1861 Parker Hale Enfield - what's it worth

[goldpelican]

Just saw a 1861 Parker Hale Enfield "musketoon" at a local store for sale. Appears to be unfired with just a few handling marks on the stock from rattling around in gun racks etc. Best I can tell it's a 1970s replica. No accessories, but it includes the steel rod. Not sure if it's a British or Italian manufacture - it looks like Gibbs bought the tooling at some stage so there's modern replicas with the same markings from both England and Italy. The barrel is marked Birmingham though - not sure if the Italian version still says this.

What's a fair price to pay? I don't want to quote what they're asking for it, but I would like it to come down from where it is.

If I do get it, it will lose that unfired status very quickly

Same gun as this one -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1YRWBDHG4uU

 

[desidog]

I've been following these on gunbroker for a while. It seems they go anywhere from $450-800. I'd be interested in one at 3-350; but they don't come along at that price in good shape that often.

 

[Mike OTDP]

If the barrel carries British proof marks, and if the stock has a circular manufacturer's mark on the stock, it's an original Parker-Hale repro. Those will fetch up to $500.

 

[vagunmonkey]

If it's 1970's (i.e. Not Italian) and unfired your in $500-$800 range with $500 being a good deal. The Italian ones are around $450.

 

[goldpelican]

It has the circular stamp on the stock.

Pawn shop is asking $600, will mull it over. It's a choice between that and a bunch of reloading gear I've been saving for.

Just seems like it would be a good first BP rifle - so far I've only used revolvers.

 

[vagunmonkey]

There going to keep making loading gear......not so for an unfired English PH. See if they'll take $500.

 

[4v50 Gary]

I paid $450 for mine (English made) but that was over a decade ago.

 

[Shanghai McCoy]

I' be all over an unfired Parker Hale Enfield musketoon at that price.

 

[goldpelican]

So... are these scarce enough in this condition that if I do get it, I should keep it unfired as a collector piece? I'm not really into safe queens unless it's a genuine original. Can't really see it appreciating in value, it's a modern replica, even if it is 40 years old.

I know the same logic doesn't necessarily apply to say a Colt Signature Series.

 

[Shanghai McCoy]

Me, I'd shoot it. Been wanting one for a hunting muzzleloader for years...

 

[goldpelican]

Good, that was my original school of thought

 

[4v50 Gary]

Concur with you ShanghaiMcCoy. They're short, easy to carry woods gun and with a 535 grain minie propelled by 65 grains FF, pack a good wallop. Mind you, if I was going after bear, I'd want a .58 caliber Kodiak dbl bbl as backup.

 

[vagunmonkey]

Shoot and enjoy it! I have a couple Parker Hales and enjoy shooting them several times a month. I have also sold several of them and don't foresee them appreciating significantly. However, if taken care of, they will hold there value.

 

[goldpelican]

Probably going in tomorrow to bargain.

Were they originally shipped with a bayonet, bullet mold and other accessories? Saw a boxed set like that in Google images. I think this one is literally just the gun with ramrod, but no bayonet etc.

 

[vagunmonkey]

No bayonet, but should have a steel ramrod.

 

[eastbank]

one thing for sure my parker hale carbine would not be for sale for 500.00, not even for 800.00. quality like that is not cheap. i have a italian copy of the rifle and its a very good rifle, but no ware near the parker hale and they go for 500-700 at the shows. zouv rem and springfield used copies go for 400-500 at shows eastbank.

 

[lmstncwby]

All of the Parker-Hales that I have handled were outstanding rifles. They were the Rolls-Royce of the Civil War reenactors groups 30-40 years ago and were roughly twice the cost of a reproduction Springfield rifled musket. Accounting for inflation, the price seems quite fair but I would have the bore scoped to see how it looks. You don't want to buy the proverbial "pig-in-a-poke".

 

[goldpelican]

Got it for $450 plus tax Didn't even have to haggle. Trick seems to be finding one that's been in stock for 2 years.

Bore and breech are shiny bright as the day it was new - never been loaded.

More handling marks on the wood than I would be happy with on a brand new gun, but this does reek quality. It does have the Parker Hale cartouche on the stock but it doesn't really show in the photo.

Going to have to do some reading up on the rear sight though, it's what I would call an elevator sight - do you raise this for 100-200 yards, or leave it laying flat?

 

[Shanghai McCoy]

That's a real god deal ! Good looking gun at a great price.

 

[Mike OTDP]

Well done!

Your best load will probably be 45 grains 3F, behind a Minie sized .001 under bore diameter.

 

[4v50 Gary]

I use 65 grains FF, about the same load as the infantry cartridge of those days.

 

[goldpelican]

Have an order in the cart at Track Of The Wolf - was just going to buy a selection of 575 to 577 minies and see what worked best with 50 to 60 grains. Only seem to be able to get Pyrodex around here, I have some RS (FF) I bought uninformed when first shooting C&B revolvers, so I finally have something I can use it in! Musket caps are going to be the trick, local Bass Pro is always out, so may have to get those via mail order. Really didn't want to convert it to #11 caps.

 

[eastbank]

i use both as i bought cones in both for my cap lock rifles, i noticed no difference in the loads going right off- holy black only. and i found that fff is a little cleaner and that i need less to get the same volicity. notice i don,t shoot magnum loads. eastbank.

 

[vagunmonkey]

Check with your local Bass Pro for Black Powder. Around me they carry it...you have to ask for it at the gun counter as its not kept on display. (they also charge more, about $28 a pound for Goex).

 

[goldpelican]

Will do - the local Bass Pro has a muzzleloading section, but they cater mostly to modern inlines etc with Triple Seven, Pyrodex pellets, sabot bullets etc. Never seen a can of genuine BP there, and they're always out of caps of any style. The only thing they seem to keep behind the counter is 22LR!

Might have to try their "free ship to store" option. Do need to use this Pyrodex up though.