http://weaponsman.com/?p=39583

A couple of bits of misinformation apart, they get good write-ups. I only hope that they get used again, rather than get hidden in a collection far from a range...

tac
Whitworth #888

Well? Where's the picture of yours?

RMD

The only Muzzleloader I have at this point is a Knight UL. When I see Articles like this I think about getting something more traditional.

quote:

Originally posted by rduckwor:
Well? Where's the picture of yours?
RMD

Mine is just an ordinary Parker-Hale replication from 1986. Nothin' special like these two gems.

tac

Lovely rifles, but the author is off-base on the history and use of the military rifles (particularly in regards to the Crimea.)

Wow, lovely

quote:

Originally posted by mesabi:
Lovely rifles, but the author is off-base on the history and use of the military rifles (particularly in regards to the Crimea.)

Indeed he is.

The Crimean War ended in 1856.

The first military trials of the Whitworth rifle were carried out a the School of Musketry, Hythe, in 1857.

It was found to be too finicky in reloading - requires the bullet to be lined up to fit the bore - and prone to fouling in less than four shots.

It also cost around ten times more than the common musket.

None were issued for fighting in colonial wars, certainly not to the Rifle Brigade, who were not deployed on extra-UK duty until the Second Boer War in 1899 -1902.

Some WERE sold to the French [!!!] but they were less than impressed.

The Whitworth rifles that went to the Confederacy were all 'Second Grade' two-band models, and as far as Bill Curtis and DeWhit Bailey can ascertain, less than 100 were actually delivered. They were C-prefix - 450 -550 or thereabouts. They also were devoid of bayonet lugs, and had a very short muzzle protrusion/extra-long nose cap, making the fitting of a bayonet impossible anyhow.

They turn up every now and then - TOTW had once a few years back, but hover around the $100K mark when they do. I know of one that is not only complete with its quartermaster's bill of sale, bill of lading from Liverpool to Charlston and trigger guard hanger, but also the war diary of the young man who shot it for the last couple of years of the WoNA. It has stayed in the same family since those unhappy days. I'm photographed shooting it in Jan Boger's fine book 'Schwarzpulver Digest'.

Now THAT is worth a REAL fortune.

tac

Thanks.

Beautiful rifles. I would have expected them to sell for much more than $8500-$9000, given the scarcity and condition.

quote:

WoNA

You got that right! I salute you sir, for you are an expert! Thanks for the lesson.

RMD