[William C Champlin]

I just got an 1853 three-band Enfield rifle from the cache recently uncovered in nepal. My first impression was " wow".
My next was " wow, this thing is dirty". It appears in better shape than the one pictured on the International Military Antiques website ima-usa.com . The stock is not in pristine shape, having a few small worm holes and a few nicks in it, but it is much nicer than their example. The only real damage that I can see is a slightly bent trigger guard and a bent and somewhat corroded ramrod. The bore looks very good to me. This is a gift to a friend who is in to black powder weapons. I'll see if I can re-size some photos later.
Pretty nice for 150 plus years old, W.

[Lin Robinson]

[William C Champlin]

Here are few pictures of the rifle. Remember it's as delivered with no cleaning yet. I'm giving this as a project to a buddy who is being transferred to a new post. W.

[Robin Palmer]

Hi william.

Nice rifle if in need of a little TLC good luck with that. The photos doesn't show how many bands it has the reason I ask is the 1853 had three the 1859 had two beyond they the were identical.

[William C Champlin]

It's a three band. Somehow I managed to miss that detail in my photos. W.

[Victor Lavenstein]

Actually, with the huge crop of fake Martinis making the rounds of internet auctions (and being hawked as the genuine article by certain large retailers) the Martinis offered by IMA/Atlanta Cutlery are the best bet, in terms of value and condition, for someone wanting a genuine British-made gun. Most of the purchasers I know have been happy... and in spite of the sellers caveats, the rifles are by and large quite serviceable. The 1880s short levers and Mark IV long-levers are likely to be in the best shape. IMA/AC offer special selection and, best of all... if the gun they send you has problems, you can return it. I received one of the first IMA Martinis... it turned out to be a MK IV with a short lever and butt attached. I sent it back, and received a very nice proper 1886 BSA MKII. These guns do require a certain degree of cleaning, particularly where the bore is concerned. I do not work for IMA/AC and don't mean to sound like a representative, but there are a lot of people buying crudely-made, misshapen, blued-within-an-inch-of-their-lives counterfeits marked VR 1913 ACAC in .303 British, thinking they have the genuine article. Such weapons are made of uncertain materials and without regard to specs and tolerances, are most likely made within the last ten years and are positively dangerous to shoot.
Muskets like the one in this topic, and the Nepalese manufactured Martini copies on offer for under $300 are a different proposition... they are in rough shape, have not been given any initial clean-up and are clearly advertised as such. They are project guns, not for the faint of heart. Unlike the British Martinis, the P53 Muskets, as first offered at around $500, had a reputation for being trashed and not worth the price. I think the current offer is an attempt to clear some of this stock.

Victor