Welcome to in the present day’s Photo of the Day! The Ferguson rifle, patented in 1776, was a groundbreaking breech-loading design that might have modified the course of warfare. Created by Main Patrick Ferguson, this .615 caliber rifle featured an progressive vertical screw breech system operated by reducing the set off guard, permitting for an unprecedented 6-10 rounds per minute. To show its capabilities, Ferguson demonstrated firing six correct photographs per minute at 200 yards from a stationary place, and 4 whereas marching. The rifle may even perform reliably when the barrel was deliberately wetted. Regardless of this spectacular efficiency, solely about 100 Ordnance rifles had been manufactured by 4 British gunmakers, led by Durs Egg. Although used successfully on the Battle of Brandywine in 1777, the weapon’s wider adoption was hindered by its complexity and price – 4 gunsmiths may solely produce 100 rifles in six months at 4 instances the price of a typical musket. The rifles additionally suffered from structural weaknesses across the lock mortise, requiring iron reinforcement. After Ferguson was wounded at Brandywine, his experimental unit was disbanded and the rifles had been changed with normal muskets.
“Revolutionary for its time, the Ferguson rifle is taken into account by many to be the king of early breechloading rifles, and essentially the most fascinating, bar none. Initially invented by Captain Patrick Ferguson with intent for army use in 1774 and granted 1776 dated British patent quantity 1139. To function, the knob protruding off the rear of the set off guard is turned one rotation clockwise, which opens up the highest of the breech finish of the barrel, permitting entry for loading of powder and ball; throughout a time when loading from the muzzle finish with a rammer on a smoothbore musket was commonplace. In a fight state of affairs, some great benefits of this method embrace the flexibility to reload drastically faster, and in addition the flexibility to reload from the susceptible place with a purpose to preserve oneself from being uncovered to the enemy, a feat close to inconceivable with a muzzle-loading musket. “
Lot 1285: Ferguson Patent Breechloading Flintlock Rifle by J. Hunt – Terribly Uncommon Late 18th Century Ferguson Patent Breechloading Flintlock Rifle by London Gunmaker Joseph Hunt. (n.d.-c). Rock Island Public sale Firm. {photograph}. Retrieved February 12, 2025, from https://www.rockislandauction.com/element/82/1285/ferguson-patent-breechloading-flintlock-rifle-by-j-hunt.
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