Whitworth rifle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Whitworth rifle |
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| Type | Muzzle-loading rifle |
| Place of origin |  United Kingdom |
| Service history | |
| Used by | United Kingdom Canada Australia New Zealand Confederate States of America |
| Wars | American Civil War, Australian frontier wars, New Zealand wars |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Joseph Whitworth |
| Designed | 1854–1857 |
| Manufacturer | Whitworth Rifle Company |
| Produced | 1857–1865 |
| No. built | 13,400 |
| Specifications | |
| Length | 49 in (1,200 mm) |
| Barrel length | 33 in (840 mm) |
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| Calibre | 0.451 in (11.5 mm) |
| Action | Percussion lock |
| Rate of fire | 2–3 rounds per minute |
| Effective firing range | 800 to 1,000 yd (730 to 910 m) |
| Maximum firing range | 1,500 yd (1,400 m) |
| Feed system | Muzzle-loaded |
| Sights | Classic iron sights, Scope |
The Whitworth rifle was a special gun made in England during the late 1800s. It was a single-shot gun, meaning you loaded one bullet at a time from the front (the muzzleloader part). It was super accurate for its time, especially with a telescopic sight (a scope!). Many people called it the world's first sniper rifle because of its amazing aim.
This rifle was used a lot by sharpshooters (expert shooters) for the Confederate side in the American Civil War. It was known for hitting targets from far away. For example, it was used to shoot several generals from the Union side. One of these was Major General John Sedgwick, who was a very high-ranking Union officer. He was shot on May 9, 1864, during the Battle of Spotsylvania.
The Whitworth rifle was thought to be the best rifle for accuracy in its time. It was better than other guns made in Britain, France, America, or anywhere else.
Contents
How the Whitworth Rifle Was Invented
The Whitworth rifle was created by Sir Joseph Whitworth. He was a very important British engineer and business owner. Whitworth tried out new ideas for cannons. He used a special kind of barrel called polygonal rifling instead of the usual round barrels. He got a patent for this idea in 1854.
This new hexagonal (six-sided) rifling meant the bullet didn't have to "bite" into grooves. Instead, it fit perfectly into the barrel. In 1856, he showed how well this worked with some brass cannons.
Testing the New Rifle
Whitworth believed his new system could make a more accurate rifle. He wanted to replace the Pattern 1853 Enfield rifle, which had some problems during the Crimean War. So, in 1857, tests were done to compare Whitworth's design with the Enfield.
The Whitworth rifle performed much better than the Enfield in these tests. It was about three times more accurate and could shoot much farther. For example, the Whitworth rifle could hit a target from 2,000 yards (1,800 m) away. The Enfield could only hit the same target from 1,400 yards (1,300 m).
Even though the Whitworth rifle did very well, the British government decided not to use it. This was because the Whitworth's barrel got dirty much faster than the Enfield's. Also, the Whitworth rifle cost about four times more to make. However, the Whitworth Rifle Company still sold the gun to the French army. They also sold many to the Confederacy during the American Civil War.
What Made the Whitworth Rifle Special
The barrel design of the Whitworth rifle was very new and different. However, the rest of the gun was similar to other rifles used at that time. It was loaded from the front (muzzle-loaded) and used a percussion lock to fire. This firing part was much like the one on the Enfield rifle.
Bullet Design and Barrel Twist
Whitworth chose to use a longer, thinner bullet than what was common back then. This meant the inside of the barrel was smaller, about .451 inches (11.5 mm) wide. This was much smaller than the Enfield's barrel, which was .577 inches (14.7 mm) wide. Whitworth's bullets flew more steadily over long distances. This was because they were longer and thinner.
Soon, the .577 inches (14.7 mm) size was called "fullbore." The .451 inches (11.5 mm) size, used in long-range shooting sports, was called "smallbore." Whitworth also designed the barrel with a very tight twist. This twist was 1 turn in 20 inches (510 mm). This was much tighter than the Enfield's twist, which was 1 turn in 78 inches (2,000 mm). This extra spin made the bullet fly even more steadily.
The Whitworth rifle weighed about 9 lb (4.1 kg). Other long-range rifles of that time often had much bigger and heavier barrels. This made them too heavy for regular soldiers to carry and use easily.
Using the Rifle for Accuracy
When sharpshooters used Whitworth rifles, they often rested them against a tree or a log. This helped them aim even better and hit their targets more accurately. Some sharpshooters even carried their own special forked rests. This way, they always had something to steady their rifle with.
How the Whitworth Rifle Was Used in History
In 1860, the British National Rifle Association had its first big meeting. Queen Victoria herself fired the first shot from a Whitworth rifle. She used a special machine to hold the gun steady. From 400 yards (370 m) away, her shot hit the very center of the target!
Britain officially stayed neutral during the American Civil War. However, private gun makers were allowed to sell weapons to either side. The Whitworth Rifle Company, for example, sold many rifles to the Confederacy. The Confederate soldiers who used these rifles were called Whitworth Sharpshooters. They often went with regular soldiers. Their main job was to take out Union artillery gun crews, who operated cannons.
Famous Shots in the Civil War
The Whitworth rifle was blamed for at least two deaths of high-ranking officers. On September 19, 1863, during the Battle of Chickamauga, a Confederate sharpshooter shot and badly wounded Union General William Haines Lytle. The general was leading a charge at the time.
Later in the war, on May 9, 1864, during the Battle of Spotsylvania Courthouse, Union General John Sedgwick was talking to his troops. He was telling them off for hiding from Confederate sharpshooters. The sharpshooters were about 800 to 1,000 yards (730 to 910 m) away. Shots from Whitworth rifles made a loud whistling noise because of their special hexagonal bullets. This made his staff and nearby soldiers duck for cover.
Sedgwick walked around in the open and famously said, "What? Men dodging this way for single bullets? What will you do when they open fire along the whole line? I am ashamed of you. They couldn't hit an elephant at this distance." His men still flinched, and he repeated, "I'm ashamed of you, dodging that way. They couldn't hit an elephant at this distance." Just seconds later, he fell forward. A bullet had hit him below his left eye. At least five Confederate soldiers later said they fired the shot that killed him.
Different Kinds of Whitworth Rifles
Whitworth rifles were made with different barrel lengths. These were 33, 36 and 39 inches (840, 910 and 990 mm) long. This made the whole gun 49, 52 and 55 inches (1,200, 1,300 and 1,400 mm) long. The barrel was held to the wooden stock with two or three metal bands, depending on its length.
Bullets and Sights
Two main types of bullets were used with the Whitworth rifle: hexagonal and cylindrical. The cylindrical bullets had to be made of very soft lead. They had a small hollow space at the back. When the gunpowder exploded, the bullet would expand to fit the hexagonal barrel perfectly. Bullets found after being fired looked just as hexagonal as the ones made in the factory. The hexagonal-shaped bullets did not need to expand. They were already the right shape to grip the barrel. So, they could be made from harder lead.
The sights on Whitworth rifles were different too. Some had flip-up sights like the Enfield. These could be set for distances up to 1,200 yards (1,100 m). Others had a sliding sight that could be adjusted for wind. Some had simple front sights, while others had a post and globe sight. A few Whitworth rifles even had a special four power telescopic sight (scope). This scope was designed by Colonel Davidson. Unlike modern scopes, it was attached to the left side of the gun, not the top. While this scope was very advanced, it was known for giving the shooter a black eye because the rifle kicked back quite a bit when fired.
The typical Confederate rifle used in the U.S. Civil War had a 33 inches (840 mm) barrel. It had open sights, and the front sight could be adjusted for wind. The wooden stock went almost to the end of the barrel, making the rifle look a bit short and "snub-nosed."
Whitworth Rifles Today
In the past, companies like Parker-Hale and Euroarms made copies of Whitworth rifles. In September 2015, an Italian company called Davide Pedersoli started making new Whitworth rifles.
These new rifles are often used by people who re-enact battles from the American Civil War. They are also popular with people who enjoy shooting muzzleloading firearms. All the rifles used in the American Civil War had 33 inches (840 mm) barrels and two barrel bands. However, the new reproduction rifles are longer, with three barrel bands, and are like the civilian versions of the famous gun. Many shooters enjoy using them in target shooting contests, even at ranges up to 1,000 yards (910 m).
Images for kids
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A Whitworth rifle with a special scope attached.
See also
- British military rifles
- Rifles in the American Civil War
