72 G&A october 2019 | rifle of the future
all-things-military, had espoused the view that the British soldier
should be equipped with the most up-to-date material, so it was
not difficult for Master General of the Ordnance Marquess of Ang-
lesey, to convince Arthur the Iron Duke to take a look at the Minié.
His main stipulation was that the weight of the new bullet should
match that of the current musket ball, and the cartridges should
be as close to the same weight as possible. Also, the arm was to be
of standard musket configuration and issued to all regiments, thus
differentiating it from the unique styles carried by rifle regiments.
Extensive testing was carried out using Belgian and French Minié
rifles; the former was supposedly especially favored by the British
and the one used as a starting point for their own rifle musket.
In 1851, it was decided to officially adopt the Minié. While
the British Pattern 1851, as it was called, was supposedly based
on Continental arms, it in fact adhered very much to the English
style, looking almost identical to the Pattern 1842 smoothbore
which it was to replace. Though slightly lighter build than the ’42,
caliber was .702. The 39-inch, 1:78 twist, four-grooved barrel was
secured to its full-length walnut stock by a trio of bolts or “barrel
keys.” Furniture was brass and overall length was 55 inches. In
place of the P42’s simple fixed rear notch, the P51 was fitted with
a sophisticated ladder-style back sight graduated to 900 yards.
The Pattern 1851 was set up to take a 17-inch bladed-
triangular socket bayonet which affixed to the barrel by means of
the Pattern 1851
(center) in the
company of its
predecessor the
Pattern 1842 (top),
and successor,
the Pattern 1853
“enfield” (bottom).
the Pattern 1851 bayonet was secured in the
manner of the Pattern 1842 by a combination
of the front sight and a lovell (spring) Catch.
Note, the bayonet shown here for demonstra-
tion purposes is for a P42 which has slightly
different socket dimensions and zig-zag
channel than that of the P51. Some P42s were
altered to the new configuration. original P51
bayonets are very difficult to come by.
lock markings indicate this
rifle was manufactured in
1852, the first year of pro-
duction. “toWer” indicates
where it was inspected and
parts gauged. the crown
above the initials ”V.r.” is the
royal cypher designating Victo-
ria Regina for the Queen.
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