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British Firearms (Pre. 1914) >> Muzzle Loading - Sporting Guns and Rifles >> Whitworth Cartridges
http://www.lrml.org/cgi-bin/researchpress/YaBB.pl?num=1110973210

Message started by dbm on 03/16/05 at 11:40am

Title: Whitworth Cartridges
Post by dbm on 03/16/05 at 11:40am

In the mid 1860's, use of the Whitworth mechanically-fitting scraping-rod in competition was forbidden by the NRA. So, Mr. Whitworth transferred the scraper from the end of the rod to the cartridge itself. He incorporated a wad attached to the base composed of grease, placed between two copper discs which exactly fitted the bore of the rifle.

Has anyone ever examined such a cartridge and are there any pictures available? Thanks.

David

Title: Re: Whitworth Cartridges
Post by Bill_Curtis on 03/19/05 at 11:29pm

Yes I have. Got some photos somewhere. The scraper wads appear to be of some metal looking like zinc with a composition wad between the metal wads.

Title: Re: Whitworth Cartridges
Post by dbm on 03/21/05 at 7:41pm

I have obtained the following image of a Whitworth cartridge with 'scrapper wad'.

http://www.researchpress.co.uk/pics/whitworth_cart.jpg

It appears that there is an outer wrap missing from the cartridge that would normally have covered the wad and end portion of the cartridge. This appears to be so from Roads "British Soldier's Firearm" and the paler colouring of the cartridge wrapper at one end. Is my interpretation correct? Thanks.

David

Title: Re: Whitworth Cartridges
Post by A._Roads on 03/29/05 at 4:28am

The Westley Richards Cartridges had the wad glued to the base, were then dipped in hot wax at the bullet end for the length of the bullet, they were then wrapped with the cover (which had a cloth tear strip to facilitate its removal).

Assuming the similarities of this to the Whitworth, it would be a case to say the the outer cover went over the base wad as well, practicalities of transport & contamination would make it virtually essential. So I'd say your interpretation is correct.
Adrian.

Title: Re: Whitworth Cartridges
Post by A._Roads on 05/12/05 at 11:39am

I have come across some further info on this, relating to the military issue cartridge. From the way in which the cartridges were dipped in lube & scraped etc, it left a wad of lubricant on the base of the cartridge, the cartridge was then placed, nose end first. into a pulp cover. A soft felt wad was placed over the lubricant "grease" wad to act as a buffer and to protect it, over which was placed a cover, in the form of a case of paper, with a tear tape inside, and a band of green paper gummed over the junction. So the wad was encased inside the cover on service issue. Adrian.

Title: Re: Whitworth Cartridges
Post by Bill_Curtis on 05/12/05 at 9:58pm

I have two original monkey-tail cartridges, one complete with its outer wrapping and tear off ribbon, the other without the outer wrapping.

As for the Whitworth, I have a copy of the original cartridge for the Enfield Whitworth Pattern 1863 which shows that the outer case to be torn off was only half the length of the complete cartridge and covered the bullet paper and the grease wad. The interesting thing about this cartridge was the "Stop Band" which was located immediately adjacent to the tear off outer wrap. When the wrap was removed this thick band was located so that as the cartridge was inserted into the muzzle it came to a stop against the muzzle thus locating the bullet at exactly the right depth. It also assistd the motion of breaking off the cartridge paper prior to ramming. It is by far the most complicated of the paper cartridges of the day and therefore expensive.

Title: Re: Whitworth Cartridges
Post by Bill_Curtis on 05/12/05 at 10:02pm

Re my last : I do not an actual cartridge, what I have is the Ordnance Ammunition Plate signed by Boxer and dated June 1864.