Whitworth Rifle Scope

[ozark57]

I have been firing my Parker-Hale Whitworth and have found the gun is a more accurate than I am. My 50 some year old eyes are just not cutting it anymore. I saw that Leatherwood makes a brass tube scope that looks PC. Anyone out there tried one? How about mounts for the Whitworth?
I do not shoot competition,like to keep my guns as PC as possible,but still enjoy them.
I would like to here from anyone with experiance in scoping on of these guns and get recomendations what and where to buy.
I do have a fully equipped machine shop to work with , if need be.

 

[F.G. Ford]

Hi,
A few years back I had one of those brass 4X Navy Arms scopes, it looked way cool on my Whitworth.
BUT, the recoil kept knocking the scope out.
The brass rings didn't hold the scope, even with loctite.
I tried every trick in the book, but that big 500 grain bullet pushes thst rifle around quite a bit.
It eventually shook the innards of the scope loose.
Perhaps the newer scopes are better, but that was an expensive lesson for me.
Best regards
Old Ford

 

[Swampman]

Toby Bridges has mounted them on a bunch of muzzleloaders and Green Mountain offers a factory T/C barrel with the Leatherwood Malcom scope on it. They must be good. The price and having more holes drilled and tapped holds me back.

 

[rafterob]

Globe sights, peep sights and tube sights could all be considered HC for the Whitworth. Try to locate a copy of "The Muzzleloading Caplock Rifle" by Ned Roberts. Good info and reading about Target shooting/rifles.

 

[ozark57]

I was hoping someone might have pictures of mounts or a Whitworth that is scoped that I could copy. I have not seen any mounts for this gun.

 

[bovey]

Found a few links that might interest you...

"Malcolm Tube Scope" discussion http://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=165799

"Wm. Malcolm" Scope Series www.leatherwoodoptics.com

 

[Ed Wingenroth]

Hey Ozark !!!

If you go to the ASSRA forum and search for Malcom scopes and mounts you will find much info on the product, mostly about the poor quality of the mounts.. I know that Leatherwood has been trying to do damage control and may have developed a better system but that’s the site for real good info..

Good Luck !!!

Ed”¦.

 

[Tumblernotch]

If you want to keep your Whitworth PC, you'll need to mount a Davidson scope or a reasonable repro. It mounted on the side of the rifle and was designed to be put on or taken off quickly.

I had downloaded the info on buying the mounts from a company that included pictures, but didn't get the name or address. I had planned on making them myself. The article said that they had recreated them from the original machinist's drawings, changing the rings so that the scope didn't have to be soldered to them. They also recommended using the Weaver G4 or the Weaver Model 344 scopes. The original Davidson scope was a steel tube with low magnification and reticles about 14 inches long.

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I wish I had pasted the company's name. I've been looking for the site but can't find it.

 

[ozark57]

Thanks! That picture helps alot. If I had drawings, I could make the mounts. I do want a little more eye relief, though. I have heard a lot of the Confederate sharpshooters had what has today become known as "the mark of the magnum" above their right eye!
That is the best picture of a scoped Whitworth that I have seen.

 

[Tumblernotch]

I haven't seen one in person, but have seen pictures of how this scope was mounted. Where the rear lock bolt screws in, instead of just a washer, there was a larger plate with a keyhole in it. There was a corresponding knob on the scope ring which fit in it when the scope was held 90 degrees or so to the rifle. When the scope was lowered to the horizontal the rear of the scope was "locked" in. This requires cutting enough wood away to accomodate the "key" part of the scope. The front mount was located just to the rear of the lower barrel band and was a flat plate mounted on a screw which ran all the way through the stock. The flat part had a projection shaped somewhat like a T-Nut groove on a milling machine table. This corresponded with the projection on the scope ring similiar to a T-Nut and there was a stop at the bottom to keep the scope from falling through. Also, I believe that there were hash marks with the range on the plate. I'm not sure whether the wheel on the off side connected to the transverse screw tightened the forward part of the scope in place at the range selected or allowed adjustment of windage. I tend to believe it tightened the scope, though somehow it may have served a dual purpose.

This style of scope was designed to be used in the Creedmore position, lying on one's back with the barrel propped on the leg. I've tried doing that (not with this scope) and never could figure out how anyone could shoot like this. I've seen pictures of men shooting like that but have figured that they were double-jointed or something. Could be I'm just too fat.

If I can find the picture of the kit parts I'l post them. It doesn't show where they go or have any dimensions, but at least it shows what they look like.

BTW, I've also read about the black eyes that the sharpshooters got. I guess with the small optics, they had to get close. I have a very early P-H Whitworth that came with a long brass Tasco Model 1860 scope on it. It is a 15mm tube. And you do need to get pretty close to see well through it. It was attached to the barrel by removing the backsight and pinning the scope to the sight base. The front was just laced to the barrel. Since this rifle was used in re-enacting it wasn't important. If it to be used for shooting I would have to braze a mount to the forward barrel band. Even then, there would be some play at the rear mount. Tasco didn't make the best mount for this scope. And this scope was not the historically correct scope. But, it did attract some attention at the events! and you don't have to lie on your back to use it.