Enfield Pattern 1856

Rifle-Musket Long Gun [ 1856 ]

The Enfield Pattern 1856 was nothing more than a shorter, two-banded form of the original, full-length Pattern of 1853.

Authored By: Staff Writer | Last Edited: 09/12/2016 | Content ©www.MilitaryFactory.com | The following text is exclusive to this site.

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The British Enfield Pattern 1856 followed the original Pattern 1853 into service in an effort to produce a more "infantry-friendly" long gun. The original forms were effective man-killers to be sure however their primary physical restriction lay in their length which made them unwieldy for late-19 Century warfare. Now that barrel rifling was permeating long guns and infantry warfare was done at closer ranges than before, the length of barrels could be reduced to an extent (at the cost of range). This led to many full-length guns being cut down to more manageable sizes - particularly valued by forward-operating scouts and mounted infantry.

The Pattern 1856 was reduced by some six inches when compared to the earlier Pattern 1853. The barrel now measured 33 inches long. It continued use of the .577 ball as its ammunition and operated from a percussion cap action. The primary distinguishing mark of the line (beyond its obvious reduced length) was its two-banded design, these metal bands used to clasp the wooden stock to the barrel assembly and form a rigid, robust framework. A ram rod was contained under the barrel in the usual way and the action took place near the rear of the gun. The shoulder stock was integrated to the gun in traditional fashion with the grip area formed between it and the forend. Underslung slings allowed for a strap to be affixed and eased transporting of the rifle when on-the-march.

Both sides of the American Civil War (1861-1865) procured the Pattern 1856 and, of course, the British Empire fielded it in number - typically issued to its rank of sergeants and skirmish troops. Manufacture was by way of Enfield of England and Tower Armories.©MilitaryFactory.com

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Specifications

Service Year

1856

Origin

United Kingdom

Classification

Rifle-Musket Long Gun

Royal Small Arms Factory / Enfield Lock - UK

(View other Arms-Related Manufacturers)

National flag of the Confederate States of America

Brazil; Confederate States; Japan; United Kingdom; United States

(OPERATORS list includes past, present, and future operators when applicable)

✓ Musket
Old style of weapon loaded from the muzzle; completely manual action located at the rear of the frame; poor accuracy forced masses of soldiers to fire at once for best results.

Overall Length

1,398 mm
55.04 in

Barrel Length

838 mm
32.99 in

Empty Wgt

8.82 lb
4.00 kg

Sights

Adjustable Rear; Fixed Front

Action

Percussion Lock; Single-Shot

Percussion Cap
Utilizes the percussion cap system of operation to actuate ignition of propellant; much like a child's cap gun, small explosive caps are set upon nipples and these are actuated by a falling hammer previously cocked.

(Material presented above is for historical and entertainment value and should not be construed as usable for hardware restoration, maintenance, or general operation - always consult official manufacturer sources for such information)

Caliber(s)*

.577 Minie ball paper cartidge

Sample Visuals**

Rounds / Feed

Single-Shot

*May not represent an exhuastive list; calibers are model-specific dependent, always consult official manufacturer sources.
**Graphics not to actual size; not all cartridges may be represented visually; graphics intended for general reference only.

Max Eff.Range

2,500 ft
(762 m | 833 yd)

Rate-of-Fire

3
rds/min

Muzzle Velocity

850 ft/sec
(259 m/sec)

Pattern 1856 - Base Series Designation; based on the model of 1853.

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Infantry Small Arms / The Warfighter

Enfield Pattern 1856

Rifle-Musket Long Gun [ 1856 ]

The Enfield Pattern 1856 was nothing more than a shorter, two-banded form of the original, full-length Pattern of 1853.

Specifications