Scarce .31 hexagonal Whitworth bullet...

[acwrelics]

Nice example with the original paper patch. These were manufactured for the Whitworth sporting rifle.

 

[mofederal]

I would say it was pretty uncommon.

 

[Lanyard Puller]

Whitworths' were made for .451 caliber hexagonal or conical bullets. Your find is a bit small for a Whitworth.

 

[Booner]

Here's a link to an "Exceedingly Rare" .30 cal. hex bore Whitworth sporting/match rifle.

I'll note that the picture posted of the paper patched bullet doesn't appear to be hexagonal, but looks can be deceiving. I think we need some providence that the bullet was made for a Whitworth. A paper patched bullet in the .30 caliber range were not uncommon for target rifles.

Rare Whitworth Sporting/Match Rifle – Ref A1330 | ariantrading.com

www.ariantrading.com

 

[ResearchPress]

Whitworths' were made for .451 caliber hexagonal or conical bullets. Your find is a bit small for a Whitworth.

Whilst the vast majority of Whitworth's were .451, there was a vary small number of .30 cal sporting rifles made. Similarly there's also a very small number of large bore Whitworth's (around .568 cal). We have approaching 700 rifles documented in the Whitworth Research Project, and although slight in number have examples of both .30 and .568 recorded.

David

 

[Rebforever]

A paper patch does not make since for a Whitworth Rifle. I can change mind if there is a provenance along with a book or manufacturer paper.

 

[acwrelics]

A paper patch does not make since for a Whitworth Rifle. I can change mind if there is a provenance along with a book or manufacturer paper.

There are a lot of different Whitworth projectiles that are patched. They are not hard to find on the internet.

 

[Rebforever]

There are a lot of different Whitworth projectiles that are patched. They are not hard to find on the internet.

You are right. Thanks.

 

[UCVRelics]

The small bore Whitworth's were not that common but were out there but the CS never bought or imported a small bore Whitworth and even though they may have been one or 2 brought from home the tell tell is the relic bullets that are found and there ain't none that I have ever seen in any relic bullet book or show or collector. IMHO these were not used in the CW.

 

[acwrelics]

The small bore Whitworth's were not that common but were out there but the CS never bought or imported a small bore Whitworth and even though they may have been one or 2 brought from home the tell tell is the relic bullets that are found and there ain't none that I have ever seen in any relic bullet book or show or collector. IMHO these were not used in the CW.

You are correct. There is no known evidence of these being used here during the ACW. The rifles were produced between 1864-1865. The same goes for most hexagonal examples you see out there. The majority of the .45 hexagonal projectiles were meant for match shooting and they take some time to load.