CONTENTS

......................................................................................

Contents
INTRODUCTION
6

1 HISTORIC RIFLES

2 THE CIVIL WAR

12

3 TAMING THE FRONTIER

42

4 Two WORLD WARS

80

5 MODERN RIFLES

124

6 SHOTGUNS

200

INDEX

254

INTRODUCTION

Introduction
The development of the Longarm, that being a long smooth-bored barrel mounted on a wooden stock which could be fired from the shoulder using both hands, led to it becoming in common use by infantry from the 14th century onwards. This coincided with it gradually becoming more effective, more accurate, and above all, more reliable. Development went in fits and starts, however, with long periods where nothing much changed. By the time of the American Civil War smoothbore flintlock arms were still in evidence but the pressure of the war made demands on technology which fast-forwarded the development of the longarm by many years. The need for superior accuracy to inflict maximum damage on the other side led to the development of the rifled barrel which enabled troops to pick off the enemy at greater ranges before the opponent's guns became effective. The need for more reliable ignition led to the widespread adoption of the percussion cap. Other developments like the Minie bullet which expanded in the bore of the barrel to give a more effective gas seal also increased range and velocity. Multi-shot firearms like the lever-action Henry Rifle (see page 21) and the Spencer Repeating Carbine (page 37) also came into use on the Union side giving them a tremendous advantage. During the Frontier period (1870-1900) the rifle developed alongside the shotgun (which is also covered in this book), to the point where at the end of the era the first semi-automatic rifles and shotguns appeared, mostly by courtesy of one man -John M. Browning. Two World wars saw both weapons used martially- the shotgun such as the Stevens Model 620 (page 237,) in a close combat role, and the rifle used as the main weapon of the infantry like the Mauser K98 (page 104) but with special versions developed for sniping and elite forces units. Arriving in the modern period we can see state-of-the-art automatic "Assault" rifles like the Colt M16 (page 135) and sophisticated modern sporting weapons - both rifles like the Remington Nylon 66 (page 170) and shotguns like the Mossberg Model 500 (page 221) that have benefited from the pressure of military development. At the same time we show examples of guns which are still shot for pleasure that ignore all trappings of modernity like the traditional English style side by side shotgun, the Gamba London (page 215) and high quality traditional single- shot bolt-action hunting rifles like the Weatherby Mark V series (page 187).

.___,
Baker Rifle

HISTORIC RIFLES

Jesigned by Ezekiel Baker and first selected for service in

wooden mallet was originally issued to assist in this task. It enabled riflemen to operate in open formations and pick off their targets at longer ranges than was possible with smoothbore muskets.

800 , the Baker was the first general issue rifled weapon to

ter British service. A muzzle-loading flintlock piece, it fired a ht-fitting ball that had to be firmly rammed into the barrel. A

Type: Muzzle-loading flintlock rifle Origin: Tower Armouries, England Caliber: .62 Barrel length: 30.25in

Beach
Claudius H. Beach was a gunsmith at Marshall, Michigan and
s

which the original rear sight has been removed and replaced by an adjustable sight mounted on the tang. This weapon is clearly marked with the maker's name, but has no date.

Known to have been active in the years 1868-77,but

::xobably set up business before that date and finished later.

-n s percussion sporting rifle has a cast steel barrel from

Type: Percussion rifle Origin: C. H. Beach, Marshal, Michigan Caliber: .40 Barrel length: 29in

Brown Bess Short Land Pattern Musket

::rom about the 1730 onwards, the British Army was equipped with a series of simple, effective flintlock muskets, nown by the soldiers' nickname of "Brown Bess." This was never a formal title, and the term covered a multitude of variations in caliber, muzzle length and lock detail. The Short Land Pattern shown here entered service from about 1763 onwards, becoming the standard issue arm and a popular gun with soldiers for the next 100 years or so.

Type: Muzzle-loading flintlock mus ket Origin: Tower Armories, England Caliber: .75 Barrel length: 42in

Allen and Wheelock Drop Breech Rille

A single shot breechloader produced from 1860 to 1871, some saw military service in the Civil War as privately procured weapons. It has a part round, part octagonal barrel between 23 and 28 inches long. The breech block drops down when the trigger guard is lowered, ejecting the case and allowing a fresh round to be inserted. Made in a variety of calibers-.22 through .44, all rimfire. Total production 1500-2000.

Type: Single shot breechloading rimfire rifle Origin: Allen & Wheelock, Worcester,Massachusetts Caliber: .42 A&W rimfire Barrel length: 26in

Ball lever Action Carbine

Although this gun was delivered too late for action it is generally considered a Civil War weapon. The carbine is a 7 shot rimfire repeating arm, operated by a lever which doubles as the trigger guard. The left hand side of the receiver has a robust saddle-ring or a sliding lug. It has a two-piece walnut stock with a three-quarter length forend fastened by two barrel bands.

Type: Repeating cartridge carbine Origin: Lamson & Co.,Windsor, Vermont, Caliber: .50 rimfire Barrel length: 20.5in

Bridesburg Model1861 Rille Musket

This Model 1861 rifle musket was manufactured by the Bridesburg Machine Works that was owned by Alfred Jenks and his son, Barton, who at the outbreak of the Civil War, were well-established and successful manufacturers of cotton and wool milling machines. They built a new factory in 1863 to house some 150 workers who produced around 5000 US Government pattern muskets per month.

Type: Percussion service musket Origin: Bridesburg Machine Works, Pennsylvania Caliber: .58 Barrel length: 40in

THE CIVIL WAR

13

ridesburg Model1863 Rifle Musket

-.,e Model 1863 was effectively a Model 1861 with some .,.,nor improvements to the hammer and muzzle retaining oands in the Type I and further modifications to the rearsight and spring retainers for the barrel bands in the Type II. Bridesburg were one of several manufacturers who made contract rifies during the Civil War. By the end they had produced just under 100,000 rifles for the Federal Government.

Type: Percussion servic e musket Origin: Bridesburg Machine Works,Pennsy lv an ia Caliber: .58 Barrel length: 40in

J.F. Brown Target/Sniper Rifle

'"'Jis weapon is of a type used by sharpshooters in the Civil Var when it represented the very latest technology. T he eapon was made by J.F. Brown of Haverhill Massachusetts. '"'Je telescopic sight was manufactured by L.M. Amadon of Bellows Falls, Vermont, who was one of the pioneers of such devices. Both Amadon and Brown were famous in their time for the high quality of their products.

Type: Percussion rifle Origin: J. F. Brown, Haverhill, Massachusetts Caliber: .45 Barrel length: 32.5in

Burnside Carbine
'he prolific Burnside carbine remained in production from

improved by one of his gunsmiths, George P. Foster. Finally Burnside had sold his interests in the company, going on to greater things as the commander of the Army of the Potomac.

857 to 1865. Designed by Ambrose E. Burnside, who

'armed the Bristol Firearms Co. in Rhode Island, and later

Type: Percussion breechloading carbine Origin: Bristol Firearms Co., Providence, Rhode Island Caliber: .54 Barrel length: 21 in

Two WORLD WARS

81

Arisaka Meiii 38th Year Carbine

The Meiji 44th Year type carbine (1911) combined the usual Arisaka action with a much shorter, 20 inch barrel and a permanently fixed bayonet which was attached to a hinge on the nose-cap and swiveled back under the barrel when not in use. This weapon was in production from 1912 to 1942. The two examples shown here are standard production versions, showing the very neat bayonet installation. Although originally
Type: Bolt-action, magazine-fed carbine Origin: Koishigawa/Nagoya/Mukden arsenals Caliber: 6.5 x 50mm Barrel Length: 20in

intended for the cavalry the carbine was popular with infantry involved in jungle warfare, since its shorter length made it easier to handle.

The permanently attached bayonet made the carbine muzzle heavy which affected accurate aim.

The shorter barrel of the carbine further reduced the power and range of the already marginal 6.5mm round.

Arisaka Meiii 91th Year Sniper Rille

T he Meiji 97th Year sniper rifle (1937) was the outcome of a development program that lasted well over ten years. It was based closely on the Meiji 38th Year rifle but the bolt handle was both longer and angled sharply downwards. AToka 2.5x telescopic sight was mounted on the left side of the weapon; this position was intended to make recharging the magazine easier, but did, in fact, make holding and aiming (vital characteristics in a sniper rifle) more difficult.

Type: Bolt-action, magazine-fed sniper rifle Origin: Kokura'/Nagoya arsenals Caliber: 6.5
x

50mm

Barrel length: 30in

Colt-Burgess
The Colt-Burgess was the only attempt by Colt to compete in the lever-action market, using a patent held by Andrew Burgess, of Owego, New York. There were two versions, a rifie with a 25.5 inch barrel and a fifteen-round tubular magazine and a carbine with a 20.5 inch barrel and a twelve round magazine. The Colt-Burgess was only in production from 1883 to 1885 during which time 3,775 rifles and 2,593 carbines were completed.

Type: Tubular magazine, lever-action rifle Origin: Colt, Hartford, Connecticut Caliber: 44 40
. -

Barrel length: 25.5in

Colt lightning
The Colt Lightning was the first slide-action rifle to be manufactured by Colt and was produced in three frame sizes. The small-frame version was available only in .22 caliber with a 24 inch barrel, while the medium frame version (rifie with a barrel length of 26 inches and carbine-barrel length 20 inches) was available in .32-20,.38-40,and .44-40 calibers. The large-frame version (includes rifle with a barrel length of 28 inches and carbine-barrel length 22 inches) was chambered for .38-56 up to .50-95. The largest round for the large-frame rifle was the .50-95 Express and earned the nickname "Express model" for all caliber versions.

Type: tubular magazine, slide-action rifle Origin: Colt ,Hartford, Connecticut Caliber: see text Barrel length: see text

This was the small-frame version, available in .22 Short or Long caliber only, with a 24 inch barrel; this example has seen considerable service and even includes some repair tape.

This one is the medium-frame version, in this case with a 26 inch barrel, chambered for the .32 cartridge.

TAMING THE FRONTIER

43

Dimick Plains Rille

-;orace E. Dimick established his business in St Louis in -849, where he produced Plains rifles and derringers, and :'le weapon seen here is inscribed with his name. This half stock weapon has a very heavy barrel which is rifled, according to the wording of his patent, " ... by a system of straight grooves, extending from the base of the bore to about the position of the trunnions, and twisting from thence to the muzzle."

Type: Plains rifle Origin: H. E. Dimick, St Louis, Missouri Caliber: .58 Barrel length: 32.5in

Marlin-Ballard Number 2 Sporting Rille

The Marlin-Ballard Number 2 was produced at New Haven between 1876 and 1891. It was made in four calibers (.32, .38 rimfire, .38 centerfire, and 44) and in three barrel lengths {26, 28 and 30 inches). The weapon shown here is .44-40 caliber with a 30 inch barrel, and mounts a tang-mounted vernier rearsight and a foresight with a gold-plated protector. This gun was resigned as an ideal long range hunting rifle.

Type: Ballard-action, single-shot rifle Origin: Marlin, New Haven, Connecticut Caliber: .44-40 Barrel length: 30in

Marlin-Ballard Number 4 Rille

The Martin-Ballard Number 4 hunting rifle was produced between 1876 and 1891 in a number of calibers, and this example is in .44-75 Everlasting. Various barrel lengths from 26 to 30 inches were offered, but the purchaser of the rifle seen here made a special order for an extra-long, octagonal 32 inch barrel, although it is still fitted with the usual Rocky Mountain foresight. There is also a barrel-mounted, ramped rearsight and a tang mounted vernier

Type: Ballard-action, single-shot rifle Origin: Marlin, New Haven, Connecticut Caliber: .44-75 Everlasting Barrel length: 32in

Accuracv International PM
The rifle is based around an extremely rigid aluminum frame, with an attached plastic stock with thumbhole grip and a spring-loaded bipod support. A stainless steel barrel is freefloating above the frame, and the action is a short-throw bo which can be operated without the firer having to change their head position.

Type: Bolt-action sniper rifle Origin: Accuracy International, England Caliber: 7,62rnrn Barrel length: 25.8in

AR-7 Survival Rille

In 1959 the legendary Eugene Stoner entered the U.S. Air Force's competition for a very light and compact takedown, survival weapon for downed aircrew; the outcome was the AR- 7. One of its most notable attributes was that the entire weapon could be disassembled and stored in the plastic stock and then re-assembled in seconds.

Type: Takedown, semi-automatic survival rifle Origin: AR-7 Customized Accessories, LLC, Meriden, Connecticut Caliber: .22LR Barrel length: 16in

Armalite AR-18 Rille

Intended to be a cheaper alternative to the AR-15 the AR18 employed a rotating bolt with seven lugs, which lock into the breech end of the barrel, with a short-stroke piston driving the bolt-carrier rearwards. The AR-18 was of all-steel construction, extensive use being made of pressings for the upper and lower receiver bodies, and for a number of external and internal parts; all furniture was glass-reinforced plastic.

Type: Semi-automatic rifle Origin: Armalite Inc, Costa Mesa, California (now at Geneseo, Illinois) Caliber: .223 Barrel length: 20in

MODERN RIFLES

125

This example was made by Sterling in England, and has lugs for a grenade-launcher beneath the barrel,and a mounting for the grenade-launcher sight above the receiver.

Anschutz Target and Sporting Rilles

Members of the Anschutz family have been very active in the gunmaking business in Germany since17 93, mostly producing sporting arms and competition rifles. The company of J. G. Anschutz was established in Suhl in1856 and remained continuously in business until1945, when the town was overrun by the advancing Soviet Red Army. The company was re-established at Ulm in1950, since when it has produced a wide variety of sporting and target rifles, most of them based on the company's own Model1954 bolt action. A small selection of the company's .22 single-shot rifles are shown on this and the following page.

Type: Bolt -action target rifle Origin: Anschutz, Ulm,Germany Caliber: .22 Barrel length: see captions.

This is model1808 ED chambered for .22LR with a19.25 inch barrel

This is a model1710 chambered for .22LR and has a 24 inch barrel.

Akah Drilling
Akah is a large (and existing) German sports goods chain, the name being the German phonetic abbreviation for Albrecht Kind (AK
=

such as shotguns from established manufacturers and then sells them under its own name. This drilling has two 16 gauge shotgun barrels and one Bmm rifle barrel.

Albrecht and child). Like United States

hardware chains and mail order houses, Akah buys in goods

Type: Shotgun/rifle Origin: Akah, Germany Caliber: 16 gauge/8mm Barrel length: 25.5in

Antonio Zoli Ritmo Single-Barrel Trap Shotgun

Antonio Zoli of Brescia makes a range of shotguns, amongst which is this Ritmo trap gun, with an unusually configured vented rib, designed to maximize the heat dissipation from the barrel. The gun has a checkered pistol grip style walnut stock with a recoil pad on the butt.

Type: Single-barrel trap shotgun Origin: Antonio Zoli, Brescia, Italy Caliber: 12 gauge Barrel length: 34in

Antonio Zoli Combinato Safari De Luxe Shotgun/Rifle

The Combinate (combination), shown here combines a rifle barrel in 7mm caliber and a shotgun in 12 gauge in an overand-under configuration, but is also made with barrels in .222 caliber and 20 gauge. The Combinato has box-lock action, double triggers, a folding-leaf rear sight and a 2.75 inch chamber with screw-in choke system.

Type: Combined shotgun/rifle Origin: Antonio Zoli, Brescia, I t aly Caliber: 12 gauge/ 7
x

57mm

Barrel length: 24in

E>ow

SHOTGUNS

201

Angelo Zoli over-and-Under Shotgun

This over-and-under shotgun was made by Italian gunsmith Angelo Zoli (not to be confused with Antonio Zoli, also of Brescia, Italy). This shotgun has an extra full ventilated rib above the top barrel and vents in the spine between the upper and lower barrels. The gun is very well finished with engraved side plates and a Monte Carlo stock with a white line butt recoil pad.

Type: Over-and-under shotgun Origin: Angelo Zoli, Brescia, Italy Caliber: 12 gauge Barrel length: 30in

American Arms Brittanv Double-Barrel Shotgun

The traditionally designed Brittany model entered production in 1989 and was a double-barrel, boxlock shotgun in either 12 gauge with a 27 inch barrel or 20 gauge with a 25 inch barrel. It had automatic ejectors and a single selective trigger. The action was engraved and the walnut stock was checkered.

Type: Double-barrel shotgun Origin: American Arms, Inc., North Kansas City, Missouri Caliber: 12/20 gauge Barrel length: 25, 27in

American Arms Model Silver II Over-and-Under Shotgun

The American Arms company has some manufacturing capability in the United States but the majority of their products are imported from Europe, including the shotguns from Spain where there is a tradition in the manufacture of fine shotguns. This small bore over-and-under shotgun, the Silver II, has two superposed 26 inch vent-ribbed barrels, engraving on the action and a walnut stock.

Type: Over-and-under shotgun Origin: American Arms, Inc., North Kansas City, Missouri Caliber: 28 gauge Barrel length: 26in