AmericanLongRifles Forums

General discussion => Antique Gun Collecting => Topic started by: Leather Creek on November 28, 2023, 11:12:38 PM

Title: Whitworth Sporting Rifle
Post by: Leather Creek on November 28, 2023, 11:12:38 PM

Where would I start to gather information on an original Whitworth Sporting Rifle?  .451 Caliber.  Hexagonal bore.  Traditional lock.  Maybe made in the late 1850's.  Not a military rifle.

Thanks.

Title: Re: Whitworth Sporting Rifle
Post by: Seth Isaacson on November 29, 2023, 12:13:59 AM

Which style? There were full-stock "military match" style rifles and half-stock match target rifles. The Confederacy almost always gets mentioned on these due to their use by some Confederate sharpshooters, but most examples today were match rifles:

(https://cdn.rockislandauction.com/dev_cdn/86/253.jpg)
https://www.rockislandauction.com/detail/86/253/whitworth-.451-military-match-presentation-prize-rifle

(https://cdn.rockislandauction.com/dev_cdn/84/392.jpg)
https://www.rockislandauction.com/detail/84/392/whitworth-percussion-match-target-rifle

ResearchPress has some good articles on them:
http://www.researchpress.co.uk/firearms/gunmakers/whitworth

Title: Re: Whitworth Sporting Rifle
Post by: Leather Creek on November 29, 2023, 12:54:50 AM

This one is civilian model.  A hunting rifle.  Half stock. Horn forend cap.  3 blade rear sight on barrel. One blade for 100, one for 200, and a ladder sight for the rest.  Steel shotgun style butt plate.  Round steel patch box.  Nice engraving on patch box, lock plate, and top of the breach.  It is a take down with a hook breach.

I can do pictures soon.

Title: Re: Whitworth Sporting Rifle
Post by: Mattox Forge on November 29, 2023, 02:41:39 AM

You might try here:
http://www.researchpress.co.uk/index.php/research/hexbore

Mike

Title: Re: Whitworth Sporting Rifle
Post by: Leather Creek on November 29, 2023, 10:49:00 PM

(https://i.ibb.co/NyyyFNq/IMG-E1897.jpg) (https://ibb.co/LZZZ0gy)

Here's a picture.  Not military.  Not really a target gun.  Hunting rifle I think.

Title: Re: Whitworth Sporting Rifle
Post by: snapper on November 29, 2023, 11:02:54 PM

Looks great.

Does it have a ramrod?    If no ramrod, target rifle.

Fleener

Title: Re: Whitworth Sporting Rifle
Post by: Leather Creek on November 30, 2023, 01:30:12 AM

Ram rod in case.  Not stored under barrel.

(https://i.ibb.co/db2tTHB/IMG-1902.jpg) (https://ibb.co/YDkXCV2)

Leaf sights on barrel, no accommodation for tang sights.  Little bitty barley corn front sight.