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English Percussion Park Rifle

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Feltwad

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Enclosed are a couple of images that members may find interesting of a 50 calibre park rifle that was used in the country estate parks for the culling of park deer. This gun I have restored and housed in a fitted case by the well know gun maker Benjamin Wood ward
Feltwad


 
Enclosed are a couple of images that members may find interesting of a 50 calibre park rifle that was used in the country estate parks for the culling of park deer. This gun I have restored and housed in a fitted case by the well know gun maker Benjamin Wood ward
Feltwad

Putting aside my own foible of not liking back action locks, I find that rifle most appealing for the elegance of design and function and note the buttplate was designed for serious use. Also, I really like the case and accoutrements you chose to rest it in, as it should be.

I would love to see more pictures of the rifle, if you have them.

Congratulations for owning an extremely nice rifle and for the restoration work you did!

Gus
 
Keeping on the theme here's an English sporting rifle by Harvey of Exeter and Plymouth. The overall length of the rifle is 41”, with a barrel of 25.5” including breech plug. Bore size is about .52”, with 7 wide grooves and narrow lands. The rifle has a single set trigger, leaf rearsight and an ivory or bone foresight dovetailed into the barrel. The rifle bears Plymouth on the lock and likely dates from the 1840s.

David

harvey-rp.jpg
 
Enclosed are a couple of images that members may find interesting of a 50 calibre park rifle that was used in the country estate parks for the culling of park deer. This gun I have restored and housed in a fitted case by the well know gun maker Benjamin Wood ward
Feltwad


Interesting but please tell us how do you know it's a "park" rifle and what are the differences betwixt a "park" rifle and an ordinary rife?
I mean why would this rifle only be suitable in a "park" and an ordinary rifle not not suitable?
 
Interesting but please tell us how do you know it's a "park" rifle and what are the differences betwixt a "park" rifle and an ordinary rife?
I mean why would this rifle only be suitable in a "park" and an ordinary rifle not not suitable?
I'm not sure the name indicates other rifles are "not suitable". ;)
Perhaps the name indicates the first rifle is only suitable when you ride out in the carriage to the park, assemble it, and cull some deer, as it's very long so gives one a very precise sight plane, but it's very heavy so not suited for carry all day in a stalking hunt. While the second rifle would be handier in brush and in stalking all day ??

LD
 
Dear David . Don't you think that plan of rifleing more Forsyth's ideas ? the wide grouves narrow lands, and likley if so a slower pitch. He's later but who knows might be chance or Forsyth.s influence Regards Rudyard
 
I'm not sure the name indicates other rifles are "not suitable". ;)
Perhaps the name indicates the first rifle is only suitable when you ride out in the carriage to the park, assemble it, and cull some deer, as it's very long so gives one a very precise sight plane, but it's very heavy so not suited for carry all day in a stalking hunt. While the second rifle would be handier in brush and in stalking all day ??

LD
Dave, I don't understand. I will explain.

Some park deer will let you tickle their ears.
Park deer are often in need of food supplement so are use to being fed....by a carriage and man/men!
So why would it need to be heavy?
How heavy is this rifle?

On the hill or in the forest stalking deer a gentleman was often accompanied.
That aside, if he shoots a good deer and is alone, at some point physical exertion is upon him to some degree and if a rifle is heavy it will pail in to insignificance once he, alone is trying to get the beast to where the horse can get aside!
 
The main difference between a park rifle and a stalking rifle is the bore size plus the weight , most park rifles are around the 50 calibre with a 28 inch octangle barrel and ordinary sights .For a stalking rifle used on the hill these are known has bore sizes with 16 been a popular bore size most have set triggers and a 28 to 30 inch octangle barrel and are heavier than a park rifle .
As for park deer are so tame that you can tickle their ears maybe in a kiddies zoo but not in a well run herd of park deer , has for the feeding this is done if the snow is deep by providing hay and some corn ,
For the country gentleman to ride out in his carriage to shoot a deer very few did deer were culled by the keepers to provide meat for the big house
Feltwad
 
Let's just settle something for our American and other readers. Here in UK a 'park' where the estate owner has a rifle like this could be anything up to around 4000-5000 acres, sometimes more. It's not a place where the Victorian public went to have picnics or ride the swings. Look up Zion Park to get some idea of what is entailed.
 
Keeping on the theme here's an English sporting rifle by Harvey of Exeter and Plymouth. The overall length of the rifle is 41”, with a barrel of 25.5” including breech plug. Bore size is about .52”, with 7 wide grooves and narrow lands. The rifle has a single set trigger, leaf rearsight and an ivory or bone foresight dovetailed into the barrel. The rifle bears Plymouth on the lock and likely dates from the 1840s.

David

Another elegant rifle! Thanks for sharing.

Gus
 
Ok so we're absolutely sure it was not used on the common also know as a park for target shooting by the founders and members of the then new British national rifle association?

Thanks feltwad, I always look forward to your charming replies to my questions.
Some park deer are supplemented diet wise in the summer months too. A small park and a large herd can soon eat the grass off in summer too, especially under drought conditions. How do I know this? Because I use to cull such a herd in an enclosed park and they were supplemented often and not just with hay and grain.

I use to think asking an older man questions would further my own knowledge.
I guess it depends on which older man you ask!

Let's just settle something for our American and other readers. Here in UK a 'park' where the estate owner has a rifle like this could be anything up to around 4000-5000 acres, sometimes more. It's not a place where the Victorian public went to have picnics or ride the swings. Look up Zion Park to get some idea of what is entailed.

Most private estates of this size were / are working estates with farms, quarries or other working viable industry. Sure they had their 'park' areas and some 'parks' had areas for herds but of 5000 acres +/- would also have (possibly) a natural wild population of deer also.

A 'common' also known as a 'park' used by the general public was also used for target practice/ competition as I understand it.

I'm done here as my British peers hate my questions such is the discord and disunity between shooting folk of the UK.
 
I would not say there is disunity between the shooting people of the UK it is the attitude of some.so lets not spoil a interesting thread with nit picking questions ;)
Feltwad
 
Feltwad mentioned the larger bore British sporting rifles. Pictured is a 17 bore 2-groove percussion muzzle loading sporting rifle by J. Blanch of London, c1840. This has a single set trigger, safety catch and a 32.5” barrel, firing a one ounce belted ball. To learn more about the evolution of these rifles, J.N. George’s book, ‘English Guns and Rifles’ (Stackpole, 1947), is a good source.

David

9788F35A-AAFE-4DD3-B296-076BB65D893B.jpeg
 
Ok so we're absolutely sure it was not used on the common also know as a park for target shooting by the founders and members of the then new British national rifle association?
The rifles pictured pre-date the NRA by two decades... that’s not to say they may not still have been in use when the United Kingdom NRA was founded in 1859. Its aims included "the encouragement of Volunteer Rifle Corps and the promotion of rifle shooting throughout Great Britain." Their first rifle meeting was held on Wimbledon Common in 1860 and shooting was at mid and long range with Enfield rifles and small-bore rifles such as Whitworth. A running deer target was added in 1862 although I'm note sure what rifles were eligible for use.

David
 
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