SPECTACULAR WHITWORTH PRESENTATION LONG-RANGE MILITARY MATCH RIFLE.

SPECTACULAR WHITWORTH PRESENTATION LONG-RANGE MILITARY MATCH RIFLE. Cal. 455 Perc. Wonderful match rifle with 35” round bbl, Whitworth patent hexagonal bore, windage globe front sight, reverse-mounted ladder rear sight graduated to 1100 meters with a 4” Vernier tang sight mounted on a wooden base. The tang sight is marked “T. Murcott, Gunmakers 68 Haymarket, London S.W.N. 510”. Bbl is marked with Whitworth’s patent and proof marks. Lockplate has the Whitworth logo of a crown over “W” and is marked “Whitworth Rifle Co. Manchester”. It is mounted in a 1-pc walnut stock with three bands having a sling loop on the front band and at the end of the trigger guard. The forestock and wrist have coarse checkering and it has a smooth case colored buttplate and the original metal ramrod with hexagonal head. The right side of the buttstock is inlaid with a 2-3/8”long oval silver plaque which is engraved “National Rifle Association/Queen’s Prize/Whitworth Rifle To Each of 20 Best Shots/Won By Thos Norfolk/Sgt 13th Suffolk Rifle Volunteers/Wimbledon 1862/913 Competitors”. This is surrounded by a 1/4” wide inlaid silver belt on which is inscribed “Presented By His Royal Highness The Duke Of Cambridge Commander-In-Chief, July 14”. It is accompanied by the March 1963 issue of The Gun Report, which has an article starting on page 6, written by Cleves H. Howell, Jr. titled “A Wimbledon Prize of Note”. The 9-page article is about this exact rifle and goes into great detail regarding the formation of the English National Rifle Association, which ultimately gave birth to the American National Rifle Association in 1875. It also deals extensively with the beginnings of the Internationally famous Wimbledon rifle matches and specifically tells how Sgt. Norfolk won this rifle, finishing 5th of the 913 competitors. The article also contains great detail regarding British rifle manufacturers’ accuracy competition, which were all won by the Whitworth Company from 1860 until about 1873 when breech loaders were coming into their own.

Whitworth rifles similar to this one along with those mounted with telescopic sights saw extensive service by the Confederacy by sharpshooters and snipers. Given their wonderful long-range accuracy, they were very effective. SN C835. CONDITION: Exceptionally fine. Bbl, bands, nose cap and trigger guard retain most of their strong bright original blue with only one or two spots of scattered surface rust. Lockplate, breech plug, hammer and buttplate retain most of their strong bright original case colors. Wood is sound with a wonderful dark age patina with a cleaned area around the silver inlays on the buttstock. Brilliant shiny bore. A rare and wonderful rifle that would add to anyone’s collection. 4-49778 JR250 (10,000-15,000)

Auction: Firearms - Fall 2003

Please Note: All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

Image	Lot	Price	Description
	601	$10,350.00	SPECTACULAR WHITWORTH PRESENTATION LONG-RANGE MILITARY MATCH RIFLE. Cal. 455 Perc. Wonderful match rifle with 35” round bbl, Whitworth patent hexagonal bore, windage globe front sight, reverse-mounted ladder rear sight graduated to 1100 meters with a 4” Vernier tang sight mounted on a wooden base. The tang sight is marked “T. Murcott, Gunmakers 68 Haymarket, London S.W.N. 510”. Bbl is marked with Whitworth’s patent and proof marks. Lockplate has the Whitworth logo of a crown over “W” and is marked “Whitworth Rifle Co. Manchester”. It is mounted in a 1-pc walnut stock with three bands having a sling loop on the front band and at the end of the trigger guard. The forestock and wrist have coarse checkering and it has a smooth case colored buttplate and the original metal ramrod with hexagonal head. The right side of the buttstock is inlaid with a 2-3/8”long oval silver plaque which is engraved “National Rifle Association/Queen’s Prize/Whitworth Rifle To Each of 20 Best Shots/Won By Thos Norfolk/Sgt 13th Suffolk Rifle Volunteers/Wimbledon 1862/913 Competitors”. This is surrounded by a 1/4” wide inlaid silver belt on which is inscribed “Presented By His Royal Highness The Duke Of Cambridge Commander-In-Chief, July 14”. It is accompanied by the March 1963 issue of The Gun Report, which has an article starting on page 6, written by Cleves H. Howell, Jr. titled “A Wimbledon Prize of Note”. The 9-page article is about this exact rifle and goes into great detail regarding the formation of the English National Rifle Association, which ultimately gave birth to the American National Rifle Association in 1875. It also deals extensively with the beginnings of the Internationally famous Wimbledon rifle matches and specifically tells how Sgt. Norfolk won this rifle, finishing 5th of the 913 competitors. The article also contains great detail regarding British rifle manufacturers’ accuracy competition, which were all won by the Whitworth Company from 1860 until about 1873 when breech loaders were coming into their own. Whitworth rifles similar to this one along with those mounted with telescopic sights saw extensive service by the Confederacy by sharpshooters and snipers. Given their wonderful long-range accuracy, they were very effective. SN C835. CONDITION: Exceptionally fine. Bbl, bands, nose cap and trigger guard retain most of their strong bright original blue with only one or two spots of scattered surface rust. Lockplate, breech plug, hammer and buttplate retain most of their strong bright original case colors. Wood is sound with a wonderful dark age patina with a cleaned area around the silver inlays on the buttstock. Brilliant shiny bore. A rare and wonderful rifle that would add to anyone’s collection. 4-49778 JR250 (10,000-15,000) Auction: Firearms - Fall 2003 Please Note: All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

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