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The Snider Rifle 1/1/21
From: Ian
I have a BSA MkIII Yeomanry Carbine marked 1885 on the lock. It is marked III on the knox form and has the standard WD markings. It is also marked NSW PSCC (New South Wales Public Schools Cadet Corps) 1990 on the butt and a very very faint cartouche with the word training as well. It does not appear to be a shortened rifle as the fore end is solid with no dowel filled cleaning rod groove.
I have been able to find next to nothing on this lovely little carbine, can anyone shed any light on this model for me?
The 17th Lancers 12/28/20
From: David Hubbard
Greetings, I'm trying to verify some info about a James Henry Taylor who reportedly (by grandson) served as a Horse Trainer/ Specialist with the 17th/21st Lancers and about 1925 was in India at Khyber Pass. An unusual snake link was passed through his family - it is of white metal and is a rattlesnake with a (Yorkshire) rose centered on its back. I have a CDV image of exactly such a snake with English Crest keepers worn by a Col. George Sackville Cotter who commanded A troop of the Madras Horse Artillery 1852-54. Are you aware of such a snake buckle used by the Lancers? Prior to his service with the Lancers, he was with the 4th/7th Dragoon Guards - perhaps the snake was associated with the Dragoons. I have imagery of the snake I can send or post. Thanks for any help, Dave Hubbard
Wrenching the Webley Revolver 12/24/20
From: Bart Ewing
I have a webley 455 MK2 I am looking for a hammer spring and a landyard ring any idea where one can be found. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
The Snider Bullet 11/20/17
From: John
Apologies for such a long delay Jesse but I lost the site. The use of 0.600" bullets is the modern choice but we have modern knowledge of how to do these things. Colonel Boxer had to work forwards from the previous muzzle loading bullets. It is hard to get that design to expand into the rifling when it depends upon the lead obturating upon itself with inertia when given the initial kick and the plug forcing forwards. It at this exact time that it is being restrained within the mouth of the case and then enters a throat wider than the bullet.
But for a reproduction of the original you have to go down that road. The 0.600" comes out of the case sized ready to enter the throat which is of similar diameter and is simply mechanically swaged down to 0.585" groove diameter at the rear of the rifling and emerges at 0.580" as the rifling groove depth reduces. I use the 0.600" in the brass Brazilian 24 bore shotgun case. FWIW at 50 metres I have yet to do better than a cut down 24 bore Fiocchi plastic shotgun case with a .600" round ball........
Swiss No4 powder seems to do the best job ob the original design these days but I use No5 now in the modern style. Your problem in making reproduction bullets is getting a mould that will give you the nose cavity which is essential in making them fly as they did back then. They first filled the cavity with a Sycamore plug, then just spun the nose lead over the cavity hole. William Metford developed the cavity to hold an explosive charge but filled it with charcoal powder for target shooting to show the shot more clearly. One can get a lightweight wall filler from DIY shops that would be a simple material to fill an open cavity. If you ever track down a mould make who can do both the base cavity and the nose cavity there are shooters who would gladly join in buying one I dare say.
The PHSADC Webley Fosbery 11/19/17
From: George
.455 no longer available from Fiochi or Hornady in the U.S. Unless someone starts making it available it's going to be a tough sell if you cannot purchase ammo off the shelf. HMS Tiptoe, where are you now? 11/9/17
From: Anne Adams
HELLO,
I remember the incident very well. My husband was in Tiptoe when she ran aground up the Clyde in 64. He was a leading operator. I also remember the article as well and the title. I thought it was written by the Sun newspaper but that did not launch until September of that year. The only newspapers that I remember the family having were the Mirror, The Mail and Express.
I did have a cutting in a scrapbook of the Tiptoe and also the other submarines my husband served on.
I will have a search but I think with the moving we did It may have got lost. If I find it I will certainly let you know. 150 pounder Armstrong Gun at West Point
From: John
Apologies for such a long delay Jesse but I lost the site. The use of 0.600" bullets is the modern choice but we have modern knowledge of how to do these things. Colonel Boxer had to work forwards from the previous muzzle loading bullets. It is hard to get that design to expand into the rifling when it depends upon the lead obturating upon itself with inertia when given the initial kick and the plug forcing forwards. It at this exact time that it is being restrained within the mouth of the case and then enters a throat wider than the bullet.
But for a reproduction of the original you have to go down that road. The 0.600" comes out of the case sized ready to enter the throat which is of similar diameter and is simply mechanically swaged down to 0.585" groove diameter at the rear of the rifling and emerges at 0.580" as the rifling groove depth reduces. I use the 0.600" in the brass Brazilian 24 bore shotgun case. FWIW at 50 metres I have yet to do better than a cut down 24 bore Fiocchi plastic shotgun case with a .600" round ball........
Swiss No4 powder seems to do the best job ob the original design these days but I use No5 now in the modern style. Your problem in making reproduction bullets is getting a mould that will give you the nose cavity which is essential in making them fly as they did back then. They first filled the cavity with a Sycamore plug, then just spun the nose lead over the cavity hole. William Metford developed the cavity to hold an explosive charge but filled it with charcoal powder for target shooting to show the shot more clearly. One can get a lightweight wall filler from DIY shops that would be a simple material to fill an open cavity. If you ever track down a mould make who can do both the base cavity and the nose cavity there are shooters who would gladly join in buying one I dare say.
The PHSADC Webley Fosbery 11/19/17
From: George
.455 no longer available from Fiochi or Hornady in the U.S. Unless someone starts making it available it's going to be a tough sell if you cannot purchase ammo off the shelf. HMS Tiptoe, where are you now? 11/9/17
From: Anne Adams
HELLO,
I remember the incident very well. My husband was in Tiptoe when she ran aground up the Clyde in 64. He was a leading operator. I also remember the article as well and the title. I thought it was written by the Sun newspaper but that did not launch until September of that year. The only newspapers that I remember the family having were the Mirror, The Mail and Express.
I did have a cutting in a scrapbook of the Tiptoe and also the other submarines my husband served on.
I will have a search but I think with the moving we did It may have got lost. If I find it I will certainly let you know. 150 pounder Armstrong Gun at West Point
150 pounder Armstrong Gun at West Point
150 pounder Armstrong Gun at West Point
150 pounder Armstrong Gun at West Poin The Snider Bullet 11/5/16