Pattern 1861 Enfield musketoon

Pattern 1861 Enfield

Replica of a Pattern 1861 Enfield musketoon
Type Rifled musket
Place of origin United Kingdom United Kingdom
Service history
Used by United Kingdom, United States of America, Confederate States of America
Wars American Civil War
Production history
Designed 1861
Manufacturer Royal Small Arms Factory
Produced 1861–
Specifications
Barrel length 30 in.
Cartridge Black powder, Paper
Caliber .58
Action Percussion
Blade type sword bayonet, when equipped.

The Pattern 1861 Enfield was an alteration to the Pattern 1853 Enfield. The alteration gave the Pattern 1861 a faster twist (1:48), which gave it more accuracy than the longer infantry rifle. In comparison to the Pattern 1861 Enfield, it also had more grooves (five groove rifling).[1] But what set it apart was its shortened barrel length of 610mm[2] making loading faster and carrying easier.

Maneuverability

In the British Army, it was issued to artillery units, who required a weapon for personal defense and these were easily wielded from horseback. They were also imported by the Confederacy and issued to artillery and cavalry units.

They were much liked for its maneuverability. And being designed for use with the newer Minié ball bullets[3] they could have a killing range of up to 1,000 yards[4] and had devastating consequences against bayonet charging troops.

This weapon is often referred to as a musketoon but due to it having a rifled barrel is more accurately a rifle-musket. This mistake is prevalent in the popular literature probably due to the misnomer being applied to a Parker Hale reproduction.[5][6]

See also

Pattern 1853 Enfield, a longer rifle musket of very similar design.

References

  1. ↑ Arms and edged weapons
  2. ↑ "Enfield Musketoon Pattern 1861 Short Rifle". www.davide-pedersoli.com. Retrieved 16 November 2012.
  3. ↑ "Post Pattern 1861 Enfield Musketoon Reproduced by Parker Hale". www.vcrai.com.
  4. ↑ "PRESS RELEASE Davide Pedersoli C. SILVER GUN LINE". shotgunsbc.ca. Retrieved 16 November 2012.
  5. ↑ Smithurst, Peter. The Pattern 1853 Enfield rifle. Oxford: Osprey. ISBN 978-1-84908-485-7.
  6. ↑ Navy Arms. "Navy Arms Parker-Hale Enfields". Retrieved 13 December 2012.


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