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HI I ran across this pic of a civil war soldier in Co K 22 iowa Inf I know most pics of civil war soldiers they are holding studio props. However my great grandfather was in Co K of the 22 Ia and was in the same battle so i thought I would take a shot at identifying the rifle Patrick Monaghan of 22nd Iowa Infantry Volunteers Left Mark at Black River Bride During Civil War
Well, it looks like a left-handed 2-band Enfield. However, since I never heard of such a thing
(but one can always be surprised!), I wonder if the photo is actually reversed? Is the post-horn badge reversed, or is it the right way around (which would mean it really was a left-handed rifle)?
Patrick
It is an Enfield. The methods of printing photos of that vinage usually result in reversed images.
Looks to be a Tin-plate photo. The image is reverse.
Correct, image is reversed. It is a P53 Enfield, almost certainly the full length Rifle Musket with the 39 inch barrel.
The old photographs were made on either highly polished copper, glass, or iron (tin) coated with the light sensitive photographic solution. Since the picture was the negative view, everything was reversed. This led early historians to come to the conclusion that Billy the Kid was left handed because his holster is on his left side, but in fact he was right handed. The image of him is reversed on the picture. A careful examination also shows that the 1873 Winchester carbine he is holding is also reversed with the loading gate on the left side. There was even an early movie about Billy the Kid called "The Left Handed Gun".
Ditto. By example, here's an ambrotype of myself as a reenactor. This image was taken by a photographer who spends much of his time in the 19th century- literally. He'll travel in a horse drawn wagon taking these photographs which he does with original period equipment using completely original methods and materials. This image is an "ambrotype." Chemicals are on a piece of glass which is then exposed and becomes a negative. The print is made to appear as a regular photo by placing a piece of black velvet behind the glass. Since these are prone to breakage or deterioration if too much exposed to light, they are placed in a closeable case. My case is an original made of gutta percha and covered with embossed leather like a book cover.Quote:
Originally Posted by gew8805
As for the apparent side of things, if you look closely (the original image is much cleaner and clearer) it would appear I have my canteen and haversack on my right and cap pouch and cartridge box on my left- the reverse of normal usage. The image is reversed.
Attachment 14007
Used the free program Irfanview...
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...mbrotype-1.jpg
Maybe not. Back to the drawing board....