2 Band Volunteer .577" Enfield Musket by G W Bales

dromia · Post by **dromia** » Sun Jul 03, 2005 1:30 pm

Well I bought the lady and I am very pleased, she is excellent condidtion for her age, around 150 years old.

Indeed it is a classic Enfield and a slight departure for me from metallic cartridge rifles into the realm of black powder. I've dabble with the coal dust all my life but this is the first serious BP rifle I've ever had.

The bore seems near mint with 5 grooves and the nipple seems original or at least period.

Need to get her on ticket before I can see how she shoots and I'm really looking forward to trying her at long range.

Here's some photographs of the girl and any info on the rifle is much appreciated as this outside my ken.

Once again thanks to the Gunrunners for locating a first rate example of type, they've got to be the best gun finders in the country.

Overall shots:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/1003/ ... field1.jpg[/pic]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/1003/ ... field2.jpg[/pic]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/1003/ ... field8.jpg[/pic]

Bayonet lug:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/1003/ ... ield11.jpg[/pic]

Proof marks:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/1003/ ... field3.jpg[/pic]

The lock:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/1003/ ... ield12.jpg[/pic]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/1003/ ... field9.jpg[/pic]

Rear sight:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/1003/ ... field4.jpg[/pic]

Loading end:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/1003/ ... field5.jpg[/pic]

Its got a big bore:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/1003/ ... field6.jpg[/pic]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/1003/ ... field7.jpg[/pic]

Finally makers marks:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/1003/ ... ield14.jpg[/pic]

Any one know anything about G W Bales?

Brian the Brit · Post by **Brian the Brit** » Sun Jul 03, 2005 1:58 pm

Oooooooh, you jammy bugger! Welcome to the black arts.

That is an unbelievably beautiful rifle, Adam, a fine example of what many consider to be the absolute epitome of the muzzle-loading service rifle. She should be reasonably accurate to about 600 yards and an absolute hoot to shoot. Just follow Bill Curtis' advice and you won't go far wrong.

Congratubloodylations. You clearly have more spawn than Kermit.

Yours, just a smidgin jealous,

Brian

Brian the Brit · Post by **Brian the Brit** » Sun Jul 03, 2005 2:11 pm

Here's my repro by way of contrast.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/1003/ ... 58lock.jpg[/pic]

This is what it shoots. Note difference between Lee Minié and the better Parker hale version with the flat nose.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/1003/ ... eballs.jpg[/pic]

And this is what it does at 50 yards. One advantage is that with holes that big you don't need a spotting scope.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/1003/ ... argets.jpg[/pic]

Mine shoots high and to the right and aiming off is the only solution as the sights are not adjustable for windage.

Have fun.

Brian

joseyclosey · Post by **joseyclosey** » Sun Jul 03, 2005 2:59 pm

VERY VERY nice adam, congratulations. What a belter of a rifle, the gunrunners have certainly come up trumps again.

Joe

PeterN2 · Post by **PeterN2** » Sun Jul 03, 2005 6:47 pm

That rifle does look nice. A shop not far from me has two 2 band volunteer rifles for sale. One by Pritchard priced at £1200 and one by Burnand of Newcastle for £1350. I don't know if they are as nice as yours though. They also have a 3 band by W Greener for £650. Maybe I ought to go and have a look.

Regards

Peter.

Aughnanure · Post by **Aughnanure** » Sun Jul 03, 2005 7:12 pm

Congratulations Adam, Welcome to the fold where "The smell of black powder is sweet and the hickory ramrod hath charm" Dunno who said that but he was right!!

Re the nipple, the original nipples are a double cone internally and the lower cone allows pressure into the nipple and tends to expand the threaded section tighter into the threads in the nipple seat.

Have seen modern nipples with flat bases blown out of the gun and in one case where a Calisher and Terry nipple blew out, the hammer flew off and the tumbler sheered off flush with the lock plate. The C&T nipple has a very fine hole to concentrate the blast so as to pierce the paper cartridge with reliability. In the C&T the nipple seat has a corresponding fine hole into the barrel.

I'm sure youll have lots of fun.

Eoin.

bradtx · Post by **bradtx** » Sun Jul 03, 2005 11:07 pm

Adam, I haven't the foggiest idea of what Eoin is talking about...I hope you do. Lovely rifle!

take Care, Brad

Tom-May · Post by **Tom-May** » Mon Jul 04, 2005 2:20 am

Adam,

I hope she shoots as well as she looks (and she look beautiful).

I am sooooooo jealous - It's many years since I burned charcoal, and I was a lousey shot, but it was FUN.!

Enjoy.

Tom

Aughnanure · Post by **Aughnanure** » Mon Jul 04, 2005 3:57 am

What I was after sayin'is that the original Enfield nipples were designed NOT to blow out of the gun. So forget the modern improvements in nipple design (except for hard wearing material) and go with the original design.

Eoin.

mozark · Post by **mozark** » Mon Jul 04, 2005 5:48 am

Absolutely spectacular, Adam. The rose petals are a nice touch.

Michael

2 Band Volunteer .577" Enfield Musket by G W Bales

2 Band Volunteer .577" Enfield Musket by G W Bales

2-Band Enfield - Woo hoo!

My "lets pretend" 2-band

Enfield

Enfield

spectacular