Hmm, interest seems to have vanished.
This class and type of rifle is for the most part,an alien idea and
not understood by many BP shooters who are used to patched round ball
rifles and ranges of WAY under 1000 yards.
For 11 years I owned and shot a really fine Whitworth semi military
long range .451 and in 2001 I started another .451 and finished it in
2003. I tested it and the Green Mountain barrel delivered all I could
ask. I used it in a 500 meter match against breech loaders and when
I showed it to those guys one of the said "We'll have to bring the targets
in closer if we let him use this gun". We shot at knock down silhouettes
and I got 4 out of 5 and the 5th was partly hidden by a tree limb.
These rifles,be they fine antiques or superb repros and the Southern
iron mounted,plainer than a fence post long rifles define my personal
interest in muzzle loaders and I am at home with either one.
Credit for revival in the long range rifles in America must go to the late
Bill Roberts who lived in Alabama.Lynton McKenzie was a superb craftsman
and owner of a number of these fine match rifles got me interested in making
the locks that were suitable for these guns and loaned me a fine old lock made
by Stanton in England. This was in 1987 and I think I have made about 40 of
these and 7 smaller ones and again from an old one from a Whitworth boys rifle
and made by Stanton.I enjoyed the challenge of making these locks and have
one ready now for a man who is well known as a maker of fine rifles.
Bob Roller
