Boer war guns
- Thread starter matt bradley
- Start date
Gregs5190, you are thinking of the Boer Wars.
In the Great Boar War of 2003 (the battle of Lac Ste. Anne) most of the .44's used were Marlin model 1894's.
I only mention this to prevent confusion, as I believe Boers are now protected by federal law in Canada, whereas Boars are, well, just tasty. I hope this clears things up.
Sharptail
In the Great Boar War of 2003 (the battle of Lac Ste. Anne) most of the .44's used were Marlin model 1894's.
I only mention this to prevent confusion, as I believe Boers are now protected by federal law in Canada, whereas Boars are, well, just tasty. I hope this clears things up.
Sharptail
Out of ignorance; why do you think they were .44 cal; the 11 mm mauser is called a .43 mauser but actually uses a .446 bullet.
Cheers mooncoon
bdft
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
The Boers carried the 7x57 Mauser. The Brits carried the 303 Lee-Metford or early Lee-Enfield. I doubt the Boers carried any specific 44 cal rifle. Maybe the odd large bore hunting rifle. Maybe he is talking about a Martini Henry in 577-450. Essentially 45 cal but not used in the Boer war. Zulu war or the Sudan, certainly.
Shelldrake
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I'm pretty sure we went to war with the Lee Enfield Mk 1 in .303 Brit. Not .44 cal at all. Even back here in Cda, the standard rifle of the time would have been a Snider Enfield in 45/577 I think, or the same Lee Enfield.
Any experts out there?
Any experts out there?
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Well .... some British units might still have been armed with Lee-Metford rifles, but the Lee-Enfield had been approved in late 1895. The great majority of British units in South Africa in 1899 and later were armed with the L-E.
It still was no match for the 7x57 Mauser.
Actually, the rifle was a reasonable match, but British tactics and marksmanship didn't match those of the Boers!
The first picture you posted shows buglers of the Royal Canadian Regiment in South Africa. Here is a section of a larger version, in which some interesting detail can be made out ....
The Magazine Lee-Enfield rifles are quite apparent, as well as some non-standard rifle cartridge bandoliers .... I believe that the only "officially adopted" bandolier in British Empire service at that time was the leather Pattern 1888 bandolier. Keep in mind that the MLE was not charger-loaded (that came with the SMLE rifle, introduced in 1903, largely as a result of the lessons learned in the Boer War). So loading was still one round at a time ....
Most of them are also armed with one of the nickeled .45 Colt Model 1878 Double Action revolvers Canada had acquired in 1885 for the North West Rebellion, albeit rakishly carried thrust into the waistbelt rather than in a holster.
The uniquely Canadian Pattern 1898 Oliver Equipment, having a single large central ammunition pouch is also quite evident ....
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Many 43 mausers were to be found in Southern Africa at that time could be one of those with some dutchman's name on it LOL. I am sure some boer somewhere took a pot shot at a commonwealth soldier with the Antiquated 43 mauser.
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- Edmonton, Alberta.
As a ex member of the Lord Strathcona's horse and a bit of a regimental history buff the weapon used by the Royal Canadian dragoons and the Strathconas was the ross rifle and the Lee enfield .303.
