Based on the English Enfield Musket design, the scarce and expensive Whitworth rifle includes many improvements over the standard muskets of the day. This Parker Hale Whitworth .451 caliber rifle was manufactured in Italy for Parker Hale. The rifle is stocked in dark stained walnut and trimmed in brass furniture. The color case hardened lock is mated to a polished and blued barrel secured with three barrel bands. Both the forend and wrist are neatly checkered to provide the shooter with a secure grip. The military style ladder style rear sight is calibrated to 1,000 yards. Trigger reach is 14" and the rifle weighs 10.9 pounds. This rifle also comes with a variety of shooting accessories, which include: a period correct hexagon bullet mold by Peter Dyson, custom made hexagon bullet sizer, homemade hexagon wad punch, a variety of cardboard and felt wads, and an assortment of lead bullets.
This rifle features a hex bored barrel, with fast twist to stabilize a long conical .451 caliber bullet, with conventional grease grooves. The bore is bright and clean. Although they are slower to load, we have reports that these rifles will compete nicely with Sharps rifles when shooting metal silhouettes. The barrel is tapered round, with a distinct flat at the breech, which makes a smooth transition to the tang. The left side of the breech is stamped with the serial number. The left side is also stamped PARKER-HALE LTD. BIRMINGTON, ENGLAND FOR BLACKPOWDER ONLY. The top of the barrel is marked Sir Joseph Whitworths Rifling .451 just ahead of the rear sight. The barrel's exterior bluing is in excellent condition.
Originally, hex shaped cast bullets were fired in these rifles. Later, shooters discovered that conventional bullets with lubricated grooves were equally accurate. We offer the correct Lyman bullet mold separately, order #LYMAN-451-114. The military ladder rear sight is marked up to 1,000 yards elevation. The front sight is a hooded post. The barrel is served by a metal ramrod. The ramrod is fitted with a brass loading tip, and the opposite end has 5-.8mm male threads to accept loading and cleaning accessories. The original muzzle protector/ramrod guide is not included.
Finished to a dark brown tone, the walnut stock has only a few minor handling marks from use. This rifle is checkered at the forend and wrist, for best grip while sighting. The brass buttplate and triggerguard are retained with blued steel screws, as original. The long grip rail of the trigger guard is stamped Made in Italy in small print. The brass triggerguard has a swivel mounted to the front of the bow. The forward swivel is mounted to the forward most band. No sling is included with this musket. A brass muzzlecap protects the end grain of the stock. No cheek is formed on the left side of the buttstock. Two brass sideplate washers are inlet into the stock, and counterbored to accept the two lock bolts.
The color case hardened lock has the classic Enfield shaped percussion hammer. Inside this lock is well finished, with tempered parts. The lock has been marked with a crown on the tail and WHITWORTH below the nipple bolster. This replica Enfield rifled musket is fitted with the factory blued musket nipple. Order our #NW-100 nipple wrench. The single trigger provides a smooth release of the lock.
This Whitworth rifle is offered in excellent used condition, the bore is bright and ready to shoot. Perfect for your next reenactment or a day at the range. Order it for a ten day visual inspection. You will be delighted. Else if it does not fit you, return it in unfired condition for same-day refund. Postage is your only risk, when you order any one-of-a-kind gun from Track, whether new, used, or antique.
