"Scouting" Rifle

[Mississippian1861]

Found this interesting record: In addition to two Whitworth Rifles, six "scouting" rifles are in this return as well. I haven not come across this term in a CS record before. Any ideas what these could be?

 

[Old Soldier]

How about a fairly common light frontier rifle, easily carried and an effective medium range rifle in the right hands? Perhaps they were using a sniping team (like today) with the scouts accompanying the sharpshooters and designating targets. or maybe the 'scouts' were just that, equipped for fast movement ahead of the main body to find and avoid any 'upsets'.

 

[Jeff in Ohio]

Notice the spelling of those first two rifles, "Whitman Rifles"
Maybe these were the Whitman Chocolate versions.

 

[Story]

Notice the spelling of those first two rifles, "Whitman Rifles"
Maybe these were the Whitman Chocolate versions.

Let's see your cursive handwriting these days.

 

[Story]

Any ideas what these could be?

Do a search on COUNTRY RIFLES here, there use to be a fellow who did reproduction conversions of militarized civilian rifles as found in Confederate service.

That'd be my guess.

 

[Mississippian1861]

Do a search on COUNTRY RIFLES here, there use to be a fellow who did reproduction conversions of militarized civilian rifles as found in Confederate service.

That'd be my guess.

I've seen those before in CS records, usually those are listed as "Tennessee" or "Kentucky" rifles.

 

[Story]

I've seen those before in CS records, usually those are listed as "Tennessee" or "Kentucky" rifles.

Have you seen such from the Macon Arsenal? Different ordnance officers, different terms.

And while I'm at it, how about some version of a "thank you" for an answer to your question?

 

[Mississippian1861]

Have you seen such from the Macon Arsenal? Different ordnance officers, different terms.

And while I'm at it, how about some version of a "thank you" for an answer to your question?

Actually, yes, I have seen a lot of records from Macon, as well as these particular officers, and have seen them use the "Tennessee" nomenclature.

 

[Story]

Actually, yes, I have seen a lot of records from Macon, as well as these particular officers, and have seen them use the "Tennessee" nomenclature.

You're welcome anyway

 

[USS ALASKA]

...usually those are listed as "Tennessee" or "Kentucky" rifles.

(PSST - Pennsylvania rifle...Pennsylvania rifle!!!) Yeah, I know - Confederates would NEVER call them that...

Cheers,
USS ALASKA

 

[Nathan Stuart]

Am guessing 'scouting rifles' might have been a convenient description given by the transcriber here to cover a collection (here, six in number) of various one-off types of target rifles, separately categorized from the known whitworth/whitmans and enfields listed. (Have viewed rosters showing known whitworth riflemen described as 'scouts', so thought it reasonable to conclude that 'scouting rifles' were target weapons intended for use by independent scouts undertaking sharpshooting tasks).

 

[iron bender]

'scouting rifle' is something I haven't heard before. I'm aware of the 1960's 'scout rifle', with the over/under .22-.410 for aircrew. I'd guess this refers to plains type short rifles with small bore and lots of rifling for short accurate work. .02. Hunting?

 

[Old Soldier]

'scouting rifle' is something I haven't heard before. I'm aware of the 1960's 'scout rifle', with the over/under .22-.410 for aircrew. I'd guess this refers to plains type short rifles with small bore and lots of rifling for short accurate work. .02. Hunting?

From a different perspective, the British light infantry and rifle regiments were armed with a shorter rifle (P56) since their field task was independent movement and action, often in close country. A 'scout', who would often be a hunter, would also take advantage of 'close county' in their field work and find their hunting rifle best in that task. The 'long' rifles were a traditional close formation weapon being used not only for shooting but, with bayonet fixed, to act as a 'stand-off' weapon against cavalry where a long reach was preferred.

 

[plymouthairrifle]

I just want to thank Mississippian 18 for posting all these very interesting CS records!!i

 

[13 IL Cav & 64 GA Inf]

Have you seen such from the Macon Arsenal? Different ordnance officers, different terms.

And while I'm at it, how about some version of a "thank you" for an answer to your question?

If the Confederacy had lasted one more year, the Macon Arsenal may have been the largest in the world.

 

[grossenr]

Hello, I'm a little late to this conversation, but a couple of things seem apparent. The two "Whitman" rifles are no doubt Whitworths, each equipped with a telescopic sight. The invoice includes 400 rounds and the two bullet moulds (sic) may be for the Whitworths. The same for the slings and 2 ammunition boxes second from the bottom. I may be missing something, but I don't see where "scouting" refers to firearms. I don't have any idea about what that was. And clearly the 1000 Enfield cartridges were designated for the cavalry. Appears to me that two lucky CSA marksmen were about to receive fully-equipped Whitworths.

 

[Bugattimiller]

Hello, I'm a little late to this conversation, but a couple of things seem apparent. The two "Whitman" rifles are no doubt Whitworths, each equipped with a telescopic sight. The invoice includes 400 rounds and the two bullet moulds (sic) may be for the Whitworths. The same for the slings and 2 ammunition boxes second from the bottom. I may be missing something, but I don't see where "scouting" refers to firearms. I don't have any idea about what that was. And clearly the 1000 Enfield cartridges were designated for the cavalry. Appears to me that two lucky CSA marksmen were about to receive fully-equipped Whitworths.

I believe the abbreviation after the word "scouting" is "do" being short for ditto. This being under the word rifles so I think it would be safe to say that they are refering to scouting rifles.