The Enfield Rifle

The immediate cause of the revolt of 1857. The Enfield Rifle.

About the rifle How to reload the rifle Why the rifle sparked discontent The consequences of introducing the rifle.

The Pattern 1853 Enfield Rifle Musket, or P-53 Enfield Rifle, is a percussion-lock rifle that was manufactured in a factory at Enfield near London It started being used in Britain in 1853 It was introduced in India by the British East India Company, under the Bengal army, in 1857 It was a Brobdingnagian improvement over its predecessor, the Brown Bess smooth-bore flintlock musket, as it was far more accurate.

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The cartridge was believed to be greased with the fats of cows, which were sacred to the Hindus, and pigs, which were considered repulsive to the Muslims This was thought to be deliberate in order to convert the sepoys into Christians The cartridge being greased by cow and pig fats was true although it was not intentional by the British.

The use of cow and pig fats caused the sepoys to bitterly resent the Britishers and therefore they started defying their officer's orders to load the rifle and eventually took up arms against them and openly revolted Although there were many causes of the Revolt of 1857, the introducing of the P-53 Enfield Rifle is often considered to be the main and immediate cause.

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