What is this? Whitworth Misnomer?

[J.H. Moose]

A few years back, when I was first getting into collecting at the age of 15, I bought this "Whitworth bullet" from a bait and tackle store in Wilmington, it was purportedly found at Fort Fisher. This was probably the first relic I bought that was more than 50 bucks, and was really happy with it for a while. I didn't really think about it much until recently when I learned that the "double-ender whitworths" found at Fort Fisher are actually rounds for the allusive Vandenberg volley gun that was present at the fort (this bullet was being sold alongside a "double-ender"). This sparked my curiosity about this bullet which has sat on my shelf for years, if it's a Whitworth, why isn't it hexagonal? It's .45 but doesn't really look like most of the other ones I've seen. Is this for some Whitworth variant without hexagonal rifling I've never heard about? Is this a "double-ender" situation where it's not even a Whitworth design at all? What's the deal?

 

[JackADriscoll]

Here is a great recent thread on this topic

Whitworth sniper round or post war? | Small Arms & Ammunition

I have this bullet from my dad's collection and the original auction page for it says it's a Whitworth sniper round. I listed it on ebay months ago and had someone tell me that it was actually a post war round because of the nipple in the base cavity. So I canceled the auction. Recently a friend...

civilwartalk.com

 

[J.H. Moose]

Here is a great recent thread on this topic

Whitworth sniper round or post war? | Small Arms & Ammunition

I have this bullet from my dad's collection and the original auction page for it says it's a Whitworth sniper round. I listed it on ebay months ago and had someone tell me that it was actually a post war round because of the nipple in the base cavity. So I canceled the auction. Recently a friend...

civilwartalk.com

Looks like a good match, however mine had a deeper base and lacks the dimple in the center. If it was actually found at Fisher, I couldn't think of an explanation for someone with a postwar sharps to be present, there wasn't much military activity whatsoever in the area until WW2. I can't be sure though

 

[JackADriscoll]

Looks like a good match, however mine had a deeper base and lacks the dimple in the center. If it was actually found at Fisher, I couldn't think of an explanation for someone with a postwar sharps to be present, there wasn't much military activity whatsoever in the area until WW2. I can't be sure though

Civil War Kerr Rifle Bullet (Enfield) - Civil War Antiques

This bullet belongs to a Kerr Rifle. It is similar in style to the standard .577 Tower Enfield type but is longer in length. Click to learn more.

civilwarshop.com

Is this it?

 

[UCVRelics]

why isn't it hexagonal

The hex were imported from England. This was Southern made. Still a very nice relic.

 

[UCVRelics]

Civil War Kerr Rifle Bullet (Enfield) - Civil War Antiques

This bullet belongs to a Kerr Rifle. It is similar in style to the standard .577 Tower Enfield type but is longer in length. Click to learn more.

civilwarshop.com

Is this it?

That one is .577. His is 45

 

[J.H. Moose]

Civil War Kerr Rifle Bullet (Enfield) - Civil War Antiques

This bullet belongs to a Kerr Rifle. It is similar in style to the standard .577 Tower Enfield type but is longer in length. Click to learn more.

civilwarshop.com

Is this it?

It could be, it seems the right shape and size

 

[JackADriscoll]

That one is .577. His is 45

Ahhhh yes thank you

 

[JackADriscoll]

That's a great find. Some day I'll own a whitworth

 

[J.H. Moose]

The hex were imported from England. This was Southern made. Still a very nice relic.

I was thinking that but I've never been able to find much info on these knockoffs. The most I've read on the matter is basic allusions to Confederate copies of British rounds and ordnance being produced at Fayetteville Arsenal NC (most infamously the unusable knockoff 8-inch shells for the Armstrongs at Fort Fisher and Caswell) so I always kinda assumed my "Whitworth" was such a copy

 

[J.H. Moose]

That's a great find. Some day I'll own a whitworth

Maybe one will come up for sale on the infinity mantle from our friend on eBay, hotglued directly to a bonafide button from John Reynolds coat

 

[JackADriscoll]

Maybe one will come up for sale on the infinity mantle from our friend on eBay, hotglued directly to a bonafide button from John Reynolds coat

Id ignore the eBay firearms policy on that one