Shooting with Spectacles

You are here: Home > Firearms > Accessories

Written by: Jon Huggett

Some years ago when I first started target shooting with my Enfield Rifle I was visiting a club in the midlands. I was told in no uncertain terms by one of the older members of the club that the wearing of shooting glasses made a nonsense of shooting muzzle loading rifles while wearing them, as they were not ‘used back in the day’. Slightly irked by his remarks I set about doing some research and found much to my delight that he was of course entirely wrong.

The earliest advertising I could find for shooting spectacles is for ‘Sawyer’s Shooting Spectacles’. Advertised in British newspapers in August 1860 (by R J Sawyer of 42 London Street, Norwich). These glasses were advertised from this date with telescopes and were specifically aimed – no pun intended – at the Volunteer Movement. These spectacles were almost certainly hinged, or wire sprung frames, but this placement in adverts shows the desire at the very least to persuade a Volunteer that it would be a good idea to part with his money to ‘improve’ his shooting skills if his eyes were less than perfect.

The following four articles taken from a Volunteer shooting match in October 1860 show that not everyone thought of their use as ‘fair play’. The second letter to the editor signed by “Competitor” also suggests that the winners of the competition should ‘take an early opportunity of handing them [the prizes] over to the next three shots’.

Article 1 – Nottingham Daily Express, Friday 5 October 1860

RIFLE SHOOTING MATCH – Yesterday (Thursday) there was a shooting match at the Nottingham butts, in which the following Volunteers took part vis.:- Eleven members of No. 1 company Robin Hood Rifles, two of No. 3 company, two of No. 4 company, ten of No. 5 company, four of No. 6 company, five of No. 7 company; also Lieut. Phillips, Stamford, and Corporal Goddard, 1st Leicester Rifles. Each member fired three rounds at 200, 250, and 300 yards. Subscription 5s. each, which was divided into four prizes. Ties were shot off at 300 yards. Sergeant Simkins and Sergeant Henson made ties for the second prize.

The following is the result: – Private Brownsword (No.1 company), 1st prize, 15 points; Sergeant Simkins (No.1 company), 2nd prize, 12 points; Sergeant Henson (No.7 company) 3rd prize 12 points; Private Hedderley (No.1 company) 4th prize, 11 points.

The shooting, on the whole, was not very good; no doubt in a great measure owing to the two days’ previous drills, in conjunction with the probable rather late hours indulged in by some members at this greatest holiday of the year. The average of the shooting, viz, nine rounds at, 200, 250 and 300 yards was 8.1.

Article 2 – Nottingham Journal, Tuesday 6 October 1860

[We do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions of our correspondents. The columns of this journal are open to all parties whose contributions are not too lengthy, or couched in improper terms. – Ed. N.D. E.]

THE RIFLE SHOOTING!
To the Editor of the Nottingham Daily Express.
Sir, – In your issue of today I find particulars of a shooting match which took place at the Nottingham Butts, on Thursday, the 4th inst. I may at once say that I was one of the firing party, and I saw that three of the volunteers out of four who gained prizes were allowed to use – one of the new glasses and the other two pads, for the left eye. In thinking over the matter this morning, I find that using either glasses or pads would be a great advantage to riflemen, irrespective as to whether they were short-sighted or had a difficulty in closing the left eye without partially closing the right. Any of your readers may easily prove this by putting on a pair of glasses, of suitable focus and looking at a distant object, would find that they could get a clear sight very much more quickly than that with the naked eye. Also if they would see much more clearly with the right eye and thereby get a quicker sight; thus showing the advantage in either case to be very great. Understanding that the firing was to be according to Hythe Regulations, can any of your readers inform me whether volunteers, shooting for wagers, are allowed to use glasses or pads? If such is not allowed, the inference then would be that the prizes were not fairly gained. And I have no doubt that the three members take an early opportunity of handing them over to the next three shots.

Your insertion of the above will oblige, yours faithfully, COMPETITOR

Article 3 – Nottingham Journal, Tuesday 9 October 1860

AIDS TO RIFLE SHOOTING
To the Editor of the Nottingham Daily Express.
Sir, – As one of the originators of the rifle meeting of Thursday last, allow me to observe, in answer to your correspondent, “Competitor”, that shooting with spectacles when, as in the present case, the competitor is short-sighted and in the habit of using glasses is quite in accordance with the Hythe Rules. It is clear that a short-sighted man only places himself upon equality with others who have no defection in their vision, by the use of spectacles. But few riflemen will, I am sure, agree with your correspondent that glasses would be a great advantage, except to remedy a natural defect. This is quite different to the use of magnifying glasses or sights attached to rifles. With regard to the pad for the left eye, there seems to be no mention made of it in the rules I have searched, except in the “ Drill and rifle Instruction Book,” aiming drill, rule 4, which recommends the recruits to tie a handkerchief over the left eye to get accustomed to closing it. At any rate the objections of your correspondent come too late; they should have been made at the time to be valid. The suggestions may prove serviceable for another meeting. I must object to the statement made in your report of the meeting, that the shooting was not good, the average, 8.1, is higher than usual for the nine rounds. In some reports of practice at Hythe, I find the average is 15 and 16 for 20 rounds at the 3rd class – Vis., 8 rounds each at 150, 200, 250 and 800 yards. – I am, your obedient servant,

ANOTHER COMPETITOR.

Article 4 – Nottingham Daily Express, Friday 12 October 1860

RIFLE SHOOTING MATCH
To the Editor of the Nottingham Daily Express.
Sir, – As one of the successful competitors at the rifle shooting on Thursday last, I have been accused by several of shooting with glasses, and with being the author of a letter signed “Competitor.” I did not wear glasses on the occasion, nor am I the writer of the letter complained of, but on the contrary, am perfectly satisfied with the decision given. – I am, Sir, yours truly.

SERGEANT HENSON,
Lenton, October 9th, 1860.
Pelham Company.

By 1862 shooting glasses were beginning to develop further, and on 4th April 1863 the below advert appeared in The Volunteer Service Gazette

PRIZE MEDAL AWARDED.
PASTORELLI’S EYE-GLASS for
RIFLE PRACTICE.

“This Glass, made by Mr. Pastorelli, the well-known optician of Piccadilly, will, we think, be found excellently adapted to its purpose. It screws into the peak of the cap or hat, and is easily removable. There are also several joints, so that it may be moved in almost any direction. It is carefully and neatly made, and we can recommend it to those who are obliged, as many good shots are, to use glasses in shooting.”
See VOLUNTEER SERVICE GAZETTE,
December 27, 1862.
PASTORELLI & CO., 208, PICCADILLY, W.
Note: Patent approved in 1862 for this device

So, we can see that shooting glasses were in fact used and were accepted by the ruling authorities in not only the Volunteer movement but elsewhere such as the authorities at Hythe. In turn it can safely be assumed they were allowed to be used in NRA (of Great Britain) matches at Wimbledon.

Like me if you wear glasses and someone tells you that they didn’t use them in target competitions in the 1860’s (and later) or the uses of shooting glasses is a more modern invention, you can now politely tell them (with some satisfaction) that they are entirely incorrect.

The author of this article, Jon Huggett, has published several works on
19th century firearms and related subjects, including the ‘Knowing the Enfield.’
See: Curious Casper for further details.

This article was first published by the Muzzle Loaders Association of Great Britain, in ‘Black Powder‘ magazine, Autumn 2024.

Research Press Note: The spectacles discussed here should not be confused with the later “orthoptic spectacles.” Insofar as I have been able to ascertain, these appeared in 1876, at which time they were sanctioned for use by the National Rifle Association. Such spectacles had discs with various apertures, to adjust to suit the wearers eyes and light conditions.