Billinghurst .50 underhammer target rifle

[Gunlaker]

Hi,

What bullet type would likely be used in a .50 cal Billinghurst target rifle? Would it likely be a picket bullet?

I'm having some pictures sent over of a rifle that's being sold on consignment. I don't have a lot of details other than it's a .50 cal underhammer with a heavy barrel, false muzzle, and a 2x WM. Malcolm scope.

thanks,

Chris.

[W. Brown]

Is the false muzzle flycut for a round patch or does it have slots cut in the end to accommodate paper strip patches? If it does not have the latter, or is flat, it is probably a picket rifle. It is my understanding very few (maybe none) William Billinghurst rifles were made as slug rifles proper, but I have seen more than a few that were recut/tooled for use with the longer paper patched bullets at a later time. Old Friendship (NMLRA) shooters recut a good many slug rifles with slower twists /deeper grooves to use with patched round balls, destroying the historical accuracy of many fine old guns.

[Gunlaker]

I was sent some pictures of the rifle. The false muzzle isn't cut for strip patches. The rifle looks to be in decent shape, although it doesn't appear to have the original bullet mould.

Chris.

[W. Brown]

I was sent some pictures of the rifle. The false muzzle isn't cut for strip patches. The rifle looks to be in decent shape, although it doesn't appear to have the original bullet mould.

Chris.

Most likely a picket rifle. It would be nice to see pictures if you can post them.

[Gunlaker]

I'll try and post them tonight.

Chris.

[Gunlaker]

I put some of the photos they sent here:

http://www.bcsingleshot.com/Rifles.html

They've also got a heavy muzzleloading target gun built by Patrick Smith in 1857.

Ultimately I'd like to own a faster twist, cross patch gun one day. I ran into this on the web today. It even has a left handed cheek piece! (I'm a southpaw)

http://www.gunbroker.com/auction/ViewIte...466254#PIC

Chris.

[W. Brown]

Hi Chris,

The Billinghurst appears to be a very nice rifle. The patent muzzle has a circular recess used to center a round cloth precut patch for loading so it is almost certainly a picket rifle unless someone has recut the rifling for a slower twist. The rifle appears to be unfooled with so this is doubtful. Again, it is a very nice rifle.

Patrick Smith of Buffalo NY was a fine workman as well and though his name doesn't have the cachet of some of the other makers, I have seen several of his rifles and they were well made. George Mitchell had a Patrick Smith that shot pretty well.

The Resor outfit may be a round ball gun. The absence of moulds, swages and loading implements for a somewhat recently made rifle like this is a little suspect and H. Lloyd made roundball guns as well. The tools of course could have been mislaid or sold to someone else for use with another rifle.

Bill

[Gunlaker]

Thank you very much for the information Bill. Knowledge of these types of guns is quite hard to come by. I appreciate it.

Chris.

[W. Brown]

Thank you very much for the information Bill. Knowledge of these types of guns is quite hard to come by. I appreciate it.

Chris.

You are welcome. So many of those who were mentors to me have passed away over the past few years. A handful are still left though. It concerns me that the younger folks have no interest in these types of rifles. When I became interested in heavy ML target rifles I was the youngest person on the firing line. Over 20 years later, I still am...