Crate of Blockade-Runner Rifles Found at Charleston-- Part 1

From the December 18, 2013, Civil War Picket Blog "rare crate of Civil War rifles yields picture of daring Civil War blockade runner" by Phil Gast.

A carefully-constructed box of British-made Enfield rifles which were sunk along with the CSS Stono (former USS Isaac P. Smith) in Charleston Harbor on June 5, 1863.  The time capsule consists of Pattern 1853 Enfield rifle muskets.

There are twenty of them (the Enfields were the second-most widely used rifles during the war, second only to the Springfields).  There are only three-known intact cases of the single-shot weapon known to exist.

The iron rifle bands, locks and bayonets are heavily deteriorated from the over 150-years submerging in salt water..  But the walnut stocks are in "tremendous shape."  Brass components like the butt plates, trigger guards and nose caps are in good shape.

--Old B-Runner