Anyone Know What This Is - Bisley Box ? Update. See Post 16.

Dukester

Dukester

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Friend gave this to me about 30 years ago, she had little information on its origins, she just wanted to get rid of all the dangerous old ammunition ! . I am poor at internet sleuthery so any assistance would be appreciated. I have no idea what some of the little technical micrometer looking things did. Also looking for any tips on leather care for it.


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shortandlong said:
That’s pretty crazy dude it looks like a dandy piece of history there
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I know , very lucky to have gotten it, but all the mystery attached bums me out. I think the company that made the box ( W.Gregory ) donated it as a prize but the engraving is blank where it says awarded to ! I believe the overall champ at Bisley that year ( 1899 ) was a Canadian soldier named Wilson, but the newspaper account says the prize was a bicycle !
The Bisley winds that year at 900 yards were largely light and unpredictable !
 
The two thing below the pack of 303 ball are ventometers for a long lee, well one is for sure, for shooting long range with the service sights, they gave you fine adjustment and the you could turn it to make a small pencil mark with the "blade" on the rear sight to adjust for windage on your rear sight, I hope that explains it it sounds good in my head but I've never been good at explaining things
 
My understanding which could easily be incorrect is that the "Gregory Prize" was for standing "off the shoulder" shooting (vs kneeling or prone shooting) at the "Bisley Rifle competition"
 
Bigbubba said:
My understanding which could easily be incorrect is that the "Gregory Prize" was for standing "off the shoulder" shooting (vs kneeling or prone shooting) at the "Bisley Rifle competition"
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From the same time period Bigbubba? I am hoping CV32 or purple or Sly , people who might have actually been there would chirp in??
 
Dukester said:
Thank you so much rempel429 ! So not actual attachments but sighting accessories of some sort?
What is the round disk shaped thing that looks like something from an optometrists office??
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That wold be an adjustable aperture for use like a peep rear sight. I was given one years ago by an old time pistol shooter, from Prince George, B.C., a pharmacist, Gordon Wood.
The piece in front of the eye with aperture was about the size of a .25 cent piece, front hole perhaps 1/4 in diameter but on the eye side was a smaller disc with a number of holes from large down to small . this disc rotated to that the desired aperture was kept from turning by a detent. It has a light flat brass 3/8 in. going up over the forehead to be held in place by a cap.
It was an elegant way to shoot a pistol.

Was not the first Ross Rifle being used by Canadians at Bisley too?

Gordon Wood also gave me a Colt Single action Bisley revolver, in .38-20 I think. I never fired it. He also gave me a Peace Maker in .44, 6-7 in barrel with holster which was well beat up from long usage the hammer spur was file down probably for fanning. It had no ejector under the barrell, broken off but a large nail used for the cylinder. The but showed where it had bee used for fence repair. The 3rd pistol also a Colt revolver double action in .38. His younger brother bought about 1900, never returned from France. Gordon Wood and his brother were the two only children of Kamloops fist two school teachers.

Gordon opened his first drug store the railroad between Prince Rupert and Prince George, later moving to P.G. I forget the name of the place where the store was but it and/or P.G. were the rail head for shipping cattle driven north. He told me the men wold hit town, not yet paid and would use Gordon like a pawn broker. The two single action Colts were obtained that way. I forgot to mention that the beat up .44 came in a well made holster long enough for the long barrel. That pistol had been holstered with the trigger guard bare!

FWIW

SOF
 
WRT leather care. I have some old leather too, and from my readings...leave it alone. Don't use anything on it, for example neatsfoot oil, which will hasten it's deterioration.

Cool item btw!
 
cantom said:
WRT leather care. I have some old leather too, and from my readings...leave it alone. Don't use anything on it, for example neatsfoot oil, which will hasten it's deterioration.

Cool item btw!
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Thank you cantom.
Leaving it alone has been my long time policy with it. The box lives in a cabinet with a bunch of NR's , not too damp.

Sly Old Fox said:
That wold be an adjustable aperture for use like a peep rear sight. I was given one years ago by an old time pistol shooter, from Prince George, B.C., a pharmacist, Gordon Wood.
The piece in front of the eye with aperture was about the size of a .25 cent piece, front hole perhaps 1/4 in diameter but on the eye side was a smaller disc with a number of holes from large down to small . this disc rotated to that the desired aperture was kept from turning by a detent. It has a light flat brass 3/8 in. going up over the forehead to be held in place by a cap.
It was an elegant way to shoot a pistol.

Was not the first Ross Rifle being used by Canadians at Bisley too?

SOF
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Thanks Sly, I figured it was something like that.

No idea about the Ross, but in one of the articles I read researching the box it mentions the competition was moved to Bisely from Wimbleden because of housing developments and public pressure. Some things never go away !
 
Having never seen one in real life I can't be positive. Looks like you might have a couple of micrometers there for adjusting sights to precise settings.
 
The Gregory Prize was awarded by Messrs. Gregory at the Annual Prize Meeting at Bisley. It was a 7 shot match fired at 200y. The prize was a Magazine Lee Enfield Rifle and a shooting kit, which included a binocular telescope (field glasses).
The Prize in 1899 was won by Capt. AP Cartwright of The Royal Grenadiers. The Royal Regiment of Canada is the successor to the Royal Grenadiers.
In this photo from The London Illustrated News, the Canadian Kolapore Team for 1899 is pictured. Of the men in the photo, one man is wearing the crossbelt of a grenadier (just left of center). That would be AP Cartwright.

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When Dukester posted photos of this shooting kit, my jaw literally dropped.

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I have owned the 1899 Gregory Prize MLE Rifle for well over 20 years.

Dukester and I met today, and the rifle and shooting kit have been reunited.
Now if the field glasses were to surface, the set would be complete...

In the photo, the gentleman third from the left in the front row is holding a Prize Rifle. You can see the silver plaque on the butt. But this is not the Gregory Prize Rifle, it is another one. The plaque is a different shape.
 

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Hello Duke. In my day it was called a shooting box. Both ventometers and the scribe date near 1900-1914 era. If the .303 ammo is all round nose Mark II as is the packet then its the same era. 2nd pocket from left appears to be Mk I brass oil bottle. 2nd pocket from the right appears to be Mk II brass oil bottle. Centre pocket with bottle probably defouling liquid. 12 rds = 2 rds sighting, 10 rds application on target. The round pieced disc could well be an orthoptic - device attaches to shooting hat with disc folding down to act as aperture which may predate all other pcs. I used to keep a screwdriver, sight blackener with matches, pull-thru and flannel patches along with the venerable score-book with pencil. Once off the range you could keep odd ammo and junk (like bottle opener) in it. Mine was a government issue wood box with sling. JOHN
 
tiriaq said:
The Gregory Prize was awarded by Messrs. Gregory at the Annual Prize Meeting at Bisley. It was a 7 shot match fired at 200y. The prize was a Magazine Lee Enfield Rifle and a shooting kit, which included a binocular telescope (field glasses).
The Prize in 1899 was won by Capt. AP Cartwright of The Royal Grenadiers. The Royal Regiment of Canada is the successor to the Royal Grenadiers.
In this photo from The London Illustrated News, the Canadian Kolapore Team for 1899 is pictured. Of the men in the photo, one man is wearing the crossbelt of a grenadier (just left of center). That would be AP Cartwright.

View attachment 324855

When Dukester posted photos of this shooting kit, my jaw literally dropped.

View attachment 324856
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I have owned the 1899 Gregory Prize MLE Rifle for well over 20 years.

Dukester and I met today, and the rifle and shooting kit have been reunited.
Now if the field glasses were to surface, the set would be complete...

In the photo, the gentleman third from the left in the front row is holding a Prize Rifle. You can see the silver plaque on the butt. But this is not the Gregory Prize Rifle, it is another one. The plaque is a different shape.
Click to expand...

Incredible

That’s why I love this place. Well done
 
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