NZAR # 311 Webley Green Revolver

A trial of a new way of displaying NZAR information pages.

NZAR # 378 Webley RIC No 1 Revolver

NZART ID:378,   Arm Type: Pistol,            Date of Draft: (V1) 15 January 2013,       Compiled by: Phil Cregeen

Pattern:  Revolver, Webley  RIC No 1 & No 1 New Model, Introduced in to NZ Service: 1870, Withdrawn: End of WWII

Maker: P Webley & Son, Weaman Street, Birmingham. Also copied by the English, Belgium and French gun trade.

Calibres: .442”, .450”, .476”, 320”, 380”,   Bore:  5 groove RH twist.   Barrel length: 4.5 in., OA Length: 9.0 in.      

Type of Action: Solid frame, double action, six shot,   Weight: 1 lb 14 oz.

Sights: foresight blade & U groove in frame,       Ammunition: .476  lead bullet 265 grain and 18 grains black powder

RIC No 1 First Pattern

                   

                                                               RIC No 1 Second Pattern                                                                             

Introduced in 1867 this revolver was adopted the following year by the Royal Irish Constabulary (RIC) and from then on was known as the RIC model. It was purchased by many colonial police forces and became famous all over the world and remained in production for nearly 60 years. A 6 shot solid frame revolver with 4.5 inch ovate barrel, plain cylinder, side loading gate and swivel ejector rod on the RHS and one piece walnut grip with lanyard ring. It was initially made in .442 calibre, but also later in a range of British (.320 to .476)   and American calibres (.45 Colt and .44 UMC).   On the first pattern of RIC the ejector rod was housed in a collar that swivelled around the barrel, in the late 1870s this was changed to a swivel screwed to the front of the frame and the rod has an acorn shaped end, this became the Second Pattern.  A further change was introduced in 1881 with the adoption of the Enfield Mk II cartridge (.476), this included a fluted chamber and was designated RIC No 1 New Model.

                                                               RIC No 1 New Model    

                       

Markings: Typically marked on the LHS of the frame with Webley Logo, Webley RIC No 1, calibre and serial No.

New Zealand service: RIC revolvers were purchased privately by some Officers and NCOs and also by Police Forces in New Zealand.  For military service they would have been in .450, .455/.476 calibre to take service ammunition, for Police service often smaller calibres were used. RIC revolvers were never officially adopted for military service although they were called up for the Home Guard in WW II.

Acknowledgements: John Osborne

Reference:                Webley Revolvers by G Bruce & C Reinhart

NZAR # 377 Luger P 08 Pistol

NZAR # 377, ARM TYPE: Pistol. Draft date (V1) 30 Dec 2012, Compiled by John Osborne AA DTT PhD FSG,

Pattern: Luger P1908. Caliber: 9mm HP. Introduced: RNZAF 1942. Withdrawn: after WWII

Specifications: Maker: Deutsche Waffen- und Munitionsfabriken (DWM) & others. Barrel: 95mm Caliber: 9x19mm, Range 50m. Action: toggle-locked recoil-operated semi-automatic pistol.  Fixed rear sight and vee foresight. Magazine: 8 round detachable. Butt machined for shoulder stock Muzzle velocity: 350 m/s. Weight: .871Kg. The Luger is well known, its use by Germans during World War I & World War II. 

New Zealand Service: In 1942 the P08 Lugers held in NZ Government stores were issued to RNZAF officers in the Aerodrome Defence Squadrons, order 7B/N20- Pistols Luger 1 per officer and order 12C/N20 – Small Arms Ammunition 9mm, 48 rounds per Luger Pistol.

Captured P08 Lugers were carried unofficially and used by some NZ Service personal during WWI and WWII. At the end of WWI many captured Lugers were repatriated to New Zealand both officially and by returning individual servicemen, many of these Lugers were surrendered under amnesty (and held in NZ Government store) following the 1920 Arms Act which introduced universal firearms registration and outlawed the civilian possession of machine guns, machine carbines and 'semi-automatic pistols' as well as ammunition for such arms. The outcome of the 1920 Act was the 'disappearance' of large numbers of pistols and revolvers. Many of these did not resurface until after the 1983 Arms Act which permitted their lawful possession - although in limited circumstances.

                        

Acknowledgements and special thanks to:   NZ National Achieves Military Records.   Osborne Arms Museum armsmuseum@xtra.co.nz ,Phil Cregeen.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luger_pistol

NZAR # 7 Snider Enfield Rifle (abridged)

NZAR: 7,  Arm Type: Rifle,  Date of Draft: (V1) 16 September 2012,Compiled by: Phil Cregeen

Pattern: 1866 Snider Enfield Rifle(Snider Long Rifle/3 band Snider) Introduced to NZ Service:1868, Withdrawn: 1907 Makers: Enfield; Tower; London Armoury Co; also Leige

Calibre: .577 in, 25 bore, Bore: 3 groove uniform or progressive depth rifling RH twist 1 turn in 78 in.,

Barrel length: 36.5 in. OA Length: 54.2 in. Weight: 9 lb 4 oz. (4.2 kg)

Type of Action: Snider breech loading, single shot           

Magazine:  None,  Sights: rear sight bed to 400, leaf to 950 yds., foresight barleycorn on fixed block.

Bayonet:  Pat 1853 Socket. (NZAR # 58)

Following Ordnance Board trials in the period 1864 to 66 to determine a suitable method of converting the large stocks of Pattern 1853 Enfield Rifles to breech loader, the invention of Jacob Snider was chosen together with the centre fire cartridge developed by Col. Boxer.  This in its final form involved cutting off the breech end of the barrel and replacing it with a shoe containing a hinged breech block with firing pin that swung open to the right and include an ejector claw, the shoe being screwed into the rear end of the original barrel.  The conversion was announced in LOC 1327 dated 18 September 1866 with the ammunition by LOC 1328 dated 20 August 1866 and was generally applied to the 4^th Type or model of the Pat 53 with Baddeley barrel bands.  The conversion quickly progressed from Mk I to Mk I* (squared rim to cartridge), Mk II* and Mk II** (larger breech block & cupped hammer) leading to the Mk III introduced by LOC 1759 dated 13 Jan 1869 which included a breech block locking bolt, and steel instead of iron barrel, these Mk III rifles were made new rather than conversions.(1)  

New Zealand Service The first Snider rifles to see service in New Zealand were issued to a detachment of the 18^th Royal Irish Regiment of Foot bound for Wellington in March 1868 and to those serving at Napier by May 1868. (2)  According to the Evening Post of the 23 November 1868 they appear to have been used on the range for the first time in November of that year.

In the Colonial Government arms return of 26 August 1869 there were no Sniders owned by the Colony, however it was reported that 500 Hay medium rifles had been sent to England for conversion in February of that year. By September of the same year 1,900 Snider Rifles had been received from British Stores, although many were exchanged later for short rifles and carbines. In December 1869 the Wanganui Herald reported 50 picked men armed with Snider rifles had been sent from Wellington to Taupo to help combat the Hoa hoa uprising.

By 1875 the snider rifle was on more general issue to Volunteer forces within the colony and by 1879 there were 696 on issue or in store, increasing to 1049 by 1892. From 1890 onwards the snider was gradually replaced by the Martini Henry (1895), Martini Enfield (1898) and Lee Enfield (1901), however some Volunteer Rifles corps were still armed with the snider as late at 1902 and in the 1905 arms return 920 are shown still on issue in the colony.

In 1907 7,000 snider rifles (long, medium and short rifles) were sold to an English firm and shipped to England.

  

Acknowledgements:       Information and photos-John Osborne, Phil Cregeen,

References:                 (1) 577 Pattern 1853 Rifle Musket & Snider-Enfield by I D Skennerton

(2). http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz

 Observed NZ marked Snider Rifles 

NZ Marked
Arm	NZ Marked	Maker	Dated
Snider 3 band	NZ 165	Enfield	1864
Snider 3 band Mk II**	NZ S 1104	Enfield	1865
Snider 3 band Mk II	N^Z 1743 S	LAC	1861
Snider 3 band Mk II	NZ S 1229	Enfield	1861
Snider 3 band Mk II**	NZ 1399	Enfield	1861
Snider 3 band Mk II**	NZ S 1096	Enfield	1859
Snider 3 band Mk III	A NZ 80	J Rigby Dublin
Snider 3 Band Mk III	NZ 264-50-3106	Tower	1855

  

    

NZAR # 36 Pattern 53 Enfield Rifle (abridged)

NZART ID: 36,  Arm Type: Rifle,  Date of Draft: (V1) 3 August 2012,       Compiled by: Phil Cregeen

Pattern: 1853 Enfield Rifle (Enfield Long Rifle/ 3 band Enfield) Introduced in to NZ Service:1858, Withdrawn 1880-85

Makers: Enfield; Tower; London Armoury Co; also Leige (2^nd Type), Belgium; and Windsor, USA (2^nd Type).

Calibre: .577 in, 25 bore, Bore: 3 groove uniform or progressive depth rifling RH twist 1turn in 78in.,

Barrel length: 39.0 in. OA Length: 51.75 in. Weight: 9 lb 3 oz. (4.1 kg)

Type of Action: percussion muzzle loader, single shot    

Magazine:  None,  Sights: rear sight bed to 400, leaf to 900 yds. or 1000 yds., foresight barleycorn on fixed block.

Bayonet:  Pat 1853 Socket. (NZAR # 58)

   

In the mid 1800s contemporary analysis of battle casualties indicated that it required 3,000 rounds to put one man out of action using smooth bore muskets, and that their accurate range was no better than 75yds. With other European countries adapting rifles Britain had to do something.  In 1851 the 0.702 calibre Minie rifle was put into production as a replacement service arm for the Pattern 42 Musket and 28,000 were initially ordered.  This rifle followed the same basic design as the Pattern 1842 smooth bore musket with the exception of rifling (4 grooves 1 in 78in twist) and a ladder rear sight. It saw only limited issue although it was used in the Crimea at the battles of Alma and Inkerman. The accuracy of this rifle, although an improvement on the smooth bore was found to be wanting due to difficulty aligning the conoidal bullet, which had no parallel sides, in the bore and thus causing instability in flight. (1)  

During 1852 trials were conducted to determine the best design for a new service rifle using rifles submitted by various private gun makers as well Lovell on behalf of the government.  The result was a new rifle created at Enfield in 1853 incorporating ideas and improvements from the various rifles submitted.  It had a bore of 0.577in. and a barrel length of 39.0 in. with 3 groove uniform rifling with 1 in 78 in. twist firing a hollow based cylindro-conoidal bullet. The barrel was secured in the stock by 3 barrel bands which also held the ram rod and the lock was greatly improved on previous designs incorporating a swivel to reduce friction. Initially made with a fixed rear sight for line infantry and ladder rear sight for rifle regiments this was dropped in 1854 in favour of the ladder sight graduated to 900 yds. The bayonet for this rifle also incorporated a new feature and that was the French designed locking ring used for the first time on the Pattern 53 socket bayonet. As a result of delays and modifications the Pattern 53 Enfield was finally introduced into service in 1855.  During its service life there were a further 15 modifications as well as other improvements developed by Hay, Lancaster and Whitworth and special smoothbore versions for Indian troops following the 1857 mutiny and various pattern of carbine.

There are four main variants all were termed Pattern 1853 Enfield Rifle, (frequently referred to as the “Enfield Rifle” or by collectors as “3 band Enfield” to distinguish it from the 2 band Short Rifle) although changes did not all occur at the same time and implementation varied between manufacturers:

1^st Type: screw clamp bands, convex sides to rear sight bed and leaf to 900 yds, narrow ram rod channel and locks dated 1853-55.

2^nd Type: solid bands with spring clips, straight sided rear sight block and leaf to 1000yds, stronger hammer, wider front band and stronger ram rod with jag tip, locks dated 1855-58.

3^rd Type: screw clamp bands, wider rod slot and stronger rod, progressive depth rifling (depth .011 to .013” deep at the breech end reducing to .005” to .007” deep at the muzzle) and butt shortened by 1 inch (LOC 45 dated 5 Dec 1859), locks dated 1858-63.

4^th Type: Baddeley bands with recessed screws, (LOC 292 dated 3 June 1861) nearly all Enfield manufacture and most were converted to Snider. (2)     

                                                

When the Pattern 53 was first adopted the method of manufacture was still as previous in that components were manufactured by contractors in Birmingham and shipped to the store in the Tower from whence they were issued to “setters up” for completion as required.  This changed in 1857 when the Royal Small Arms Manufactory at Enfield started producing rifles using special purpose built machinery commissioned and imported from the USA.  This had the potential to produce 1,200 identical rifles per week, with interchangeable parts. To produce the 63 components of the rifle required 680 machines to undertake 719 separate machining operations.  In the first full year 1858 26,739 rifles were manufactured at Enfield. Rifles manufactured at Enfield, London Armoury and Windsor were considered interchangeable.

For the first time all British soldiers could be armed with a common, quality long range rifle. The School of Musketry was established at Hythe in 1854 to instruct Officers and NCOs in the drill required for the new rifle as well as teaching long range shooting skills.  Such was the accuracy of the Pattern 53 Rifle that it lead to a new sport of target rifle shooting, the formation of the National rifle Association in 1859 and the popularity of the Volunteer Movement.  Many “Volunteer rifles” based on the Pat. 53 were made by private gun makers.  

In the late 1860s a large quantity of Pattern 53 rifles were converted to breech loader by the Snider principle. (See NZAR # 7 & # 87)                          

                           

New Zealand Service 

The Pattern 1853 rifle first saw service in New Zealand with British troops stationed here. One example is the 65^th regiment who served in New Zealand from 1846 to 1865 and received their Pattern 53 Enfield in 1858, the regiment being headquartered in Wellington with detachments stationed at Wanganui, Taranaki and Auckland.  The Enfield rifles seeing action in the 1860 campaigns in Taranaki and the Waikato.(3)

In 1861 a number of Enfield rifles in the hands of the 65^th suffered from burst barrels, as many as 12 in one company in 6 months as reported in the Taranaki Herald of 12 March 1861.  The newspaper speculated that this was due to poor quality of materials and the damaged rifles were to be sent home to the Tower, however the most probable explanation is that the bullets were not properly seated on the powder when loaded thus causing excessive pressure. In combat it proved to be an effective rifle with targets being hit from 400 to 800 yds. (3)

The numbers of Imperial troops varied as hostilities with local Maori dictated and reached a peak of 10,000 men in the early 1860s. However the burden of paying for the Imperial troops almost bankrupted the Colonial Government and from 1865 a self reliant policy was adopted, where colonial forces took over the fighting role and Imperial forces were gradually withdrawn. The last Imperial regiment to leave being the 18^th Regiment in February 1870.

In 1865 the New Zealand Colonial Government placed an order for 5000 Enfield Long Rifles and Bayonets with its London agent. Unfortunately there were no surplus arms available in England and the agent recommended that the order be placed for the superior 25 bore Hay Pattern Enfield Rifle. The New Zealand Government continued to buy more Enfield Rifles and Carbines as available, including Long & Short rifles, Artillery and Cavalry carbines.

In August 1869 a comprehensive return of arms and ammunition (no Snider Enfield’s listed) was prepared for the Select Committee. The return showed the arms and ammunition on issue and in store in the Colony of New Zealand to the Armed Constabulary, Militia, Volunteers and Native Auxiliaries. These included over 20,000 serviceable 25 bore Enfield rifles and carbines (including Hay pattern medium rifles, the principal arm, Long, Short (sword) rifles, Artillery and Cavalry Carbines). There were over 3 million rounds of Enfield Rifle ammunition.

By 1882 only 914 Enfield Rifles (type not specified) were on issue with a further 10,553 held in stores.  This had reduced to 256 Enfield Rifles held in stores by 1884 and none held in 1885 (4).

  

 NZ Marked Pattern 53 observed to date

NZ Marked
Arm	NZ Marked	Maker	Dated
Pat 53 Rifle	B NZ 576	Tower	1862
Pat 53 Rifle	B NZ 973	Tower	1862
Pat 53 Rifle	NZ 1935	Tower	1862
Pat 53 Rifle	NZ 3945	Tower	1856
Pat 53 Rifle 2nd Type	NZ 1231	Tower	1856
Pat 53 Rifle 2nd Type	NZ 129	Tower	1856
Pat 53 Rifle 3rd Type	B NZ 630	Tower	1862

    

Acknowledgements:       Information and photos-John Osborne, Phil Cregeen,

References:                 (1)The Pattern 1853 Enfield Rifle by Peter Smithurst

(2).577 Pattern 1853 Rifle Musket & Snider-Enfield by I D Skennerton

                                    (3)1853 Enfield rifle marked to 65^th Regiment of Foot by Tim Ryan & Bruce Cairns

                                    NZAHAA Gazette June 2008.

                                    (4) AJHR 1869 H 4a

NZAR # 82 - 1858 Hay Medium Enfield Rifle (abridged photos)

NZAR # 82, Arm Type: Rifle, Date of Draft: (V1) 1 August 2012, Compiled by: John Osborne & Phil Cregeen

Pattern:  1858 Hay Medium Enfield Rifle    Introduced in to NZ Service: 1865,     Withdrawn 1880 to 85

Makers: Hollis & Sheath, Isaac Hollis & Sons, Tower, Calisher & Terry

Calibre: .577 in, 25 bore, Bore: 3 groove progressive depth rifling RH twist 1turn in 48 in.,

Barrel length: 36.0 in. OA Length: 51.75 in. Weight: 9 lb 9 oz. (4.4 kg)

Type of Action: percussion muzzle loader, single shot          

Magazine:  None,  Sights: rear sight bed to 400, leaf to 1,150 yds., foresight barleycorn on fixed block.

Bayonet:  Pat 1853 Socket with slightly enlarged socket bore to accommodate larger diameter barrel.

Major General Charles Crawford Hay was appointed the first Inspector General of Musketry and Commandant of the Hythe School of Musketry from 1854 to 1867. Hay carried out extensive experimental shooting even up to a mile and found that the 25 bore Pattern 1853 39” barrel three band Enfield Long Rifle shot reasonably well in all conditions with its three groove, progressive depth 1 turn in 78” twist rifling. However, the accuracy obtained from the 1 in 78” twist 33” barrel short “two band” rifle was only fair and the accuracy from the 24” barrel Artillery Carbine and 20” Cavalry Carbine also with 1 in 78” twist was poor.

Hay proved in 1857 that a barrel length of 36” gave the same muzzle velocity as the 39” barrel using the standard British Military issue cartridge. After extensive trials Hay determined that a rifling twist of 1 turn in 48” in the 25 bore gave good accuracy from all barrel lengths with their varying muzzle velocities (the longer the barrel up to 36” the higher the muzzle velocity), even the lowest velocity from the 20” barrel cavalry carbine with 1 in 48” twist rifling was still able to rotate the projectile fast enough at the lower muzzle velocity to stabilize it and achieve relatively good short range accuracy.

Hay also found that the rear V sight on the 1853 Pattern Long Rifle was too close to the eye for clear focusing and moved the rear sight forward. By shortening the barrel length to 36” the rear sling ring attachment needed to be moved back from in front of the trigger guard to midway between the butt and the trigger guard. Hay also recommended the furniture be made of bronze (gun-metal) rather than brass or steel.

New Zealand service

In 1865 the New Zealand Colonial Government placed an order for 5000 Enfield Long Rifles and Bayonets with its London agent. Unfortunately there were no surplus arms available in England and the agent recommended that the order be placed for the superior 25 bore Hay Pattern Enfield Rifle. The NZ Colonial

Government agreed and the order was placed with the Birmingham Gun makers Hollis & Sheath.  A second order for another 5000 Hay patterns followed but Hollis & Sheath could not supply, so the order was given to Calisher & Terry who subcontracted out to other gun making firms, many of these rifles were assembled at the Tower. The New Zealand Government continued to buy more Enfield Rifles and Carbines as available including Long & Short, Artillery and Cavalry carbines and Terry Carbines

In August 1869 a comprehensive return of arms and ammunition (no Snider Enfield’s listed) was prepared for the Select Committee. The return showed the arms and ammunition on issue and in store in the Colony of New Zealand to the Armed Constabulary, Militia, Volunteers and Native Auxiliaries. These included over 20,000 serviceable 25 bore Enfield rifles and carbines (including Hay pattern medium rifles, the principal arm, Long, Short (sword) rifles, Artillery and Cavalry Carbines) and included 1763 Terry 30 bore percussion breech loading carbines. There were over 3 million rounds of Enfield Rifle ammunition and half a million rounds of Terry Carbine ammunition. This return of arms also listed the arms issued to individual friendly Maori and included Tupara (double barrelled guns).

On 16 February 1869 500 Hay Pattern Medium Enfield Rifles were sent to England for conversion to the Snider Breech Loading Mark III Action these arrived back in NZ in November 1869 and were issued to the NZ Armed Constabulary in Napier and Taupo Districts and the Garrisons on the Napier – Taupo Road.

The breech loading Hay Pattern Snider proved not to have the long range accuracy of the muzzle loading Enfield Rifles, but the Breech Loading Hay Snider could be reloaded and fired much faster than the Muzzle Loading Enfield. The Snider ammunition delivered equally as good ballistics and accuracy from the 30.5” barrel Snider Enfield Short Rifle with 5 groove 1 in 48 twist rifling compared to the 33.5” barrel Hay pattern Snider and with the added advantage the short rifle could be fitted with a saw back sword bayonet which was more suitable for New Zealand’s bush environment.

The Hay Pattern Medium Rifle was the most accurate of all muzzle loading Enfield Rifles. They were used by all Australasian Colonies competitors at the first (and last using muzzle-loaders) Australasian shooting championships held in Victoria in 1872. New Zealand was placed 3rd.

Most of the New Zealand Hay Pattern Medium Rifles were traded as part exchange for replacement Snider Short rifles (often referred to in New Zealand as Sword Rifles) and most of the 500 New Zealand Hay Patterns converted to Snider were later altered into carbines for use by the school cadets.

By 1882 only 914 Enfield Rifles (type not specified) were on issue with a further 10,553 held in stores.  This had reduced to 256 Enfield Rifles held in stores by 1884 and none held in 1885 (1).

  

Typical Marking

         

Hollis & Sheath Lock

 NZ marked Hay Pattern 1858 observed to date.

Hay Pattern
Arm	NZ Marked	Maker	Dated	Serial No
Hay Pat 58	NZ 398
Hay Pat 58	NZ 2626	Hollis & Sheath
Hay Pat 58	NZ 2111	Hollis & Sheath		2074
Hay Pat 58	NZ 2537	Hollis & Sheath
Hay Pat 58	NZ 2555	Hollis & Sheath		2887
Hay Pat 58	NZ 1517	Hollis & Sheath
Hay Pat 58	NZ 598	Hollis & Sheath
Hay Pat 58	NZ 2508	Hollis & Sheath
Hay Pat 58	NZ 2274	Hollis & Sheath
Hay Pat 58	NZ 1598	Hollis & Sheath
Hay Pat 58	NZ 1993	Hollis & Sheath
Hay Pat 58	NZ 4669	Isaac Hollis & Son
Hay Pat 58	NZ 4201	Isaac Hollis & son
Hay Pat 58	NZ 3000	Isaac Hollis & Son
Hay Pat 58	NZ 1027	Isaac Hollis & Sons
Hay Pat 58	H NZ 588	Tower	1864
Hay Pat 58	NZ 252	Tower	1865
Hay Pat 58	K/NZ/341	Tower	1865
Hay Pat 58	H/NZ/799	Tower	1864
Hay Pat 58	I NZ 955	Tower	1865	842
Hay Pat 58	G NZ 340	Tower	1864

Note:  Hollis & Sheath became Isaac Hollis and Sons from 1861

           

Acknowledgements:   Information and photos-John Osborne, John Carter, Phil Cregeen,

References:                 Hay 1858 Pattern Enfield Rifle by John Osborne

1.      AJHR 1885 H 4 a