The UK's Finest Independent Forum for Shooters and Gun Owners. Est 2010.

A friend has this musket which he'd like any info on.

It has the following markings, 46 stamped in front of the trigger, underneath stock, NEW IN.GT PLC & what looks like a crown with B12 underneath it?

Thanks.

Appears to be an Enfield P53 rifle----we generally refer to muskets as being smooth bores, but the adjustable rear sight indicates that this is a rifle.
Fred

FredB wrote:Appears to be an Enfield P53 rifle----we generally refer to muskets as being smooth bores, but the adjustable rear sight indicates that this is a rifle.
Fred

Thanks Fred, very helpful, I had a look down the bore & it had no rifling.

What is the bore diameter?

Smooth bore P53 Enfields came after the Indian mutiny for native troops.

They came in two patterns, the P58 was a direct P53 copy with a 0.656 larger bore, not many are thought to have been made as the thin walled barrel was considered too weak.

The P59 was the same only with a heavier barrel and an even simpler fore sight than the P58, these smooth bore rear sights were of a poorer quality and fixed.

The rear sight in the photograph looks like a P53.

Larger and more photographs would be more helpful.

dromia wrote:What is the bore diameter?

Smooth bore P53 Enfields came after the Indian mutiny for native troops.

They came in two patterns, the P58 was a direct P53 copy with a 0.656 larger bore, not many are thought to have been made as the thin walled barrel was considered too weak.

The P59 was the same only with a heavier barrel and an even simpler fore sight than the P58, these smooth bore rear sights were of a poorer quality and fixed.

The rear sight in the photograph looks like a P53.

Larger and more photographs would be more helpful.

Cheers, I'll try & get more photo's but that info will keep him happy.

What did you use to look down the bore? The rifling on the p53 is of variable depth and very shallow. They can look pretty smooth at the muzzle.
Fred

FredB wrote:What did you use to look down the bore? The rifling on the p53 is of variable depth and very shallow. They can look pretty smooth at the muzzle.
Fred

Mark 1 eyeball Fred, it was only a cursory look tbf.

Two words- bore light