I Have This Old Gun: British Snider Enfield

by
posted on August 11, 2022
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **

From the mid- to late-19th century, many armies around the globe went through similar processes of upgrading from muzzle-loading to breech-loading service rifles. By the 1860s, the muzzleloading rifle had reached its pinnacle, with models that were well-designed and made for the era. However, the advent of breechloading mechanisms and self-contained cartridges meant that the muzzleloader was obsolete on future battlefields. Thus, many nations rapidly sought stopgap measures to gain breechloading service rifles by converting existing muzzleloaders.

A view of the breech bolt of a Snider-Enfield converted Pattern '53 opened, revealing the chamber.
A view of the breech bolt of a Snider-Enfield converted Pattern '53 opened, revealing the chamber.

The same was true for the British, which had developed by that point the Pattern 1853 Enfield rifle-musket. This pattern of rifle-musket was widely popular and used extensively around the world at the time, to include use by both northern and southern forces during the American Civil War. During the war, an American inventor, Jacob Snider, developed a breech-block conversion for conventional rifle-muskets.

A view of the breech bolt of a Snider-Enfield converted Pattern '53 opened, revealing the chamber.
A view of the breech bolt of a Snider-Enfield converted Pattern '53 opened, revealing the chamber.

This system incorporated a large breech block that would close over a chamber added to the breech portion of a converted musket. The block contained a firing pin, activated by the existing percussion hammer. The block was attached via a hinged pinion on the right side of the receiver, allowing it to be pulled up and to the right to open the chamber. For extraction, the breech could be pulled rearward, moving an extractor which pulled on the rim of the early metallic cartridges used.

Firing a Snider Enfield breechloading rifle on the range.
Firing a Snider Enfield breechloading rifle on the range.

While the United States military did not select Snider's design, the British selected it as a conversion for the Pattern '53 in 1866. This conversion allowed existing Pattern '53 Enfield rifle-muskets to be cheaply and relatively easily converted into single-shot, breechloading rifles. A .577-cal. metallic-cased cartridge was specifically designed for these converted breechloaders, making them far easier to fire and reload in rapid fashion compared to their muzzleloading counterparts. The Snider-Enfield rifles and carbines served extensively throughout the British Empire up until 1874, when the Martini-Henry began to phase it out. It remained in reserved use with the British up into the 1890s, and usable specimens can still be found on the surplus market today.

To watch complete segments of past episodes of American Rifleman TV, go to americanrifleman.org/artv. For all-new episodes of ARTV, tune in Wednesday nights to Outdoor Channel 8:30 p.m. and 11:30 p.m. EST.

Latest

springfield armory kuna
springfield armory kuna

Springfield Kuna: A PDW For The Masses

Small, yet fierce, the namesake of Springfield Armory’s latest large-format pistol is a revered forest dweller in the land of its Croatian manufacturing partner, HS Produkt. The new Kuna is poised to be just as welcome in America.

The Armed Citizen® June 30, 2025

Read today's "The Armed Citizen" entry for real stories of law-abiding citizens, past and present, who used their firearms to save lives.

Book Review: Clockwork Basilisk: The Early Revolvers Of Elisha Collier & Artemas Wheeler

The result of a decade of research, Clockwork Basilisk is a comprehensive, two-volume history of the rare revolvers that preceded the development of the well-known Colt guns of the 1830s.

Preview: 1791 Gunleather Cobra Gun Belt 01

Employing the same rugged and rigid 0.25"-thick American steerhide as 1791 Gunleather’s original Gun Belt 01, the new Cobra Gun Belt 01 offers enhanced ease of use by taking advantage of a high-strength Cobra quick-latch/release buckle.

NRA CEO Hamlin and President Bachenberg Hold First Virtual Townhall

In the interests of transparency, NRA CEO and EVP Doug Hamlin and NRA President Bill Bachenberg held a live Townhall event, where both answered direct questions from NRA members.

Benelli Adds New 28-Gauge Models to Super Black Eagle 3 Line

Benelli initially introduced the 28-ga. chambering to its Super Black Eagle 3 line in 2022, but this year, the company added three new models tailored specifically to hunters.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.