navy Rifle, except the lower swivel is screwed into stock belly behind the brass trigger guard. This is one of several variations of a rifled version of an East India Company pattern composite arm. Some of those arms were actually imported during the Civil War, although the one pictured was not.



There are numerous Birmingham sub-inspector's marks on the barrel and lock. The markings provide more information, but it can be misinterpreted. The date on the lock isn't necessarily the date when the rifle was assembled as locks and other components were frequently recycled by the "trade" makers. The British sold arms and parts at auction as did the US government. The barrel on the rifle was reproofed after its initial government proofing.


VR markings do not always denote denote British government ownership. Millions of knives, razors, axes, scissors, tools, and other items produced in England for retail sale bear VR cyphers that do not signify any connection to the British military. VR stands for Victoria Regina, meaning simply that the item was made while Victoria was the reigning Queen of England (and it was a long reign). It is ironic that the persons who interpret a crowned Broad Arrow or a VR marking on a gun as irrefutable proof of British issuance will jump at the chance to acquire a VR cyphered bowie knife that was carried by an American soldier or used by a rancher, an Indian in a private army, a Native American, or a Canadian trapper. London Armoury rifle muskets sold to American buyers or British Volunteers were marked with VR on the locks, but they were never British government property.

[B-Davis]

I received this info from Bill Adams:

The rifle is not a P60; it's a Colonial pattern rifle and it is loaded with many Brit markings. All true rifles, the P56, P58 Army rifle, P60 rifle, and P61 rifle were totally iron mounted. The P58 Navy rifle had a brass nose cap, trigger guard, and butt plate. The rifle shown is what is often mis-termed a ?Marine Artillery Rifle.? It's basically the same as Navy Rifle, except the lower swivel is screwed into stock belly behind the brass trigger guard. This is one of several variations of a rifled version of an East India Company pattern composite arm. Some of those arms were actually imported during the Civil War, although the one pictured was not.



There are numerous Birmingham sub-inspector's marks on the barrel and lock. The markings provide more information, but it can be misinterpreted. The date on the lock isn't necessarily the date when the rifle was assembled as locks and other components were frequently recycled by the "trade" makers. The British sold arms and parts at auction as did the US government. The barrel on the rifle was reproofed after its initial government proofing.


VR markings do not always denote denote British government ownership. Millions of knives, razors, axes, scissors, tools, and other items produced in England for retail sale bear VR cyphers that do not signify any connection to the British military. VR stands for Victoria Regina, meaning simply that the item was made while Victoria was the reigning Queen of England (and it was a long reign). It is ironic that the persons who interpret a crowned Broad Arrow or a VR marking on a gun as irrefutable proof of British issuance will jump at the chance to acquire a VR cyphered bowie knife that was carried by an American soldier or used by a rancher, an Indian in a private army, a Native American, or a Canadian trapper. London Armoury rifle muskets sold to American buyers or British Volunteers were marked with VR on the locks, but they were never British government property.

Miley Gil, I thank you for the information, I do have some questions though, if just to keep finding information on the rifle. Looking back at older posts and as indicated in the prior post here, the Birmingham producers/contractors used what what was available to build contract rifles. As a previous post from here states:

R. McAuley 3014V

03-22-2018, 06:58 PM

I forget the exact number but many of the early Navy rifles were fitted with barrels having 3-groove rifling because there were some 8,000 such barrels had been manufactured before the 5-groove rifling was adopted, and rather than the government throwing the 3-groove barrels away, they were mated up to the new pattern brass-mounted Navy rifle until the stock was exhausted. The earlier regulation pattern P/56 Army rifles were iron-mounted, but we find almost as many non-regulation pattern with brass-mountings or mixed mountings that were shipped to his country.



Is it possible that the rifle was meant to be something more specific or similar to a P 58 or P 60 but due to availability, this is what was produced? I tend to agree this was not meant for the US or CS market. This maybe frivolous, but I have been told that the rounded escutcheons were for the British military. The rifle does have these. Would I be wrong to believe this may have been produced for the British Volunteers? Or would this rifle be more of a commercial piece? It was stated it has double approval/inspection stamps. I am not familiar with the stamps, which stamps show this, again, it is just for educational purposes. Any information is always greatly appreciated, I just really enjoy learning about this rifle, even if it may never be an N-SSA approved arm.

[Muley Gil]

Here's a correction from Bill, concerning the first paragraph:

The first para of the rehash should read: The rifle is not a P60; it's a Colonial pattern rifle and it is loaded with many Brit markings. All true Army rifles, the P56, P58 Army rifle, P60 rifle, and P61 rifle were totally iron mounted. The P58 Navy rifle had a brass nose cap, trigger guard, and butt plate. The rifle shown is what is often mis-termed a ?Marine Artillery Rifle.? It's basically the same as the P58 Navy Rifle, except the lower swivel is screwed into the stock belly behind the brass trigger guard. This is one of several variations of a rifled version of an East India Company pattern composite arm. Some of those arms were actually imported during the Civil War, although the one pictured was not.