2 Band Whitworth Rifle

• .451 hexagonal barrel (I will have to cut down a modern reproduction barrel, if I can find one; I'll likely contact Bobby Hoyt to see if he'd be interested in doing that)
• I will likely use a Dunlap 2-Band walnut Enfield stock (if it's the correct dimensions and the barrel channel isn't wrong)
• Is there another source for iron furniture besides "the Rifle Shoppe"? (They're always out of stock on the iron parts from their Pattern 1856 Short Rifle)
• Was the iron furniture blued or color case hardened?
• I'll likely have to get a Pedersoli Whitworth Lock, unless it's more cost effective to get a Rifle Shoppe lock, engrave it with Whitworth markings and color case harden it
• Did all southern import Whitworths have checkered stocks? If so, what size checkering did they have? (I'm not interested in the heat pressed checkering on the Italian reproductions)
• Did it use a regular 2 band Enfield ramrod?
• Could I swap out the barrel with my parker-hale 33" barrel if I wanted to shoot .577? (Similar to how a Kerr rifle can swap out barrels between .451 and .577)

Conquerordie said:

I would try over on the Civil War Forum if no one here has that specific info

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dd832 said:

I have photos of 4 Confederate Whitworth rifles, but all 4 have fittings for telescopes, so I'll just post this one:
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All the Whitworth's sent to the South were engraved "2nd Quality" on the trigger guard, as this one is marked. I'll look in my copy of C.H. Roads book "The British Soldier's Firearm, 1850-1864"about the barrel bands. I vaguely remember reading that the barrel bands were heated and dunked in oil on the 1853 Enfield rifle, but I'll have to look that up.

I think that The Rifle Shoppe is your only alternative for getting parts for your project. I had a heck of a time just trying to get a catalogue from an English supplier several years ago for parts when the seller stated that he'd already sent it - I finally got it but it was worthless.

Good luck with your project!!
Mike

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TFoley said:

Why not just buy a Pedersoli 'Whitworth' and cut it down to suit? I would imagine that trying to get a Whitworth lock out of Pedersoli would be like pushing string uphill.

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Star of The West said:

I've inquired about obtaining parts from Pedersoli before, and they were willing to sell me an Enfield lock. I want to use steel/iron furniture, so it would be impractical to buy an entire Pedersoli rifle. The difficult part is finding the exact specifications for a 2 band Whitworth stock; the distance between the rear barrel band and the front barrel band; then the distance between the front barrel band and the endcap.

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Star of The West said:

Eventually I would like to build a southern sharpshooter's 2 band .451 Whitworth, something that is not currently made by any of the Italian manufacturers.
What are all of the specifications necessary to build this? ........ ..... ..
I would greatly appreciate any expert opinions on the feasibility of such a project. I know it'll take a long time to acquire all of the necessary parts.

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Star of The West said:

This one (in the photo below) has a Whitworth barrel, but I'm not sure if that was added later or if it was original.
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TFoley said:

I would imagine that trying to get a Whitworth lock out of Pedersoli would be like pushing string uphill.

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TFoley said:

The rollstamp reads 'WHITWORTHS PARENT' and the serial number is B902. Does that help?

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ResearchPress said:

That appears very short for a Whitworth. I can't see anything on the lock that suggests Whitworth. What information do you have to confirm that is a Whitworth barrel? Thanks.

David

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ResearchPress said:

Have a look at E.J. Blackley and Son in the UK - they have some Whitworth parts that may be suitable for your project.

If you don't already have it - get a copy of 'Military Antique Collector Magazine', Jan.-Feb. 2023, Vol. 2, No. 1. This is a special edition on the Confederate Whitworth rifle and full of information and images.

Also, have a look at the Whitworth information on my web site for general history - Hex Bore – The Whitworth Research Project

David

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Star of The West said:

Thank you. I'm probably leaning towards sending off some of my brass 1853 Enfield parts to be replicated at a foundry in iron. I have been unable to find a place that has a reliable reputation for providing the parts I desire.

Before I start making purchases, I want to get all of the details down to make sure I'm building exactly what I want.

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