Pattern 1861 Enfield musketoon

The Pattern 1861 Enfield musketoon was a short-barrel version (610mm 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 more accurate than the original rifle.[1] The shorter rifle was therefore easier to carry and reload.

Pattern 1861 Enfield
Replica of a Pattern 1861 Enfield musketoon
TypeRifled musket
Place of originUnited Kingdom
Service history
Used byUnited Kingdom, United States, Confederate States of America, Japanese Empire
WarsAmerican Civil War, Boshin War
Production history
Designed1861
ManufacturerRoyal Small Arms Factory
Produced1861–
Specifications
Barrel length24 in.
CartridgeBlack powder, Paper
Caliber.58
ActionPercussion lock
Blade typesword bayonet, when equipped.

Usage

In the British Army, the Pattern 1861 was issued to artillery units, who required a weapon for personal defense 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.

It was much liked for its maneuverability, and being designed for use with Minié ball bullets they could have a killing 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 a short rifle. This mistake is prevalent in the popular literature probably due to the misnomer being applied to a Parker Hale reproduction.[2]

See also

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

References
  1. "Enfield Musketoon Pattern 1861 Short Rifle". www.davide-pedersoli.com. Retrieved 16 November 2012.
  2. Smithurst, Peter. The Pattern 1853 Enfield rifle. Oxford: Osprey. ISBN 978-1-84908-485-7.


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