W.E. Metford in 1878
G.T. Teasdale-Bucknell in his book “Experts on Guns & Shooting” (1900) referred to Metford as the ‘father of the match rifle.’
Following Meford’s death in 1899, a memoir was published in May 1900, from which this paragraph is selected:
“As early as 1852 Mr Metford had carried out experiments at the long distance of 1,200 yards. About the end of that year he suggested a hollow-based bullet for the Enfield Rifle which was brought to the notice of the Committee on Small Arms in 1853 by Mr Pritchett, and adopted by them. Both at this time and afterwards, he made many experiments on alloys of lead, tin and antimony and on the changes in hardness which take place in them with time.”
This memoir together with an obituary and list of reference material are available on the Research Press web site.
Read more: W.E. Metford (1824-1899)
