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| Pattern 1853 Enfield Rifle |
The Pattern 1853 Enfield Rifle was a muzzle a .577 calibre Maine-type (a French invention allowing rapid loading) muzzle-loading rifle-musket, used by the British Empire introduced in 1853. It had a range of 1,250 yards (1,140 metres).
The ammunition was self contained in a cartridge which had the powder and bullet together in a paper wrapping.
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| Pattern 1853 Cartridge |
To load the rifle soldiers had to bite open the cartridge, pour the gunpowder contained within down the barrel, ram the cartridge (which included the bullet) down the barrel, remove the ram-rod, bring the rifle to the ready, set the sights, add a percussion cap, present the rifle, and fire.
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The Enfield P53 was introduced to Indian troops under British colonization in 1856, and issued to the Sepoys of the British East India Company in 1857. Rumours began to spread that the cartridges were greased with animal fat. The possibility of it being beef offended Hindu's, if it was pork it would offend Muslims. This resulted in the Sepoys in Meerut refusing to perform rifle drills using the cartridge and them being court marshalled.
The Sepoys mutinied on the 10th May 1857 triggering the start Indian Rebellion
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| Indian Sepoy Uniform & Pattern 1853 Enfield Rifle |
