Express Rifle by Jame Purdey

Wow!! thats a museum worthy bit of kit....The loading components alone is worth a share!

The rifle is beautiful, the case is great, WOW.

In my opinion shes a rare and precious arm!

Amazing find!
 
mooncoon said:
what puzzles me is how did they make the mold? A belted round ball mold is easy to make but an elongated slug with 2 or 4 wings is an entirely different matter. Was the body of the mold made in 2 pieces then fastened together?

cheers mooncoon
Click to expand...

From looking at the picture, that appears that the wings were cut with a mill cutter on a horizontal milling machine. You can do the same cut with a milling cutter on a arbor between centers in a lathe, with the mold on a milling slide.

The brass mold looks, well, not as well thought out as the steel one. Which is the original to the rifle? I'd be inclines to guess the steel one, as it looks to actually put the correct size wings up the full length of the bullet. The brass one looks like it had the dinky wing put on it as an afterthought.

Nice kit!

Cheers
Trev
 
I gotta say it since no one else has;
Insert heavy southern accent "Now that is a Purty gun!!"
Sorry had to do it.

BTW, very interesting bullet design and mould. Thanks for sharing!!!
 
Trev, I believe in the brass mold made by Westley Richard and also serial numbered to the gun in 1848 was done by hand with a steel chisel on the mold for the Purdey it has 2 wings per side so I would think also done by hand some how not sure how. Both of these bullets are then patched to shoot them also> I have shot the Westley and it work good of course you have to remember the time that gun was made and the distance a 12 bore rifle is used do 50 yard has been most of my shooting
John
 
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