SERIAL NUMBER C747. Remember that of the 13,700 Whits made, only 250 of those were bought by the CSA, and possibly. Un fusil chargement par la bouche un coup avec une excellente prcision longue porte pour son poque, en particulier lorsqu'il est utilis avec une lunette de vise, le fusil Whitworth tait . The trigger guard is marked "2nd QUALITY" behind the trigger. Ive seen that quote as: It might have been Armstrong , nor Whitworth. Also, you mentioned a wad, what did it look like? See Measuring Accuracy which explains Figure of Merit and includes the original report from the Times newspaper with the Enfield / Whitowrth results. Situated in Funkstown, Md., this home was in the path of the Confederate retreat from Gettysburg. How it would affect accuracy? In October, 2017, another rare surviving Confederate scoped 2nd Quality Whitworth rifle (SN C544) reportedly sold at auction for $161,000. CIVIL WAR Antique WHITNEY Model 1855/1861 Rifle-MUSKET with HIGH HUMP LOCK Scarce MILITIA Musket Used by the STATE of MARYLAND Here we present an antique Whitney Variant Model 1855/1861 percussi .Click for more info. & M.W. They had been given orders By General Lee a couple of months prior to arm themselves with the latest rifle that the Union Army was using, I assume the 1863 Springfield, which they felt had a much longer range than the 1861 Springfield, the Enfield, or anything else the Confederate infantryman happened to be shooting. Our Price: sold. One curious thing is the number of Whitworth bullets shown that seem to be simple cylinders. They didnt bother testing the Enfield at this distance. This rifle became well reputed for its dependability, accuracy, and effective range. could afford a WW. Commentdocument.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id", "a714e7cc3e5d85cfa32448f99d4f13b0" );document.getElementById("f4f0d58121").setAttribute( "id", "comment" ); Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. The document is a receipt dated 16 June 1864 for the following items that were sent to Richmond from the Macon Arsenal: "6 Whitworth Rifles, 12 Telescopic Sights (1 broken), 4 Moulds for W Rifles, 6 Gun Slings, 8 Scouting Rifles, 1 Arms Chest, Packing Box". It is said that during testing, the gun was fired by Queen Victoria who made 400 yard shots with it. Powder Flask/Combination Tool (Michael Williams and Doug Wicklund). Markings on the mold would indicate the caliber and bullet weight. To do this well all parts must have accurately located holes and countersinks. It was built to make shots at impossibly long distances, sometimes up to 2,000 yards or more four times as far as the standard musket of the day. Once he finished that design work, the gun was put into [], Pom-Pom was the name given to the 37mm Maxim gun by the Boers of South Africa, based on the guns sound. The results were striking. 52 bore, .451 cal, with Whitworth's distinctive hexagonal bore. A limited amount of Whitworth ammunition was imported in the form of loaded cartridges and projectiles prepared in British factories. The trigger guard is marked "2nd QUALITY" behind the trigger. Sedgwick was no stranger to enemy bullets, having been wounded several times prior to Spotsylvania. Roughly 30% of a recoilless guns powder charge launches the projectile, the other 70% provides the counterweight that keeps the gun from moving. During the American Civil War, the sharpshooters who fought were equipped with. Breech loaders were in their infancy at this time so there were a lot of mechanical difficulties with the breech mechanism on the gun. No way a private making $13 mo. Whitworth made a 12-pounder breechloading field gun on the hexagonal bore principle; http://civilwarwiki.net/wiki/12_pdr._Whitworth_Breechloading_Rifle. As an accurate target gun, the Whitworth had few peers; but it was handicapped in the front lines by comparison to the Enfield with the Whitworths more frequent need for regular maintenance. The cylindrical expand to fit the hex bore on firing the rifle. The committee fired the guns at variable distances and, for the Whitworth, used both smooth cylindrical and hexagonal bullets. But now because we averaged the radial distances, that 9 inch circle only contains approximately 50% of the shots fired. There are 19 SNs known on scoped 2nd Quality Whitworth rifles. Read Tennants The Story of the Guns page 58 for the details. It can be assumed that upon their receipt the guns were disassembled and received whatever cleaning and maintenance was needed before they were re-issued for use in the field by the Army of Northern Virginia. The Springfield Model 1861 was the most prolific rifle in the American Civil War, wielded extensively by Union troops. The Federal govt was just too cheap. Other than in museums and choice private collections, not many exist. It has the original sights and ram rod. Does it mean that flanks of bullet were in helical form, as speculated before? Generals Grant and Meade rode by and asked if he wanted to travel along the lines. This isnt fiction. Im not sure why this is, but I can speculate a little: 1) The bullets were not really truly hexagonal, but more like a cylinder with flattened surfaces, with some rounding between the flats (i.e. Oops! Taking some other correspondence into account, at least 38 Whitworth Rifles can be accounted for in Confederate hands during late June of 1864, suggesting the total number imported may have reached 50 or so rifles. For most arms collectors a British military Whitworth rifle or a civilian Military Match Rifle is as close as they will ever get to owning the nearly mythical Confederate Whitworth. The Whitworth rifle claimed the lives of quite a few members of the Northern Armyartillerists, officers, and generals alike. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polygonal_rifling The ramrod is not present. Likewise, there is now some speculation that a few may . Civil war use Subscribe to receive our weekly newsletter with top stories from master historians. Shipping costs are provided with your finalized invoice 24-48 hours after auction. When it was found it was wrapped in a blanket with a disintegrating folded leather Union officer's sword belt and a "Peterson 75" non-regulation imported US Model 1850 Staff & Field Officer's Sword. Edwards, the Military Storekeeper at the Richmond Arsenal. Locking into the bores grooves as a screw does threads, Whitworths bullet possessed an unprecedented twist rate when fired. The Whitworth was more lightweight than other long-range rifles of the time and used a more compact bullet, which contributed to the weapons accuracy. But its been a while since I read it, so there might be something in there. As a true Confederate Whitworth, however, this is an extremely rare and historically relevant rifle! Most every other gun during this time period were muzzle loaders. Its designer, Joseph Whitworth, owner of the Whitworth Rifle Company, sold it to the Confederate States during the American Civil War. Imported from England by both North and South, only the Confederacy actively used these unique guns in the field. [quote style=boxed float=left]Besides its greater accuracy, the Whitworth was more powerful than the Enfield[/quote]. I used to call the hexagon calibrered artillery pieces Armstrong-Whitworths, which I now discover is wrong. Most every other gun during this time period were muzzle loaders. Interestingly, the Whitworth and Armstrong breech systems were remarkably like some used on recoilless rifles during the World War 2 period. Extremely Rare Confederate Imported Whitworth Sharpshooters Rifle #B902 52-Bore (.451 caliber). Serial number C747. Having opposite sides paralleled makes things easier to draw and check. That may be due to the photography, or mis-identification, but I wonder if simple bullets were used in a Whitworth gun, and how much accuracy was lost by doing so. At CW battle sites many more cylindricals have been found. Missing the rear sight elevating ladder and ramrod. Simply amazing. Other correspondence includes orders to transport 6 Whitworth Rifles with their scopes and accessories from the Mobile Arsenal to Brigadier General James Cantey on 12 June 1864 and various Ordnance Reports, primarily from the Army of Tennessee that indicate at least 32 Whitworth Rifles can be documented in the hands of the Army of Tennessee and Army of Mississippi in late June of 1864. It was far more expensive than the Enfield Rifle. by Fred L. Ray 11/30/2017. The famous hex bullets were swaged and of a harder alloy. But surely the bullet couldnt be rammed too hard as It had to spin down the barrel? His 530-grain, .451-caliber hexagonal bullet did not depend upon the unreliable expansion of a hollow base in order to engage the rifling of the bore, but instead relied upon the tight mechanical fit of his bullet to the .451 polygonal bore. Confederate Sharpshooter's Rifles USSS Pvt Truman Head, aka California Joe, was legendary for his marksmanship. Externally it is very similar to the P1853 with the main difference being it's large hooded front sight. Magnificent 14-Barrel Flintlock, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rifled_muzzle_loader, http://www.navweaps.com/Weapons/WNUS_3-15_mk12.php, https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/John_Sedgwick, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polygonal_rifling, http://www.researchpress.co.uk/index.php/firearms/gunmakers/whitworth, http://www.researchpress.co.uk/index.php/firearms/gunmakers/whitworth/loading-the-whitworth, http://www.researchpress.co.uk/index.php/firearms/british-military-longarms/small-arms-trials/measuring-accuracy, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Moultrie, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/QF_4.7-inch_Gun_Mk_I%E2%80%93IV#United_States_service, http://sharpshooters.cfspress.com/arms.html, http://www.researchpress.co.uk/index.php/contact, https://archive.org/stream/Hatchers_Notebook#page/n431/mode/2up/search/merit, Whitworth Rifles and Kerr Revolvers TOCWOC - A Civil War Blog. Projectile 12 lbs.11 oz. This Kerr rifle is 53 overall with a 37 barrel with Kerr patented 6-groove rifling. The Whitworth projectilesmade by swaging, a unique forging processwere difficult for the South to manufacture, so cylindrical bullet molds were added to shipments to supplement the smaller stores of hexagonal ammunition. Rarely does the opportunity to acquire such a scarce and desirable piece of Civil War history occur, particularly when the item is absolutely correct and unimpeachable. It is almost certain that both Whitworth Rifles #B547 and #B902 were in that shipment of six rifles to the Richmond Arsenal from the Macon Arsenal. By this I mean target rifles and not issue rifles like Springfields, Sharps, and Spencers. This gun certainly had its problems though. Paper patched bullets were used or cartridges. MILITARY TARGET RIFLES Sir Joseph Whitworth's patented exagon rifling was one of the most innovative pieces of engineering design in the field of muzzle loading rifles. Please plan accordingly. This caused some disquiet in the contemporary press when it came to light. The cylindrical bullets had a small hollow base which would expand and grip the hexagonal sides of the barrel, which required that the bullets be made out of very soft lead. It is a Military Match, and the sights are so fine as to make consistent aiming a chore. Then, in 1861, history intervened. Loaded with cylindrical rounds, the Whitworth scored 20 out of 20 hits at 1,100 yards. So the use of black powder and (probably) wooden or possibly celluloid blowouts woldnt have been as much of a handicap as you might think. It is the only variation of the Whitworth Rifle, which we know was purchased by Confederate Ordnance. The high-speed gas flow out the back has to balance the mass of the projectile going out the muzzle to achieve the recoilless effect (M x V= momentum). http://www.guns.com/2013/09/09/whitworth-rifle-fit-queens-confederates-video/. Whitworth rifles shoot cylindrical bullets very well, infact WHitworth in his original loading instructions notes The cylindrical form of projectile is the best for general use. Whitworth had haxagonal section bore, with a 1:20 twist to the rifling. Maybe a silly question, but how does one make a bullet mold for a hexagonal bullet? Meanwhile, the Enfieldwith its traditional riflingused only soft lead ammunition. As he prepared to fire, though, a Federal officer dragged Abraham Lincoln out of view. Joseph Whitworth's Deadly Rifle. Your email address will not be published. +$14.64 shipping. .450 Whitworth Hexagonal, 32-13/16 bbl. Whether they produced battlefield images of the dead or daguerreotype portraits of common soldiers, []. 3) Perhaps the process of being fired would give them a more cylindrical appearance. Muzzle Velocity 1,500 ft./sec.< /br> It was a rifled Civil War cannon that fired an elongated 12-pound shell. These weapons were given to the very best marksmen in the Confederate Army. Triggerguard tang is correctly engraved 2nd Quality as found on legitimate Confederate-used Whitworths. A rocket would be a different matter, but they tend to be very inaccurate and can be dangerous for the crews. Bag of 50 mixed dropped and fired U.S. and C.S. There is a very minor surface chipping at . The paper tube cartridge has no tears, cracks, dents, breaks, or repairs. This one, like many, was found without its scope and mount, and those parts have been replaced with period examples. Yes, Wikipedia. The British government could buy four Enfields for the price of one Whitworth, which, incidentally, was not without its shortcomings. The Whitworth is a breech-loader. I just took a look at your suggested .pdf and loved it, many thanks for providing it! WHITWORTH BULLETS, McKee & Mason # 250. the powder charge and bullet were contained in the paper cartridge, actually thin cardboard about like a modern business card. With the new Godzilla movie coming out this Friday (May 31), we thought it would be a good time to "The lights went out, the ship rolled and Sign up for our newsletter and receive the mighty updates! It had a Figure of Merit of 11.62 feet. They couldnt hit an elephant at this distance! [Bang!!] Possessing excellent long range accuracy for its time, the Whitworth, when used with a scope, was the world's first sniper rifle, and saw use with Confederate sharpshooters in the American Civil War. Designed by Sir Joseph Whitworth before the Civil War, it fired an elongated 12-pound iron shell which fit snuggly into the fine rifling of the tube. Suddenly, the shooters attention shifted to a tall bearded man wearing a stovepipe hat, realizing it was that Yankee president, within easy range of his English-made precision rifle. To prevent this from accumulating, Mr. Whitworth inserted along with every charge a proper quantity of lubricating material, introduced as a wad, which under the force and heat of explosion is distributed over the interior of the bore, rendering the fouling residuum so loose that it is driven out by the next discharge. A Confederate Whitworth rifle with side mounted 4-power Davidson scope. Bullet molds were also included in each shipment of rifles. (Most of these rifled guns were of .451 caliber). When in a hurry, the cylindrical was probably undersized and could be rammed down as quickly as a standard rifled musket load, but the deformable bullet had a cost in range and accuracy. Enter your email address to receive notifications of new posts by email. But the available Whitworths were costly and difficult to come by. >>> I have a B series which I shoot sometimes., Jan, is your rifle recorded in the Whitworth Research Project database? The Whitworth rifle was a British-made rifled musket heavily based on the Pattern 1853 Enfield. That said, the Enfield delivered a Figure of merit of 27 inches which paled in comparison to the Whitworth. The $1,000 in 1861 would be equivalent to roughly $32,000 today. SN C529. Subsequently, the Board of Ordnance asked Whitworth to provide input to potential improvements that might be obtained in the rifling small arms barrels. The Enfield and the Whitworth rounds each weighed in at 530 grains (1.2 ounces); but, in contrast to the Enfields smooth, conical .577 caliber projectile, Whitworths was a sleeker .451-caliber with a hexagonal base that fit mechanically into the rifling of the guns 33-inch barrel (some Whitworth rifles featured barrels of 36 and 39 inches). German Cold War-era Armbrust AT weapon is example how to solve entirely problem of flash (thus CAN be used inside building, unlike most AT recoilless rifles). >> But surely the bullet couldnt be rammed too hard as It had to spin down the barrel?. Oh yes, and blackpowder rockets, both Hale (spin-stabilized) and Congreve (guiding-stick stabilized) types, were used by both sides during the ACW. The rear sight base in place, missing the folding ladder. Should the bullet not expand, the gun of course would not be clean. The Whitworths harder bolt-shaped round had substantially more terminal energyin one test piercing 35 half-inch wooden planks. At that point, the bullet that was being used by the Enfield Model 1853 rifle was cylindro-conoidal and on attempting to elongate the bullet, he discovered . By all accounts they dont work the best, such bullets are best made in a factory by swaging lead wire. The Enfield logged a disappointing five hits and 15 misses. The Whitworth Rifle is a muzzle loading rifle produced from 1857 to 1865 based on the Enfield Pattern 1853. At least at this anecdotal level. Most important, his gun employed a bore with sharply pitched hexagonal rifling and a matching hexagonal, bolt-like projectile. http://www.researchpress.co.uk/index.php/firearms/gunmakers/whitworth. From 1,400 yards, the Whitworth made nine hits and only one miss; the Enfield, four hits and six misses. Quartermaster Shiloh 2020 It arrived a day late, and the designer thought of many improvements after reviewing the first few hours of battle, but it neutralized the CSS Virginia (formerly the USS Merrimack) and saved the wooden ships that had survived the Virginias first foray. Joseph Whitworth was the originator of long-range shooting.