Few Civil War arms carry the appeal of those Confederate control numbered British arms. Although the 30,000 P1853 rifle-muskets delivered by Sinclair, Hamilton, and Company between October 1861 and April 1862. In addition to the 30,000 numbered "long Enfields" the firm also delivered 10,000 "short Enfields".
    The 10,000 numbered "short Enfields" were comprised of a multitude of patterns including the P1856, P1856 number 2 (bar-on-band), P1858, and P1860 rifles. Although each model has some small differences they are all similar in that they feature 33 inch barrels with .577 caliber bores. The furniture on the various models differed; on brass mounted rifles the control number may be found on the top of the butt plate tang, while on iron mounted examples the number is found stamped in the belly of the butt stock.
    In addition to the numbers found on the guns themselves, the ramrods, bayonets, and bayonet scabbards of both rifles and rifle-muskets were also numbered. While both the numbered rifles and rifle-muskets are scarce, their appendages are infinitely more-so.
 
    Offered here is a very nice Confederate numbered scabbard for a "short Enfield". The frog button is clearly numbered 3228. As per Mr. Tim Prince of College Hill Arsenal, the two closest known bayonets are number 3160, which is a P1856 number 2 (bar-on-band) bayonet, and number 3590, a standard P1856.
    Unfortunately the gap in known examples is too wide to say with any certainty what style of bayonet is correct for this scabbard. However, if you have the matching numbered rifle or bayonet there wouldn't be much guess work to do anyways. Given the rarity of numbered Enfield rifles, which is thought to be somewhere around 100 of the original 10,000, this would also pair up nicely with a closely numbered rifle or bayonet.
 
    In any event the leather on this example is in good condition with mo real damage to report other than general stiffness. The iron throat and tip pieces are in good condition and have an attractive dark patina with some areas of a gunmetal gray, mainly on the back of the throat piece. Both are held in place by the original stables; both pieces have some play, but they are still firmly attached. The stitching is intact for about 6 and 1/2 inches from the top down. The remainder has mostly broken. There is a 1/8 to 1/4 inch gap in the seam down its entire length, possibly due to an oversized bayonet being inserted. Despite those issues the scabbard is structurally sound and displays very well.
 
    Unpaired scabbards rarely surface. This is an excellent opportunity to pair your numbered rifle or bayonet with a scabbard. If needed I will be happy to provide detailed measurements to any prospective buyers.