I have seen a lot of talk on various forums about the Enfields made by Loyalist Arms. I was wondering if anyone can tell me more about them? Anyone that has actually handled one and examined one for instance.  

I have read the website and a lot of talk online as well. What I'd like to know, without a lot of nonsense and slurs, is how they compare to what was brought over during the ACW.

Mod hat on for just a moment, just a reminder to everyone and echo Bernie, please keep the discussion to exact facts and not speculation or heresay. I.e. if there is an issue please be very specific. I just don't want this to break down into a "they're great" vs. "they're junk" discussion.  

--Last edited by toptimlrd on 2007-06-14 21:15:38 --

The first rifle I bought, comming into the hobby, was a repop Enfield. Then, I started looking at and handling originals. The work was too much and the cost was too great to try to get it where I wanted, for what I wanted to do. Finally, frustration set in and I swapped it for a de-farbed Springfield. And, for a guy who does some gunsmith work and some serious gunstock refinishing as another "hobby," I must say, I thought it was just not cost effective to try to get that Enfield to look like an original, they were way to different. (for details, see the authentic-cmpaigner website)

That being said. I don't know anyone who owns any brand of repro Enfield who isn't happy with the way it preforms in the field. As a Sergeant, I see less mis-fires with Enfields. I always hear how much easier they are to clean and maintain from the guys who own them.

Your best answer is going to come from someone who owns one. Remember, always, you get what you pay for.

I guess I was no help in making your purchase, was I?

BTW, if you stick a dry patch around the tulip end of an Enfield rammer and shove it down a dry gun barrel and sometimes a wet gun barrel, nearly every time, baaaad things happen.  

--Last edited by grumpydave on 2007-06-15 12:47:36 --

Quote :

GrumpyDave wrote : BTW, if you stick a dry patch around the tulip end of an Enfield rammer and shove it down a dry gun barrel and sometimes a wet gun barrel, nearly every time, baaaad things happen.

Grumpy,

Funny you should mention that. I had my Model M-42 Springfield at Mr. Zimmerman's, in Harper's Ferry, just yesterday. I had to get a jag, patch, and the broken off end of a cleaning rod removed from said weapon. After twenty years in the Hobby, it was bound to happen sometime!  

Thanks Dave for your reply, any serious discussion/info was what I was looking for.  Bob, thank you for your input as well.  It is so darn hard to get any real comparative info.  Too many are too ready to jump on the soap box for some sort of tirade.  It gets tiring.  Sorry we didn't get a chance to meet at Resaca, maybe in the future.  Perhaps Atlanta in the fall.

If you go to the A-C Forum, there's a ton of discussion concerning the Loyalist Lorenze, but nothing about their .69 cal weapons. I really like the look of their M-1840 cone in barrel conversion. Has anyone seen or own one of these weapons?

For me, the .62 cal smoothbore barrel is a deal breaker concerning the Lorenze; but, the .69 smooth bore weapons are correct for what they were. As an aside, the photo's on the Loyalist website are not real clear, so it's tough to get a feeling of how well the weapons are made.

Bill, I've read the post on the A-C about the Lorenz and the Enfield from Loyalist Arms.  The reaction there is what I've come to expect.  I've been involved in the hobby for only a few months and try to gather info any place I can.  What I've seen on that forum is why I came and asked here and other places.  Seems like any mention of Loyalist Arms weapons devolves rather quickly into "what is wrong with them".  I am looking for some objective opinions on these weapons.  My company in the 25th was equipped with Enfields from the start and it will be what I purchase.  I'm looking at all possibilities for maunfacturers and would am hoping to find some real discussion, not just bashing.  Any repro will have points that differ from the originals, I'd just like to know what they are.  Then I can make an informed purchase.  That's pretty important to me, especially since the cost of the weapons is so high.  I do appreciate you taking time to answer.  Thank you.

Bill,

A thread entitled “Loyalist Arms cone In Barrel 1835/40 musket” is located on the second page of the Authenticity Discussion section on the Authentic Campaigner

Thanks Curtis.

Personally, here's where I'd buy. I've read all of his personal research(lost in my old computer). And there's some good information here.

http://members.bellatlantic.net/~vze3jhwa/

Curtis, please, don't shop price alone.

Thanks for the heads up.  You are much kinder than the other person from whom I received advice.  One of our unit members, who is also the legit in-house gun guru, has given me a sho nuff scolding about prices.

I am the proud owner of one of the Company Quartermaster's Enfield rifles. Mine was purchased before they offered the blued option. I had mine reblued at Zimmerman's in Harper's Ferry. I already own three armory bright weapons and didn't need a forth. The only thing wrong with the weapon, when I got it, was the alignment between the hammer and cone. I had John Zimmerman fix that problem while he had the weapon, so I have no idea how well the Company Quartermaster would have responded to my complaint.

I can't say how well the weapon functions, It has never been shot live, or at an event with blanks. The barrel bluing is so pretty, I haven't wanted to risk scratching it with a socket bayonet. Yeah, I know. Really weird, but what can I say.  

When purchasing a repop weapon, probably the most important thing is to insure that the hammer/cone alignmnet is correst. The hammer should hit the cone dead center and flush. Anything else and you are looking for problems with caps breaking up.

And, "Breakin" up is hard to do."

I have a MIDDLESEX VILLAGE TRADING POST Import enfield.  It is a bit different than the Loyalist one but cheaper in price $329 & 25 shipping last I saw.  Compared to my pals Armi-Sport it has a better stock profile, came with the correct square lock screw washers instead of incorrect rounded end ones.  Correct front swivel not the offset one used by Armi & Euroarms.  NO markings at all on barrel to remove. Weight is closer to originals. Ok the things that need corrected...ramrod was blued and blueing was so good white vinager or naval jelly hardly touched it.  Friend used acid to get it off.  Bottom and middle bands are type 4 as on Euroarms or LA guns but upper one with swivel is ok.  I replaced them with Armi sport bands.  Rear swivel as on Armi & euroarms is wrong and I replaced it.  Lock as on all repro enfields is marked wrong.  It seems they used an 1842 Tower plate as their guide to mark as they put crown in front of hammer as on the 42's.  Also says tower which should be behind hammer on 42 plate and Enfield which is wrong.  No repro plate fits the opening, I tried London Armoury and Armi Sport ones and they are a bit too small.  Todd Watts is going to remark plate for me and add barrel proofs and stock cartouche.  I like it better than an Armi Sport and repro sutler bought bayonet fit like a charm with no grinding at all!!  Jim Hensley

Jim,

Is the Middlesex Village Enfield rifled?  

Bill,

The Middlesex Village Trading Companie website states their Enfields are smoothbores:

http://www.middlesexvillagetrading.com/MENF.shtml

Any further discussion about that product?  

So far no one has walked up and stuck his eye to end of my barrel and said "hey its not rifled".  Looks better than the farby Armi-sports with their 1853 bogus markings and other imperfections.  Besides Armi-Sport is selling smoothbore versions of the 53 enfield & 1861 Springfield according to sale flyer I got this week from Dixie Gun Works.  The smoothbore is $70 less than rifle.  Will be seeing more & more of them...Jim Hensley

Jim, thank you for your posts.  That is the sort of info I was hoping to find.  I would prefer to be as correct as possible in my impression and any way I can save money on the big ticket items, especially the rifle, allows me to get better equipment all around.

What caliber is the Middlesex Enfield?  I believe Loyalist Arms has theirs in .62 caliber.  Where did you get the parts when you replaced the ones you did?

Your information is very much appreciated.

Thanks

Quote :

militiaman1835 wrote : So far no one has walked up and stuck his eye to end of my barrel and said "hey its not rifled"....Jim Hensley

Jim,

You are right, nobody has ever looked down my rifle barrel but me. Problem is, when I look down that barrel, of what is supposed to be a rifle, I do indeed expect to see rifling.

We all have our own ideas of what is important and what isn't.  

Look at your lock plate and if it says 1853 like the Armi's & Euroarms then thats just as bad in my opinion because 1858 is earliest date you will find on a type 3.  JIM HENSLEY