2 Band Whitworth Rifle

[Star of The West]

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?

• .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)

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.

 

[Conquerordie]

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

 

[Star of The West]

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

If I don't find out anything here, I might reach out to the NRA museum, or the Chickamauga National Park Museum. I believe they have Whitworths or volunteer rifles using Whitworth patented rifling.

 

[dd832]

I have photos of 4 Confederate Whitworth rifles, but all 4 have fittings for telescopes, so I'll just post this one:







All the Whitworth's sent to the South were marked 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 English 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