Sharps Rifle
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Free-State Rifle,” Which He Used During the 1856 Battle of Hickory Point
In 1908 Samuel J. Reader aims and fires his “free-state rifle,” which he used during the 1856 Battle of Hickory Point. His weapon is a full-stock Pennsylvania rifle. 30 KANSAS HISTORY Plows and Bibles, Rifles and Revolvers Guns in Kansas Territory by Dale E. Watts uns were among the most important tools used in territorial Kansas. Plows turned the soil, axes cleared away trees and shaped them into useable forms, saws produced finished lumber, and guns provided food, recre- ation, and the means of controlling humans and animals. Of course guns also carried a special symbolic meaning in the turmoil of Bleeding Kansas. Violence played a relatively small role in this turbulence. No solid evidence exists to show that large numbers of people were killed because of political disagreements. GLand disputes, robberies, and accidents were more deadly than questions of politics or slavery. In general, settlers were not fanatical in their attitudes toward slavery but rather were focused on such mundane matters as land acquisition, town development, 1 and bringing their cultures to the West. This fact was well expressed by Charles B. Lines of Wabaunsee, the “Bible and Rifle” colony of which so much has been made, when he wrote to his hometown newspaper in Connecticut on May 2, 1856: Dale E. Watts holds master’s degrees in historical museum administration from Cooperstown Graduate Programs, in gifted education from Emporia State University, and in U.S. History from the University of Kansas. He currently is the historic sites re- search manager at the Kansas State Historical Society. -
University of Huddersfield Repository
University of Huddersfield Repository Wood, Christopher Were the developments in 19th century small arms due to new concepts by the inventors and innovators in the fields, or were they in fact existing concepts made possible by the advances of the industrial revolution? Original Citation Wood, Christopher (2013) Were the developments in 19th century small arms due to new concepts by the inventors and innovators in the fields, or were they in fact existing concepts made possible by the advances of the industrial revolution? Masters thesis, University of Huddersfield. This version is available at http://eprints.hud.ac.uk/id/eprint/19501/ The University Repository is a digital collection of the research output of the University, available on Open Access. Copyright and Moral Rights for the items on this site are retained by the individual author and/or other copyright owners. Users may access full items free of charge; copies of full text items generally can be reproduced, displayed or performed and given to third parties in any format or medium for personal research or study, educational or not-for-profit purposes without prior permission or charge, provided: • The authors, title and full bibliographic details is credited in any copy; • A hyperlink and/or URL is included for the original metadata page; and • The content is not changed in any way. For more information, including our policy and submission procedure, please contact the Repository Team at: [email protected]. http://eprints.hud.ac.uk/ Were the developments in 19th century small -
A Short History of Firearms
Foundation for European Societies of Arms Collectors A short history of firearms Prepared for FESAC by: , ing. Jaś van Driel FARE consultants P.O. box 22276 3003 DG Rotterdam the Netherlands [email protected] Firearms, a short history The weapon might well be man’s earliest invention. Prehistoric man picked up a stick and lashed out at something or someone. This happened long before man learned to harness fire or invented the wheel. The invention of the weapon was to have a profound impact on the development of man. It provided the third and fourth necessities of life, after air and water: food and protection. It gave prehistoric man the possibility to hunt animals that were too big to catch by hand and provided protection from predators, especially the greatest threat of all: his fellow man. The strong man did not sit idly while intelligent man used the weapon he invented to match his brute force and soon came up with a weapon of his own, thus forcing intelligent man to come up with something better. The arms race had started. This race has defined the history of mankind. To deny the role that weapons in general and firearms in particular have played in deciding the course of history is like denying history itself. The early years During the Stone Age axes, knives and spears appeared and around 6000 BC the bow made its debut. This was the first weapon, after the throwing spear, that could be used at some distance from the intended target, though possibly slings also were used to hurl stones. -
Federal Ammunition for Civil War Breechloading Carbines and Rifles
Federal Ammunition for Civil War Breechloading Carbines and Rifles Dean S. Thomas According to the "Statement of ordnance and ordnance stores purchased by the Ordnance Department from January 1, 1861, to June 30, 1866," the United States Army procured more than 427,000 assorted breechloading carbines and rifles during this period.' Additional quantities were purchased from the manufacturers by various Northern states, volunteer regiments, and individual soldiers. In all, more than twenty different brands found their way onto regimental ordnance returns, and each, with rare exception, required their own peculiar form of ammunition. Captain James G. Benton of the Ordnance Department described these weapons in his book, Ordnance and Gunney: The term "breech-loading" applies to those arms in which the charge is inserted into the bore through an opening in the pered by gas leakage at the breech joint-or lack of obtura- breech; and, as far as loading is concerned, the ramrod is tion. This fault was mechanically inherent in many early dispensed with. breechloaders, but was not successfully overcome until there The interior of the barrel of a breech-loading arm is were advances in cartridge-making technology. Although the divided into two distinct parts, viz., the bore proper, or space Hall breechloading flintlock rifle was adopted by the United through which the projectile moves under the influence of the States in 1819 (and a carbine in the 1830s), they did not have powder; and the chamber in which the charge is deposited. the merits of later weapons with metallic cartridge cases. The diameter of the chamber is usually made a little larger, and Most of the early advances in breechloading ammuni- that of the bore a little smaller, than that of the projectile; this tion were made in France. -
19Th Century Carbine Manual.Indd
National Park Service Manual of Instruction for the Safe Use of Reproduction Breech-Loading Carbine and Rifl e in Interpretive Demonstrations TABLE OF CONTENTS Page Part I: Introduction 1 Part II: Nomenclature 5 Part III: Inspection and Maintenance 7 Part IV: Drill 10 Part V: Misfi re Procedures 27 Part VI: Laboratory 29 Part VII: Demonstration Critique 31 4 PART I - INTRODUCTION This manual sets forth the procedures that must be followed by persons demonstrating single-shot breechloading carbines and rifl es to the public in areas administered by the National Park Service (NPS). It also provides instruction on proper maintenance, inspection, and repair procedures. This manual must be used in conjunction with the service wide standards for Historic Weapons Firing Demonstrations (NPS-6 Guidelines for Interpretation). The information below largely comes from primary sources of the period during which the weapons described were used. Several generations of NPS historic weapons personnel have modifi ed these original texts in order to improve demonstrator and visitor safety, make the original texts more comprehensible and to incorporate knowledge gained from years of actually using these weapons in the fi eld. The Park’s Certifi ed Historic Weapons Program Supervisor is responsible for the training and safety of the demonstrators, as well as the safety of the visitors. The following criteria will help determine when a demonstrator has been adequately trained. 1 THE SHARPS CARBINE This manual mainly deals with the use and care of reproduction Model 1859 and Model 1863 Sharps carbines, which were the predominant carbine used during the American Civil War and are by far the most popular reprodction cavalry arm used today. -
The Texas Star
The Texas Star Newsletter for the Texican Rangers A Publication of the Texican Rangers An Authentic Cowboy Action Shooting Club That Treasures & Respects the Cowboy Tradition SASS Affiliated PO Box 782261 September 2018 San Antonio, TX 78278-2261 Officers Hello Texican Rangers President A.D. Texaz 210-862-7464 [email protected] Vice President The good news is that the Texican Col. Callan Rangers annual picnic, Shindig, gets a 325-446-7632 mulligan! [email protected] The original date for the match was rained out! We asked the Steiler Ranch Secretary owners if we could move the match to Tombstone Mary Sept 29 and it was OK’D. We are 210-262-7464 fortunate to have such great landlords. [email protected] Something I was not aware of when we were discussing the move with Kit Treasurer Patterson is that the whitetail hunting General Burleson season also begins on the Steiler Ranch on 210-912-7908 the 29th. [email protected] The bad news is that they are also predicting heavy rain for Thursday – Range Master Saturday. As usual, if we have to cancel Tombstone Mary will send an email to the Colorado Horseshoe membership and post it on the Texican 719-231-6109 Rangers website. [email protected] I’m looking forward to the Texican Rangers annual member appreciation Communications match ‘The Shindig’. There is no charge Dutch Van Horn for the match and lunch for members. 210-823-6058 Guests shoot for $20, which includes [email protected] lunch. Lunch for other Guests is $5. The match will be 4 main stages and then a team stage shot from the Gallows. -
Zhristian Sharps Was Born in Washington, New Jersey
Zhristian Sharps Was Born in Washington, New Jersey. ~yFrank M. Sellers Christian Sharps was born in Washington, New Jersey n 1811. Nobody seems to know much about Sharps' early ~fe. In that day and age, the way a man learned a trade was D apprentice himself to a master in whatever trade he vanted to learn. Sharps was apprenticed to a gunsmith in Yashington, whose name was Speigle. But Sharps did ?arn his trade and in 1830 he went to work at the arsenal t Harpers Ferry. There he came into contact with the first ~reechloaderused by the U.S. Government in any quan- ity, the Hall rifle. These were made under the supervision f the inventor, John Hall. Sharps only lasted at Harpers iar with, if not in the original guns, in their more popular 'erry about seven years and then moved to Cincinnati. As form, the boy's cap gun. Combining the Maynard primer .ear as we can tell, he didn't do any gun work at all in Cin- with the original Sharps actions gives us the Model 1850.:$ innati. He worked for his brother on the repair of steam This again was made by Albert Nippes in Philadelphia ngines for boats and factories. As I say, we don't have (actually in Mill Creek, if you are familiar with the area) ny information on what he was doing as far as guns are until late 1850, at which time Sharps decided that Nippes oncerned in Cincinnati, but in 1848, he applied for a pat- wasn't doing a good job and sold his patent to a man in nt on a breechloading gun, which was considerably dif- Hartford. -
Figure 1. Sharpshooter Weapons in the American Civil War (Photo Ex
ASAC_Vol107_02-Carlson_130003.qxd 8/23/13 7:58 PM Page 2 Figure 1. Sharpshooter Weapons in the American Civil War (photo ex. author's collection). 107/2 Reprinted from the American Society of Arms Collectors Bulletin 107:2-28 Additional articles available at http://americansocietyofarmscollectors.org/resources/articles/ ASAC_Vol107_02-Carlson_130003.qxd 8/23/13 7:58 PM Page 3 Sharpshooter Weapons in the American Civil War By Bob Carlson There is a proud tradition of sharpshooting in the mili- tary history of our nation (Figure 1). From the defeat of General Edward Braddock and the use of flank companies of riflemen in the French and Indian War, to the use of long rifles against Ferguson and the death of General Simon Fraser in the Revolutionary War at Saratoga, to the War of 1812 when British General Robert Ross was shot on the way to take Baltimore in 1814 and when long rifles were instru- mental at New Orleans in January 1815, up to the modern wars with the use of such arms as the Accuracy International AX338 sniper rifle, sharpshooters have been crucial in the outcome of battles and campaigns. I wish to dedicate this discussion to a true American patriot, Chris Kyle, a much decorated Navy Seal sniper whom we lost in February of this year, having earned two silver and four bronze stars in four tours of service to his country. He stated that he killed the enemy to save the lives of his comrades and his only regret was those that he could not save. He also aided his fellow attackers at bay; harassing target officers and artillerymen disabled veterans for whom he worked tirelessly with his from a long-range; instilling psychological fear and feelings Heroes Project after returning home. -
John Dahlgren the Plymouth Rifle
JOHN DAHLGREN And THE PLYMOUTH RIFLE Marc Gorelick, VGCA The author thanks Tim Prince of College Hill Arsenal (www.collegehillarsenal.com) and Cliff Sophia of CS Arms (www.csarms.com) for the use of their photographs. Few Americans today know who John Dahlgren was, or the role he played in the Civil War. Most Civil War and navy history buffs who recognize his name identify him as a Union Admiral and ordnance expert who developed a number of naval cannon. Indeed, for his achievements in developing naval cannon he became known as the “father of American naval ordnance.” But to the gun collecting community Dahlgren was also a small arms expert and the inventor of the unique Plymouth Rifle. Photo courtesy Tim Prince, College Hill Arsenal, www.collegehillarsenal.com DAHLGREN’S NAVY CAREER John Adolphus Bernard Dahlgren was born on November 13, 1809 in Philadelphia, the son of Bernhard Ulrik Dahlgren, the Swedish Consul in Philadelphia. Like another Swedish-American, John Ericsson, the inventor of the screw propeller, turret and ironclad monitor, Dahlgren was to have a profound effect on the U.S. Navy. Dahlgren joined the United States Navy in 1826 as a midshipman. He served in the U.S. Coastal Survey from 1834 to 1837 where he developed his talents for mathematics and scientific theory. He was promoted to lieutenant, and after a number of cruises was assigned as an ordnance officer at the Washington Navy Yard in 1847. Dahlgren was in his element as an ordnance officer. He excelled as a brilliant engineer and was soon given more and more responsibility. -
January 2021 San Antonio, TX 78278-2261 Officers Hello Texican Rangers
The Texas Star Newsletter for the Texican Rangers A Publication of the Texican Rangers An Authentic Cowboy Action Shooting Club That Treasures & Respects the Cowboy Tradition SASS Affiliated PO Box 782261 January 2021 San Antonio, TX 78278-2261 Officers Hello Texican Rangers President Asup Sleeve (954) 632-3621 [email protected] Vice President Burly Bill Brocius The New Year started off with the plan 210-310-9090 to kill the dreaded COVID, and we had [email protected] great success. One third of our shooters were able to complete the massacre with Secretary clean matches. Congrats to Whiskey Kid Tombstone Mary for Top Gun with an average stage time of 25.9 seconds. Congrats to our Top Gun 210-262-7464 Lady - Tombstone Mary. Way to go! [email protected] With an early Saturday morning poll of shooters present, the board did suspend the Treasurer Sunday portion of our January shoot. So, A.D. we intend to finish the job started in 210-862-7464 January at our February match on [email protected] Saturday and Sunday. We will have Cowboy Church at the Range Master February match. Twenty minutes Colorado Horseshoe immediately prior to the shooters meeting 719-231-6109 at the Train Station benches. Everyone is [email protected] welcome. In January, we had four successful Communications graduates of the Wild Bunch 101 class. Dutch Van Horn They all had a good time, got some 210-823-6058 valuable safe 1911 handling skills and a [email protected] few gamer tips as well. For those who were deterred by the weather, there will be a repeat of the class the second Saturday in March. -
Edwin Budding and His Pepperbox: a 21St Century Update
ASAC_Vol104_00-Schneiderman_110017.qxd 1/28/12 8:00 PM Page 55 Edwin Budding and His Pepperbox: A 21st Century Update By Matthew Schneiderman There have been multishot firearms for centuries, but before the 19th century they were expensive to make and dif- ficult to use. In 1807, Alexander Forsyth patented the use of fulminates for firearm ignition1 and ushered in the percus- sion era.2 Copper cap ignition was well established by 18203, which finally made reliable, affordable multishot firearms feasible. Appearing in England about 1825, the Budding pep- perbox was the first step along this path. Historically, it’s an important weapon: 1. the world’s earliest percussion pepperbox;4 2. the world’s earliest percussion revolver;5 3. the earliest percussion pistol with in-line (horizon- tal) nipples, long before Colt (makers of the period called this Central Fire);6 4. the earliest copper cap pistol with an enclosed action;7,8 5. and one of world’s earliest percussion underham- mer (understriker) firearms. grips.14 The barrel group must be removed for capping.15 There is no surviving information on Budding’s gunmak- The barrels, frame, and grip retaining screws are brass.16 ing business; this is a firearm without a historical record. A small, steel, spring-controlled catch at the top edge of the Those of you who collect and research in similar circum- frame indexes the barrels (Figure 2). All are Birmingham stances will probably recognize and enjoy some of the issues proofed; on some, the barrels are numbered. As with other debated in Budding Studies. -
Rifle and Rifle Muskets
Rifle and Rifle Muskets US. Rifle Model 1841 (Mississippi Rifle) Makers Barrels 1) Navy Arms 1) Bill Large (.54 and .58 cal.) 2) Gold Rush Arms 2) Bill Large/Jerry Harmon (with "W" mark) (.58 cal.) 3) Anderson, Bridges 3) Navy Arms & Mullen (using Bill Large .54 cal. barrels) 4) Gold Rush Arms (with “W”) 4) Euroarms, .58 and .54 cal. 5) Numrich Arms 6) TQ. Howard 7) Steven M. Jencso, 8) Apple Town Gun Shop 9) Blair Clowdis 10) Robert A. Hoyt 11) Whitacre's Machine Shop 12) Donald Greene 13) Whitacre/Hoyt (.54 cal) U.S. Rifle Musket Model 1842 Makers Barrels 1) ArmiSport 1) Francis M. Lane (.69 cal.) 2) Whitacre's Machine Shop U.S. Rifle Model 1855 Makers Barrels 1) Will Ellis (with "W", "E" or "W.E." marks) 1) Bill Large 2) Haack & Vikar 2) A.R. Goode 3) John Zimmerman (with long-range rear sight 3) Will Ellis (with "W", "E", or W.E.) and “JGZ” mark on barrel) 4) H&H Barrel Works 4) Edward Nicodemus (marked EN) 5) Jerry Harmon 6) Steven M. Jencso (.58 cal.) 7) Whitacre's Machine Shop 8) Apple Town Gun Shop 9) Robert A. Hoyt 10) Haack & Vikar 11) Kurt Gubert 12) Blair Clowdis 13) Bruce Clark US. Rifle Musket 1855 (Artillery Model) Makers Barrels 1) Haack & Vikar 1) Francis M. Lane 2) Any barrel listed for the U.S. Rifle Musket Model 1855 may be altered to the proper configuration for this arm. 3) Steven M. Jencso (.58 cal.) 4) Whitacre's Machine Shop 5) Apple Town Gun Shop U.S.