Pattern 1861 Enfield musketoon
| Pattern 1861 Enfield | |
|---|---|
 Replica of a Pattern 1861 Enfield musketoon | |
| Type | Musketoon |
| Place of origin | United Kingdom |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1861-1889 |
| Used by | United Kingdom United States Confederate States Empire of Japan Argentina |
| Wars | American Civil War, Boshin War, Paraguayan War |
| Production history | |
| Designed | 1861 |
| Manufacturer | Royal Small Arms Factory |
| Produced | 1861–1864 |
| Specifications | |
| Barrel length | 24 in (610 mm) |
| Cartridge | .577 ball |
| Caliber | .577 |
| Action | Percussion lock |
| Feed system | Muzzle-loaded |
The Pattern 1861 Enfield musketoon was a short-barrel version (610 mm or 24 inches) of the Pattern 1853 Enfield rifled musket, having a faster rifling twist rate (1:48 versus 1:78), along with more rifling grooves (five grooves versus the Pattern 1853's three grooves), which made it as accurate as the rifle at shorter ranges. The much shorter barrel would otherwise reduce the accuracy at longer ranges.[1] The shorter rifle was therefore easier to carry and reload.
The other short model is the Pattern 1856 Enfield Carbine, also known as a "saddle ring" carbine.[2][3]
Usage
[edit]In the British Army, the Pattern 1861 was issued to artillery units, who required a weapon for personal defence and which could be more easily wielded from horseback. They were also imported by the Confederacy during the American Civil War and issued to artillery and cavalry units. However, the longer Pattern 1853 was more suitable for infantry units which fought in line formation of several ranks deep, in order to minimize the risk that the men in the rear ranks would accidentally shoot the men in the front ranks in the back of the head, or scorch their faces and burst their eardrums with the muzzle blast.
Argentine cavalry used the M1842/51 Enfield musketoon during the campaign.[4]
It was much liked for its ease of handling, and being designed for use with Minié ball bullets they could have a lethal range of up to 500 yards.
This weapon is often referred to as a musketoon but due to it having a rifled barrel is more accurately known as a carbine. Note that Enfield Pattern 58 'short rifle' is almost a foot [30cms] longer. This mistake is prevalent in the popular literature probably due to the misnomer being applied to a Parker Hale reproduction.[5]
See also
[edit]- Tallassee carbine, closely patterned after the Enfield model
- Calisher and Terry carbine, a British early bolt action of very similar design
- British military rifles
- Rifles in the American Civil War
References
[edit]- ↑ "Enfield Musketoon Pattern 1861 Short Rifle". davide-pedersoli.com. Retrieved 16 November 2012.
- ↑ "Antietam: Enfield Saddle Ring Carbine". antietam.aotw.org. Retrieved 1 October 2026.
- ↑ "Weapon: Enfield Saddle Ring Carbine". Archived from the original on 28 September 2007. Retrieved 1 October 2026.
- ↑ "499 Gabriele Esposito Armies of The War | PDF". www.scribd.com. Retrieved 1 October 2026.
- ↑ Smithurst, Peter (19 July 2011). The Pattern 1853 Enfield rifle. Oxford: Osprey. ISBN 978-1-84908-485-7.
External links
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