THE LITTLE ENFIELD

[john pike]

Hi,
im looking for infomation concerning a black powder rifle found in the bottom of a very old barn in Maine.
given to me, when i was a kid,

discription.

The Little Enfield

 stamped on the barrel in front of the percussion nipple.

 barrel,
 28inches long to the breach.
tang is 1-3/4 long.
 bore size--with a measuring tape--3/8 of an inch.

stock.
29 inches long.
steel sholderplate.
steel triggergaurd
has a mount on frnt od triggerguard for a sholderstrap?
two steel bands holding barrel to stock.
fron band has steel strap setup "square loop"

from what i can make out it says 70 or 20 with the bottom of the "2" gone, from rust. this is stamped right behind the frint sight mount.

there is no lock n this gun.
i know this decreases the value.

im hopeing someone could point me in a direction of what this gun was used for
how old it could be
and a rough value

thank you
johnp

[crow_feather]

Was it new when given to you or the approx age of the rifle as far as you can tell.  Can you post a picture or a better description?

C F

[threepdr]

The Little Enfield was kid's scale version of the Civil War era Enfield Rifle.  Fully functional and imported and sold during the last quarter of the 1800s.  Many Civil War Vets were familiar with the Enfield and many bought these little guns for their boys.