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Joined: Apr 2012
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Sidelock
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OP
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I am interested in learning a little more about a couple of guns. One is a Lancaster double with hammers. That was described as the shotgun that Capt John Speke Victorian explorer accidently shot himself with in England. I don't find much information on the manufacturer. The description did mention it was with out the normal safetys, whatever that means. I would assume it had side hammers so?????
The other is the gun Samuel Baker carried while exploring the nile in the 1860's described only as an extremely large gun shooting a 1/2 pound shell. I am assuming a 2 bore??? I wondered if anyone had any further information in either or where I could look.
Last edited by rgh25; 07/12/12 02:40 AM.
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Sidelock
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Off the top of my head;
I'm not familliar with the Lancaster with which Speke had his "accident"; However Samuel white Baker's rifle "Baby" is well known and described in his interesting book "the Albert Nianza". Some of his exploits are described in Richard Akehurst's book "Game Guns and Rifles" He relates how Baker "blew up" a buffalo with an exploading bullet, etc. Good luck in your quest for some of this wonderful African lore.
Best,
Mal
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I've shot a 4 bore single shot rifle with a 3/4 power load and there is no way I'd want to shoot a full power 4 bore so the 2 bore even with light loads is out of the question.
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Haven't found out anything about the Lancaster but did find this on Samuel Bakers "baby"
Among other weapons, I had an extraordinary rifle that carried a half-pound percussion shell; this instrument of torture to the hunter was not sufficiently heavy for the weight of the projectile: it only weighted twenty pounds, thus with a charge of ten drachms [270 grains] of powder and a HALF-POUND shell, the recoil was so terrific, that I spun around like a weathercock in a hurricane. I really dreaded my own rifle, although I have been accustomed to heavy charges of powder and severe recoils for some years. None of my men could fire it, and it was looked upon as a species of awe, and it was name "Jenna-El-Mootfah" (Child of a Cannon) by the Arabs, which being a far too long of a name for practice, I christened it the "Baby", and the scream of this "Baby" loaded with a half-pound shell was always fatal. It was too severe, and I seldom fired it, but it is a curious fact that I never shot a fire with that rifle without bagging. The entire practice, during several years, was confined to about twenty shots. I was afraid to use it, but now and then as it was absolutely necessary, it was cleaned after months of staying loaded. On such occasions my men had the gratification of firing it, and the explosion was always accompanied by two men falling on their backs (one having propped up the shooter) and the "Baby" flying some yards behind them. This rifle was made by Holland & Holland, of Bond Street, and I could highly recommend it for the Goliath of Gath, but not for the men of A.D. 1866.[1]
Last edited by rgh25; 07/11/12 11:51 PM.
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I've shot a 4 bore single shot rifle with a 3/4 power load and there is no way I'd want to shoot a full power 4 bore so the 2 bore even with light loads is out of the question. Your kidding, right?
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In Donald Dallas' Holland and Holland book it talks about Baker's rifle. It also has a picture of the order from one of Holland's Number Books. It is rifle no.1526 and is written down in the Number Book as a 3-Bore. In Dallas' book it says it is the rifle 'Child of a Cannon,' but says it was ordered August 21st, 1869. I believe he is wrong about the year, especially since the picture of the order in the Number Book only shows the 21st and not the month or year. It could also be a typo, because it clearly states that this is indeed 'Child of a Cannon.' There is also a quote from Henry Holland stating "I consider it a fuss to talk about the weight of the action. When I was a worksman I made a rifle for Sir Samuel Baker weighing 22lbs. and there was no fuss in these days." Hope this helps.
Charlie
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Rename this thread:
"The Big Ouch"
I shot my 12 bore the other day with 2-3/4" high brass extra long range and I was miserable after 25 rounds. Alas, I'm a little guy of 6'9", 300+ lbs. I can't fathom 5 shots of a full load from an 8 bore scattergun, much less shooting from an 8 bore rifle with a solid projectile. 4 bore, 3, 2?!?! Wow. This is military ordnance!
This thread is all about pain.
You'd think these guys would have resorted to .30 caliber guns and done brain shots only rather than endure these cannons.
Last edited by Rookhawk; 09/30/12 10:26 AM.
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To quote a Maharaja of SomeIndianProvince, "recoil is insignificant when there's a tiger on the head of your elephant"
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Humpty Dumpty,
Definitely one of my favorite quotes. It was the Maharaja Cooch Behar who said this.
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Humpty Dumpty,
Definitely one of my favorite quotes. It was the Maharaja Cooch Behar who said this. You guys are funny, tigers on elephants and exotic sounding destinations
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Not half as funny as your pic, PM I was about to print something like "be good, guys, and you might be reborn as a maharaja", but, with today's green laws in India, I guess if you wanna do any hunting you better be reborn as a tiger...
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Not half as funny as your pic, PM I was about to print something like "be good, guys, and you might be reborn as a maharaja", but, with today's green laws in India, I guess if you wanna do any hunting you better be reborn as a tiger... If their green laws are similar to the ones in my state it wouldn't pay to be a game animal either!
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PM,
Don't mean to be "funny," but where did you happen to get that map?
Charlie
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It's from the book;
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Speaking of books, Cal Pappas notified me today that his book on bore rifles is available.
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PM, I will have to look for a copy of that book, I am sure it is a good read; didn't know such a book existed. I received an email from Cal as well. I will be purchasing the bore rifle book along with his 600 NE book. Can't wait to read them both!
Charlie
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It's from the book; PM, I looked up the book. Is this the 1908 version you have or the 1993 reprint?
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The map is from a Rowland Ward 1908 edition.
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