Pattern 1853 Enfield Artillery Musketoon
Royal Small Arms Factory Enfield · Carbine · Out Of Production · 1853
Also known as: P1853 Musketoon, Enfield Artillery Carbine, Pattern 1853 Artillery Musketoon
Overview
The Pattern 1853 Enfield Artillery Musketoon was a shortened .577 calibre percussion, muzzle-loading carbine derived from the Pattern 1853 Enfield rifle-musket and issued to British artillery and cavalry units who needed a handier weapon than the full-length infantry rifle. With a 24-inch barrel firing the .577 Minié ball, the musketoon variants used five-groove rifling with a faster twist than the three-groove infantry rifle. The type and its near-identical Pattern 1861 successor were widely imported by both sides during the American Civil War.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 3400 g (119.9 oz) |
| Overall Length | 1016 mm (40.00") |
| Barrel Length | 610 mm (24.02") |
| Action Type | Muzzleloader |
| Firing Mechanism | Hammer Fired |
| Trigger Type | Single Stage |
| Magazine Capacity | 1 rounds |
| Magazine Type | Internal |
| Muzzle Velocity | 270 m/s (886 fps) |
| Effective Range | 275 m (301 yd) |
| Maximum Range | 460 m (503 yd) |
| Rate of Fire | 3 rpm |
| Barrel Rifling | Right Hand |
| Rifling Twist | 1219 mm (47.99") |
| Number of Grooves | 5 |
| Frame Material | Steel |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Stock Material | Wood |
| Finish | Blued |
Calibers
- .577 Caliber Minié Ball · primary — also known as .577 Enfield, .577 ball, 14.7mm
Features
- Firing modes: Manual
- Feed systems: Muzzle Loaded
- Safety mechanisms: Half Cock
- Features: Percussion Cap Lock, Muzzle Loading, Minie Ball Rifling, Bayonet Lug, Ramp Rear Sight
Base model
Service history
Operators
- British Army (Royal Artillery) · adopted 1853 · as Pattern 1853 Musketoon
- Confederate States Army · adopted 1861
Conflicts
- Crimean War (1853-1856)
- American Civil War (1861-1865)
Production
Production years: 1853-1864
Produced at the Royal Small Arms Factory Enfield and by Birmingham and London trade contractors; musketoon variants made in far smaller numbers than the full-length rifle-musket
Origin
Country of origin: United Kingdom
Discontinued: 1864
Notes
Distinct short artillery carbine version of the Pattern 1853 Enfield, not the full-length enfield-1853 rifle-musket. The closely related Pattern 1861 musketoon used the same 24-inch barrel with five-groove 1:48 rifling.
Background
Built short and light so a gunner or cavalry trooper could carry it alongside his other gear, the Enfield musketoon nonetheless fired the same heavy .577 Minié ball as the full infantry rifle, packing a full-power punch into a stubby artillery carbine.