To All Interested;
The following is an email I received from a friend in Ireland:
"Hi John,
I just thought you like might an update on my research on the Whitworth projectiles.
I emailed the Royal Artillery Museum and got a reply from the Collections Manager. They only have ammunition for the 12 pounder in their collection but they have a Whitworth gun of 1.3 inch calibre (see attached picture). I then spoke to the Keeper of the Guns at the Royal Armouries Museum at Fort Nelson. They again only have 12 pounder Whitworth ammunition (which is on loan from the Royal Artillery) and have never seen a spherical rifled projectile. I have found references to spherical shot being fired from Whitworth guns as part of the original trials.
J. Emerson Tennent in his book "The Story of the Guns" 1864 has an illustration of two experimental projectiles being fired from a Whitworth, it is a pity that there is no mention of the calibre of the projectiles and you can't quite see the spherical shot in great detail (see attached file). I have also downloaded a copy of "Whitworth on Guns and Steel" 1873 and in this book Whitworth does talk about rifled spheres, "The firing of rifled spheres is a matter of considerable importance. I have frequently loaded a gun with 6 rifled spheres, which fly together like a covey partridges, and would provide very formidable in attacking an enemy's boats. The practice required for gunners may also be made by rifled spheres, by loading the gun with only one-third of the usual charge of powder, and a considerable saving of ammunition may thereby be effected". From my understanding it seems that rifled spheres were designed to be fired in multiples from a gun against iron clad ships. I think that Whitworth saw an early advantage in having the ability of firing both elongated bolts and rifled spheres from the same gun but in his later experiments he proved that the elongated bolt proved to be more effective against iron plate armour than the spherical shot.
Well that is all I can find out about the rifled spherical shot, it looks to be extremely rare and there doesn't seem to be any in England or anywhere else!!
Over the past few day's I have been considering selling both of the Whitworth projectiles, from what I have seen there is a greater collectors market in America than in England for Whitworths. I was wondering if you might know of anyone or any auction house that might be interested in them?
Thank you again for all your help over the past few weeks, it has been extremely helpful.
Regards,
John Burns"
Regards,
John aka Bart
