Description
According to Tim Prince, a resident antiques firearms expert of the Antiques Road Show, “there is no English gun maker who could more appropriately be called the “Gun Maker to the Confederacy” than the London firm of John Edward Barnett & Sons. During the course of the American Civil War, Barnett delivered thousands of Pattern 1853 “Enfield” rifle muskets as well as Pattern 1853 Artillery and Pattern 1856 Cavalry carbines to the Confederacy. Barnett also delivered large numbers of obsolete arms like Brunswick rifles and Pattern 1851 Minié Rifles to Confederate buyers. Barnett not only filled Confederate central government contracts, but also filled orders for the Confederates states of Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina.
During the Civil War years, the Barnetts operated at both their 134 Minories address, which had been established in 1833, and at Brewhouse Lane, Wapping, where they operated from approximately 1860 to 1874. In the typical fashion of the old time gunmakers in England, Barnett relied heavily on a variety of contractors to produce piecework parts, which were subsequently assembled into complete arms in the Barnett shop. While Barnett could clearly manufacture entire guns in house, and often did, it was sometimes more expedient and cost effective to sub-contract for major components when large contracts were received and had to be filled quickly. Many of the orders received from the Confederacy during the course of the American Civil War were just these types of orders, which had to be completed as quickly as possible. It is not uncommon to disassemble a Pattern 1853 rifle musket with a Barnett marked lock, only to discover that the gun may have been assembled by Barnett but that few, if any, of the components were actually produced by Barnett. These guns often bear Confederate viewers marks such as the small CH/1 in circle, or one of the lesser known Confederate inspection marks found on Barnett arms like a small script or block JS in a circle or a small SL in a circle. All of these marks are found on the comb of the stock, forward of the buttplate tang, and are approximately the same size.
Until recently the CH/1 mark was one of the more obscure Confederate inspection marks. Initially this mark was thought to refer to Confederate purchasing agent Caleb Huse, but documents contained in the McRae papers clearly indicate that the mark really refers to arms viewers (inspectors) Isaac Curtis & Charles Hughes who were hired by S. Isaac Campbell & Company to inspect arms that had been purchased for the Confederacy. Contained within the McRae Papers is an inspection certification dated September 26, 1861, on which Isaac Curtis attests to his viewing of 75 “2nd Hand” Pattern 1851 Minié Rifles. Clearly the viewers inspected many more arms than those, and this mark is known on Confederate imported Pattern 1853 Rifle Muskets as well as Brunswick rifles with Confederate provenance.
The CH/1 mark is most often encountered on British arms made by (or sold by) Barnett. Another invoice within the McRae papers was sent to John Edward Barnett & Sons on May 26, 1862 for the sum of £46.17s.2d to pay for the viewing services of “Curtis & Hughes” who had inspected guns delivered by Barnett. It appears that Curtis & Hughes also did contract inspections for firms other than Barnett, but their mark is most often associated with Barnett made or delivered arms. Based upon extant examples, it appears that the CH/1 inspection mark was only used during the late summer/fall of 1861 through mid-1862, and this is reinforced by the fact that in 1863 Isaac Curtis himself ran the blockade, taking a position at the Confederate arsenal in Fayetteville, NC.
Even those Barnett arms devoid of documented Confederate inspection marks are often Confederate related arms. Barnett delivered a number of guns, presumably to the Confederacy, that were assembled by other makers, but are marked BARNETT / LONDON in the wood, either on the stock flat opposite the lock or along the toe of the stock. These were clearly guns purchased by Barnett to get a nearly finished order “out the door” as expeditiously as possible. Sometimes the presence of a previously undocumented mark on a Barnett Enfield suggests Confederate use as well and these marks like the script or block JS, and block or script SL in a circle in the same location as the CH/1 mark may refer to speculative arms purchases.
This Confederate Purchased Barnett Pattern 1853 Enfield Rifle Musket is marked with a CH/1 within a circle on the top of the stock comb, forward of the buttplate tang. This is the location that the “furnishers mark” is typically found on guns that were part of the Sinclair, Hamilton & Company “2nd Contract” with the Confederate central government which were the engraved inventory numbered, JS/Anchor marked guns. It is also where other CS inspection marks like the 3rdcontract guns with a JS / {ANCHOR} or the {ANCHOR} / S inspection marks are found.
This Confederate Purchased CH/1 Marked Barnett Pattern 1853 Rifle Musket is in about VERY GOOD condition and shows the heavy wear typical of Confederate arms that saw significant service. The gun is clearly marked on the lock BARNETT / LONDON forward of the hammer, with no additional marks on the lock to the rear of the hammer. The gun was apparently assembled by Barnett but utilized a variety of contractor provided and even imported parts. The exterior of the barrel is marked at the breech with the three usual London commercial proofs; a Provisional Proof, a Definitive Proof and a Definitive View mark. These marks are weak due to flash pitting. “
As noted, the gun is well worn and used, typical of Confederate arms and overall, the gun remains in about VERYGOOD condition. The gun appears to be 100% original to the period and correct in every way. The ramrod appears to be a Confederate substitute with patina matching the entire weapon overall and the rear sight leaf is missing. The gun has no remaining finish and has a thickly oxidized brown patina over most of the metal surfaces. The metal has moderate amounts of surface crust and roughness over its surfaces, with at least some pitting distributed over all of the iron surfaces, and significant deep pitting around the breech and bolster area from percussion cap flash. The erosion in the metal and accompanying wood loss from “burn out” at the bolster suggests that the gun was likely fired thousands of times. This could indicate use both in battle and potentially in the post-war South helping to keep food on the table. The lock of the gun has a moderately oxidized plum brown with a slightly mottled appearance. It matches the balance of the gun perfectly. The markings on the lock remain clear and crisp. The lock remains mechanically functional and the original combination musket front sight and socket bayonet lug is present. The bore of the gun rates about GOOD. The bore is also heavily oxidized, like the exterior of the gun, and shows evenly distributed light to moderate pitting with visible (if weak) rifling along its entire length. The stock is in about NEAR VERY GOOD condition and shows wear and use commensurate with the metal of the gun. The stock is full-length, solid and free of any breaks or repairs. The stock does show scattered bumps, dings and dents in the wood, as would be expected from a well-used 150-year-old military musket.
Overall this is a very attractive attic condition and essentially untouched example of a Civil War era Barnett produced Pattern 1853 Enfield Rifle Musket that bears the CH/1 Confederate inspection mark of Curtis & Hughes. The gun has the great eye appeal of a well-used southern purchased Civil War musket. Other than wiping the gun down with an oily rag to keep the metal from further oxidation or deterioration and taking the gun apart to confirm mating and maker marks, it remains in the same condition as it has likely been in for decades. For a collector looking for a classic example of a Confederate Enfield for their Civil War collection this is a nice opportunity to obtain a solid Southern gun that is complete and correct and is very affordably priced.
