Deceptive Marking

The mark “Tower” on an Enfield-type arm was apparently used more or less to deceive Northern purchasers as well as those of the South. It apears handstamped, without fixed location, on the locks forward of the hammer. The date may be either above or below the mark or, indeed, on some other part of the lock entirely. So far as can be determined, several of the Birmingham Gun Trade used “Tower” locks promiscuously on rifles and rifle muskets which they assembled for export. The export “Enfield” generally can be told from those made for the British Government, by the absence of the Broad Arrow mark on lockplate and barrel breech. Those barrels which bear the provisional (Fig. 10), the number 25 for gauge mark, then the definitive view mark (Fig. 11), another 25, and the definitive proof mark (Fig. 12), all Birming-

Enfield cartridge’s powder was held in smaller bag inside larger one. Bullet held wood plug supposed to be driven forward by force of explosion to expand lead into rifling, but later simple cavity was found to work as well. ‘Tail” was folded over in rolling cartridge, later torn off with teeth to pour powder into bore. Bullet end of loaded round was dipped in hot wax mixture of mutton tallow and beeswax as lubricant; the paper acted as patching.

ham Gun Barrel Proof House marks, may be assumed to be commercially exported rifles made for sale abroad. The presence of such barrels on Enfield arms found in the United States which have “country origins,” such as many of the rustier ones that turn up in the Middle West, may be assumed to be United States or Confederate Enfields, regardless of makers marks, with some exceptions.
A Birmingham short rifle seems to fall into this class of arm. Marked “TOWER” beneath “1861” it has proofs as above. The barrel maker was Beasley & Son. Inside, the lock maker’s mark arcs about the boss for retaining the mainspring fixed leaf: spittle & bros. The lock, inside, above the fixed leaf and upside down, is stamped with the same small w & sometimes found on other small parts, such as sight bases. The actual fitter-up, dg, marked stock between side nails, lock above fixed leaf, and barrel underside. Barrel and breech screw both are marked 2 but the barrel bayonet lug is boldly stamped 11. The ramrod groove bears the small stamps of workmen and stock maker, but they are unclear.