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Waterkloof Rangers and the Minie Rifle (Read 347 times)
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Waterkloof Rangers and the Minie Rifle
01/17/07 at 7:06am
 
I am currently reading Sir Stephen Lakeman's "What I saw In Kaffir-Land" (The Kaffir War 1850-53).
 
Lakeman had seen the Minie rifle in use by the French in 1847. He later volunteered for the Cape when the wars broke out and was given permission to procure 200 rifles on the Minie principle at his own expense and enlist 200 volunteers.
 
"I at once ordered fifty double-barrelled rifles of Messrs Barnett & Sons, Tower Hill, London, and one hundred and fifty single barrels on the same principle, of Messrs Hall, Birmingham."
 
Does anyone know if any of these rifles survive?
 
David
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Re: Waterkloof Rangers and the Minie Rifle
Reply #1 - 01/18/07 at 5:19am
 
I can't say if one of Lakeman's rifles has survived.   Of possible relative interest the "British Soldier's Firearm" has some info on the War Dept's version (Pages 42 - 44) also with a pic of the sealed pattern, lock plate dated 1854. I'm not sure how close this is, date wise, to Lakeman's order?  Regards, Adrian.
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Re: Waterkloof Rangers and the Minie Rifle
Reply #2 - 01/18/07 at 10:18am
 
I have a copy of Lakeman and was not able to divine exactly what sort of Mini� he was using either.  The first /51s were sent to the Cape and I have one dated 1853 assembled by Swinburn for the Ordnance which is from the initial contract for /51s.  I believe it has a South African provenance and no Unit markings suggesting issue to any British Regular Army Unit. If this is one of Waterkloof Ranger weapons I really cannot say.  I have noted that using bullets from an original Type 1 Conical Mini� mould made up into original pattern cartridges with 70 grains of TPPH it shoots exactly to its sight settings although I have not tried it beyond 200 yards.
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Re: Waterkloof Rangers and the Minie Rifle
Reply #3 - 06/25/07 at 11:29am
 
I am interested and are busy with a long term project on the Cape Gun. There must be links to the
1820's  flintlock  double barrelled smooth bore carbine issued to the Cape Mounted Rifles as well as the 1850's double barrelled rifled carbines.
 
These carbines in South Africa seem to all be muzzleloaders.
 
This is what I have received from a collector in  
Johannesburg:
 
"The pattern 1851 double rifled carbine was originally produced for the 12th Lancers. It is believed that about 350 were manufactured. They were received by the    
 
     Lancers in 1852  while stationed in the Cape and handed over to the CMR when the Lancers were transferred to India in 1854. This particular rifle probably never       reached the CMR. It came from Basutoland and circumstantial evidence strongly suggests that it was captured from the Lancers at the battle of Berea in  
 
     December, 1852 when they suffered severe casualties at the hands of Moshesh.
 
 
 
4)       The Jacob Rifle was manufactured in England over the period about 1858 � 1861. These were originally designed by General Jacob for his own regiment, the Scinde Irregular Horse, but due to his sudden death were, so far as known, never issued in India. The makers, Swinburn & Son, were left holding an expensive baby and probably sold their stock on the commercial market to recover their investment. Hence their appearance in South Africa. I unfortunately do not know the circumstances of  their arrival in South Africa but I guess the date would be in the early to mid 1860s. The Jacobs carbine fits a bayonet "
 
I would say that the double rifles that Sir Stephen
purchased were not on the Minie principle but muzzleloaders.
 
Regards
Mark Anderson
Cape Town
 
 
 
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Re: Waterkloof Rangers and the Minie Rifle
Reply #4 - 08/13/07 at 8:21am
 
There appear to be at least three double barrelled carbines in South Africa, at first glance.
One, a Minie Rifled percussion carbine with a cavalry rail is at the Fort Beaufort Museum,
and also there is a lifesize figure ther that has been dressed up in a possible recreation of
Sir Stephen at the head of his volunteers, in real death or glory style. Fort Beaufort has
a Martello Tower, the best Victorian barracks outside the UK, an annual militaria
fair in Sept, and no doubt the above carbine will be fired this year, there.
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