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Afternoon chaps,

After having my black powder appetite wetted last year after a Bisley P53, P56, Snider and Martini day, I have been looking about for a project..

I Just bought what I think is a P1856 Army pattern, iron furniture and very good 5 groove barrel, so post 1860, is that right??

Its a bit battered - If it was a car you were selling you would say "Good condition for year", light pitting on the barrel with no surviving finish, but the bore and action are very good indeed, someone had the presence of mind to oil up the bore some years back , the stock is also in good order, just black with dirt..... it stinks of fags, so I guess a pub wall display rifle at some point.

The lock plate and hammer are really good, with no pitting and virtually all original case hardened finish still present.

After a thorough rebuild (really looking forward to getting out of the office and back into the workshop), its going on my FAC, I feel the need for .577 and smoke! This P56 cost me £250, so I really couldn't let it go!

So what do I need to look out for inparticular with these fine rifles, I guess its prudent to replace the nipple with a modern repro for shooting and whats the best source for parts, repro slings etc

Cheers, John.

I make repro slings for such things

We really need photographs.

Dyson for parts and nipples.

The 56s usually had three groove barrels, .

However private sale guns for volunteers could have wandering "patterns" in their making.

Here is a Bales of Ipswich P56 from my collection.

Three groove, thin barrel.

Sorry for the poor photographs but they were taken a long time ago.

dromia wrote:Dyson for parts and nipples.

...but not Hoover

If it has steel furniture, it is not military issue but a private purchase one.
Fred

FredB wrote:If it has steel furniture, it is not military issue but a private purchase one.
Fred

Pattern 1856 Army short rifle was "iron mounted" but as said should be 3 groove. Volunteer or private purchase post 1861 do vary from "official" spec. The 3 groove didn't shoot as well as the 5 groove so it you bought your own to compete in competitions you got a 5 groove. A bit of Victorian gamesmanship.

Pics when I pick the grand old lady up on monday , It might well be private purchase, more info then, thanks for the pics s of your fine example Adam, really looking forward to restoring her again to live condition and hitting the range ... FAC variation approved obviously.

After doing a bit of reading up over the weekend, it looks like my rifle is a P1860, picking it up later today and will take some pics.

Morning all,

I finally got to pick up the P1860 late last night, (poor phone pic attached, more pics when I get a chance) took it apart and hit my books to gain a little background on its history.

Iron furniture, 5 groove barrel, broadly conforming to P1860 pattern. Private purchase piece, S/n T.* 204 or T.x 204 indistinct due to light surface corrosion

Manufactured/assembled/retailed by JN Dickinson & Son of Edinburgh (Company still active!) Production possibly part of a batch for a local Volunteers regiment, I will look into this and see if they keep any records going back that far.

Barrel made by TT Turner

Stock by James Lorton of Birmingham - appears to have ordnance inspection marks behind the trigger guard. very good order under all the crap, with no splits and only minor knocks

Lock manufacturer seems to be I.R , lightly stamped inside, so not 100% sure.

Birmingham Proof marks under the barrel as per a Civilian piece of the time.

The lock and hammer are in really good order with most surviving finish, all works as it should, bore appears to be in serviceable, shootable condition (subject to a Gunsmith check), barrel surface is lightly corroded and pitted.

So, rebuild to shootable order then I will be asking for guidance from you knowledgeable black powder buffs!

Forgot to add, complete with tompion and snap cap!