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Dealers Catalogue
Description
Lot 289
IMPORTANT AND EXTREMELY
RARE WHITWORTH CONFEDERATE SNIPER RIFLE.
SN C529. Cal. .450 Whitworth Hexagonal, 32-13/16" bbl. Marked "WHITWORTH
RIFLE Co MANCHESTER" on the lockplate with Birmingham proof marks
and the serial number C529 on the upper left quadrant of the bbl. The
trigger guard is marked "2nd QUALITY" behind the trigger.
The initials "JSW" are neatly carved into the bottom of the
stock in front of the trigger guard. The brass tube Davidson telescope
was adjusted for elevation by turning the knurled knob on the right
side of the forearm. This loosened the clamp on the left side so the
1-1/2" bar graduated in 1/16 inch increments, with numbers from
0 to 4, could be raised and lowered, pivoting on the rear mount secured
by the rear lockplate screw. The normal bbl sights could be used for
normal short range shooting. There is extensive documentation on the
acquisition of this rifle in Georgia along with correspondence regarding
the use of these guns during the Civil War. This gun was originally
found with the telescopic sight missing, which was later located and
put back on the rifle. From the known Confederate ordnance documents
only 250 of these rifles were purchased by the Confederate Government
and only twenty or thirty were run through the blockade to the Confederacy
in 1862. A recent letter from noted Whitworth Authorities Dr. D. W.
Bailey & W. S. Curtis who will soon be publishing an authoritative
book on the Whitworth rifles include the following comments regarding
this specific gun. "The telescope mounted Whitworth '2nd Quality'
no. C529 Rifle described here conforms to the specification of all the
other known surviving examples of the Confederate Purchase Special Arms.
Specifically, it is in the correct serial number range, the simple form
of the iron sights, two bbl bands, lack of a safety bolt, common breech
rather than patent breech, very short muzzle projection beyond the forend
cap (note that the bbl appears to have lost 3/16" at the muzzle,
it should be 33" exactly), the method of mounting the telescope
the form of the chequering and everything else about it confirm this.
The total number shipped in this telescopic configuration is not known
but only 8 have been traced up to this moment." One identical to
this gun, is pictured in Firearms of the Confederacy, plate XXIII and
discussed on pages 27 and 28. An extremely rare and authentic Confederate
snipers rifle in "out -of-the-attic" condition. This rifle
will be featured in two books currently in progress, as noted in the
attached document. CONDITION: Rust brown patina overall with moderate
to heavy pitting at the breach. The wood is worn and has minor dents
and gouges along with flaws mentioned above. The very rare Davidson
scope has traces of the black finish on the brass tube and more of it
on the eyepiece. There is a small chip in the rear lens of the telescope
causing an occlusion in the viewing field. This does not affect the
overall view of the scope or crosshairs and is easily fixed. This is
an extraordinarily rare Confederate used sniper rifle that probably
represents a once in a lifetime to acquire such an example.
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