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Big Game Rifle

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Feltwad said:
Enclosed are images of a big game rifle by William Powel & Son which maybe of interest to members Built in the middle percussion era and only two of this type built by Powell it is four groove rifle octangle barrel , 40 inches long and 52 calibre. It also features a flat top rib sighting plain marked in gold at one inch interfolds and eight folding leaf sights
FeltwadView attachment 282381View attachment 282382View attachment 282383
Click to expand...
thats very nice
 
Feltwad said:
Enclosed are images of a big game rifle by William Powel & Son which maybe of interest to members Built in the middle percussion era and only two of this type built by Powell it is four groove rifle octangle barrel , 40 inches long and 52 calibre. It also features a flat top rib sighting plain marked in gold at one inch interfolds and eight folding leaf sights
FeltwadView attachment 282381View attachment 282382View attachment 282383
Click to expand...
That is one of the finest examples I've seen Feltwad !!!
Unbelievable rear sight arrangement, the unusual trigger guard resembles one on a big bore percussion English sporting rifle built by Staudenmier for tiger hunting.
Feltwad said:
You mentioned the deer rifle it was the fitting on the barrel muzzle which caused a lot of interest , most said it was a fitting for a bayonet even one member of these foru.ms said it was a poachers gun and the fitting was for a flash light . Personally I still believe it was a fitting for a stick rest because this gun was muzzle heavy
Getting back to the gun in the forum which I believe was used in Africa and India I have enclosed three images of the sighting along the broad rib which I believe is the elevation of the muzzle for distance
First image shows the wide open solid back sight with the leaf sights down
Second and third image shows the sighting rib marked of at 1inch interfiles
When the leaf sights are flat and you sight along the barrel all you see is the extra wide back sight and the fore sight on raising the muzzle you can the set the back sight on any of the inch markings of the sighting plain just by lifting the muzzle up or down thus giving you elevation on different shots .That is my explanation on the sighting rib but I may be wrong and are open to suggestions
When I first entered this thread I said the barrel was 40 inches my typing mistake it is 30 inches
Feltwad
View attachment 282954View attachment 282955View attachment 282956
Click to expand...
 
Amazing rifle Feltwad !
Over the past 5-6 decades I've collected & shot primarily original English & European flint & percussion firearms because of their quality & accuracy.
Do you think this rifle was designed to shoot PRB or slugs ?
Some of the 2 & 4 groove rifles I've fired were designed to shoot close fitting rifled cast slugs.
Relic shooter
 
Relic shooter said:
Amazing rifle Feltwad !
Over the past 5-6 decades I've collected & shot primarily original English & European flint & percussion firearms because of their quality & accuracy.
Do you think this rifle was designed to shoot PRB or slugs ?
Some of the 2 & 4 groove rifles I've fired were designed to shoot close fitting rifled cast slugs.
Relic shooter
Click to expand...
I would have thought both but a 52 cal bullet would be more appropriate.
Feltwad
 
Feltwad said:
I would have thought both but a 52 cal bullet would be more appropriate.
Feltwad
Click to expand...
Was just curious, as you know some of these oddities can be hair pullers.
The English 2-groove rifle I had produced erratic groups with both tightly fitted PRB loads & hollow based slugs both bare & patched.
Think the problem was skidding due to the shallow depth rifling.
Betting when the rifle was sold new it likely came with a mold that cast fitted rifled slugs ?
Relic shooter
 
Relic shooter said:
Was just curious, as you know some of these oddities can be hair pullers.
The English 2-groove rifle I had produced erratic groups with both tightly fitted PRB loads & hollow based slugs both bare & patched.
Think the problem was skidding due to the shallow depth rifling.
Betting when the rifle was sold new it likely came with a mold that cast fitted rifled slugs ?
Relic shooter
Click to expand...
I have used a very externally rusted but good bore rifle of 24 bore & found the belted ball best , Shot flatter loaded easier since only loose patched of felt or rolled ' 4x2 ' cleaning rag greased pitch of one in 60 inch its barrel being 30 "oct it was so long rusted you cant discerne the maker & the original trigger tang nail & false breech where all stuck together . So I used them only adding my new made guard Its bar lock ( just a 10 rupee India trade lock worked up )It Came to NZ via a purchase in a Weller & Dufty Auction of rust streaks c 1977 . bore was good as where the rest of this lot a Dreyes a Mansoes Pattent 451target rifle & a Swiss Vetterly all same extierier state yet bores good , My Mate distained two grouves along with the four winged ' Jacobs Rifles ' double rifle in the same lot. I stocked it up years later ,He clearly believed Hans Busks condemnation of any mechanically fitting projectiles . A lot of deer have prouved him wrong as it saw more ' Bush miles' that its first owner could likley ever have used it .Another rust Streak bought from dealer Stan Shere . Felt Wad likley knew him 3 quid 490 cal deep three grouved , pitch of one in 30 inch Clearly meant for a three winged projectile I stuck it in an old shotgun stock adding a spur guard & a tool box of steel it surviving sight much on the lines of the 1851 Minie Rifle incremented to 3 & 500 yards at which range I managed to beat a Gibbs Metford if only by one point . So it was its way of thanking me for re viveing it , A world away from the quality of Felt Wads pieces , but its seen a lot of back bocks & bowled Deer & pigs . been well worth my three or four pounds outlay on it over 50 +years .
Regards reminiscing . Rudyard
 

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