How Much is a LAC 1861 Snider-Enfield Worth?

Current Market Value of a Snider-Enfield Rifle

So then, how much is a Snider-Enfield rifle worth now?

A .577 Snider-Enfield rifle is worth about $280 to $650, typically.

Condition is usually the big value driver for these guns. The best ones don’t just look good but work well – they can still be fired!

What Affects Snider Enfield Price?

Snider Enfield price is affected by the gun’s condition, its model, its modifications, its provenance, and (as always) market trends.

Let’s talk about each one so you know how they typically influence 577 Snider Enfield value.

Snider-Enfield Rifle Condition

This affects the value of most guns, not just Enfield Snider ones. The rule’s simple. Better condition means higher value.

Antique guns like these will obviously have quite a bit of wear on them in most cases. Still, you can follow this general guide to the condition tiers and their corresponding values:

New or Mint

You almost never find antique guns in this condition. That’s why they get premium pricing – sometimes more than the top end of the price range we gave earlier.

For a Snider Enfield rifle to qualify as being in this condition, it should have no handling, use, or wear marks at all. It should also be perfectly functional.

Excellent

If your Snider rifle is in excellent condition, that means it’s close to perfect but has a few faint wear marks. These still get great prices – around 20% less of what the mint guns get.

Very Good

With only light use and correspondingly light wear marks, these are also highly valued guns. The rifle should lack major blemishes to its finish and can sell for about 30% less of the mint price.

Good

Is your Snider-Enfield a little worn but obviously cared for by the person who used it? Then you’ll be happy to know that its value won’t be too shabby! You can get just around 40% less than what a mint gun gets.

Fair

Fair-condition antique guns have obvious scratches and wear that tell people they weren’t stored or maintained properly. They should still lack issues like broken mechanisms and the like, though. Expect just about 50% of mint value for these.

Poor

A damaged, broken, possibly “Frankensteined” gun with various replaced parts is in poor condition. Don’t expect too much for these. In all likelihood, you’ll get much less than 50% of what a mint-condition one would.

The Snider-Enfield Models or Variants

There are several Snider-Enfield models found in the market. Depending on the market trends and current availability, the value for any one of them can go up accordingly.

Snider-Enfield Long Rifle

This is probably the most common Snider-Enfield. It sports a 36.5” barrel and can be further sorted into three variants:

• Mark I Snider-Enfield - The first version. All of these were originally muzzle-loading Pattern 1853 rifles before being converted into Snider breech-loaders.
• Mark II Snider-Enfield - This was also a conversion of the Pattern 1853 rifle. It introduced a few improvements to the breech mechanism.
• Mark III Snider-Enfield - The final version, entering production around 1869. These came out of the factory as breech-loaders, as opposed to the Mark 1 and Mark II.

Many of the historical collectors who prefer chiefly to display them seek the Mark I or II rifles. Those who actually want to fire them often tend to look for Snider Enfield Mark III guns.

Value: Around $280 to $650 unless it’s from the earliest years of production, in which case add 10% to 20%.

Snider-Enfield Short Rifle

The Long Snider was already shorter than the original Pattern 1853 on which it was based. The Short Enfield further shortened it, cutting the barrel down to 33” only.

To make up for that reduction, the barrel was also redesigned with things like two extra grooves and a tighter twist rate. This kept it effective despite its size.

These were often issued to sergeants of line infantry and their sergeants. Look for two barrel bands instead of the long version’s three.

Value: Around $280 to $650.

Snider-Enfield Artillery Carbine

The Artillery Snider Carbine had an even shorter barrel than the Short Snider! It went down to 21” and also used two barrel bands.

Because this is a little bit rarer than the Snider-Enfield Long Rifle, it may also sell for more. The price difference usually isn’t large, however, at just about 10% more.

Value: Around $300 to $700.

Snider-Enfield Cavalry Carbine

Continuing the trend of listing models in ever shorter barrels, we come to the Cavalry Snider Carbine. This shortens the barrel again to just 19.5” and sports a half-stock, to boot. It also has only one band on the barrel.

Like the Cavalry model, it’s a little bit rarer too. So, it can get a slightly higher price than its full-sized (rifle) cousins as well.

Value: Around $300 to $700.

Snider-Enfield Rifle Modifications

Here’s a thing that can seriously affect the value of a Snider Enfield breech loading rifle. How modified is it?

Follow the simple rule: the less modified the gun, the better.

It’s especially true of antique guns like these, where a lot of the value comes from their historical significance. Collectors generally want these to be original and authentic.

That means any of these can reduce the 577 Snider Enfield value:

• Alterations to the rifle - Examples include cut-downs of the barrel, modern engraving, or modern carving.
• Excessive restoration - An example of this would be a complete refinishing of either the metal or wooden parts, especially one that adds a new tint or look. Simple cleaning and maintenance is fine, however.
• Elements that are not Snider Enfield parts - An example is adding aftermarket parts or third-party replacements.

What value drop can you expect? It really depends on how severe the modification is.

Just remember that the highest prices are for great-condition original guns. If you even add things like the original bayonets and 577 Snider Enfield ammo, you can get 10% to 20% more!

Snider-Enfield Rifle Provenance

It shouldn’t surprise anyone that proof of an antique gun’s history can boost value. Here are some things that may let you bump up the price by at least 10%.

• A documented history of the gun having been owned by a notable figure.
• Clear and verifiably authentic markings indicating significant military unit use.