The most iconic of the imported arms to see service with the Confederacy during the American Civil War is the British P-1853 Enfield Rifle Musket, marked with the Confederate JS / (ANCHOR)viewer’s mark of Confederate inspector John Southgate's "JS ANCHOR" stamp is on of the most iconic Confederate markings of the Civil War. However, the inspection mark that that replaced the JS / (ANCHOR), the (ANCHOR) / S is just as important and just as Confederate as its better-known predecessor. These distinctly marked Enfields have only recently been confirmed as Confederate pieces, making them very desirable on the collector's market. The following is an explanation of the "ANCHOR S" stamped Enfields by renowned Civil War Arms author and collector Tim Prince:
"When encountered, the (ANCHOR) / S mark is found on the comb of the stock, just forward of the brass butt plate tang. The (ANCHOR) / S mark is a cryptic and enigmatic mark that has long confused and confounded researchers who specialize in arms that were imported by the Confederacy during the American Civil War. A chronological study of known Confederate inspection marks and their progression of placement can be used to explain the history and origins of (ANCHOR)/S stamped Enfields.
"The most well known Confederate mark is the J S / (ANCHOR). This mark appears on Confederate imported Enfield pattern arms produced under contract from October 1861 through at April 1862. This marking system coincides with the 2nd Confederate contract with Sinclair, Hamilton & Company for 30,000 P-1853 Enfields. On the guns delivered under that contract, the mark is located behind the trigger guard and is typically found with a Confederate inventory number engraved on the tang of the brass butt plate. The ramrods and the bayonets for these guns were also engraved with matching inventory numbers. The guns were numbered in three series of 10,000 each. Starting at 1 and going to 10,000, then restarting at one over the letter “A”, and after reaching 10,000 / A, starting again over the letter “B”. Further evidence based upon extant example suggests the engraved numbering process created a significant bottleneck in the delivery of the desperately needed arms, and it appears that the engraving of the ramrods and bayonets was discontinued with the “B Series” guns, as to date no authentic example of a “B” bayonet or ramrod is known to exist. At the completion of the 2nd contract it appears that the numbering of Enfields was discontinued completely, likely due to both time and cost, but the J S / (ANCHOR) mark remained in use, at least briefly. During the period that would be considered the 3rd Sinclair, Hamilton & Company contract (likely running May-October of 1862), the inspection mark continued to be placed, at least briefly, behind the trigger guard, and then was moved to the top of the stock comb, in front of the butt plate tang."
"Due to the very small number of extant P-1853 Enfields encountered with the J S / (ANCHOR) mark and no engraved inventory number, I believe that this stamp only remained in use for a very limited time during the middle of 1862, and was subsequently replaced by one or more the well known Sinclair, Hamilton & Company stamps, probably variations of the (CROWN) / S / HC / (ARROW) stamps that are well known to Confederate collectors. Interestingly “Sinclair Hamilton” marks seem to be confined to arms dated 1861 (1st Sinclair, Hamilton & Company Contract), 1862 (probably 3rd SHC contract) and a very few dated 1863 (end of 3rd or beginning of 4th contract). At this time, the inspection mark reverts to master viewer John Southgate’s initial “S” and the Birmingham assay office “anchor” mark. The new mark was an (ANCHOR) / S and appears as a single strike on most P-1853s it is encountered on, on top of the stock comb, in front of the buttplate tang. The guns are inevitably dated 1863 or 1864 if they are Birmingham production, and the 1864 dated guns are scarce, suggesting that the 4th Sinclair Hamilton contract arms were mostly delivered in 1863, or few of the 1864 dated guns made it through the blockade."
"It appears the 4th SHC contract was essentially an 1863 contract, and the 6-month delivery terms may have become longer due to difficulties in the Confederacy paying their bills with the English contractors. This (ANCHOR) / S mark is also found on Birmingham and London produced P-1856 cavalry carbines, that were Confederate purchased, and those guns that are dated are either 1863 or 1864 carbine. On the carbines, the mark is often double struck in the wood, while it is normally single struck on the P-1853 “long Enfields”. While most of the “long Enfields” during this period were delivered through the port of Wilmington, NC; fueling the Eastern Theater ordnance depot system, the carbines appear to have most arrived through Texas, and were fed into Western Theater depot system. If a collector were to have only one true Confederate imported weapon in their collection, a Confederate marked Enfield would be the perfect addition. There is no more striking image than that of the ragged Confederate infantryman with a P-1853 Enfield Rifle Musket in his hands, doggedly defending his belief in states rights and defending his boarders from the perceived Northern invasion."
This Confederate Enfield is in great condition and all original. The stock is in great shape with no cracks or splits and only a few minor handling marks here and there. The "ANCHOR S" stamp in front of the buttplate tang is good and legible. There is also the remnant of several other inspector's stamps behind the trigger guard, but they are illegible. The lock, an 1863 dated Tower, is appropriate for a "ANCHOR S" stamped musket and is in good condition with some light pitting on the lock plate and a good, solid action.
The barrel is in good shape both inside and out. Externally, there is some scattered pitting near the breech, but the proof marks remained deep and very legible. The barrel is full length and both the front and rear sight are intact and in good condition. Internally, the bore is in good shape with some scattered rust and pitting, but good rifling.
The furniture is all original and in good condition. The ramrod is full length and in good shape. The buttplate and triggerguard were polished at some point but are still in good shape.
This original Confederate-marked Enfield would be an obvious choice for any serious Civil War collector. It's affordable price and great condition should make it attractive to just about any collector.
