You are here: Home > Research > Hex Bore > Hex Bore blog
I recently acquired a shooters record book. Largely not used but there are several pages from 1876 and 1877 that are filled in. Interestingly, records for shooting in August and September 1876 at Altcar show entries for two numbered Whitworth rifles – no. 534 & no. 773.
Rifles of these numbers, with no letter prefix, would date to 1860. While 534 could have been a military target rifle, 773 sits in the middle of a batch of known sporting rifles. Given also that the shooting was recorded in 1876, I suspect that the owner has omitted recording the letter prefix to the serial number.
Elevation settings on some pages suggest that aperture sights with vernier scale were fitted. Other than that I’ve not found anything that confirms the form of rifle, but I think likely match rifle. There’s also an entry for a Rigby rifle and a couple for a Metford (but no serial numbers).
