Product Details
AN EXTREMELY RARE .450 (2 1/2IN. BLACK POWDER EXPRESS) MODEL 1867 STRAIGHT-PULL MILITARY PATTERN RIFLE BY THOMAS WILSON, serial no. A454,
circa 1869, with 32in. barrel rifled with seven Metford style segmental grooves, military pattern block and blade front-sight, reversed pattern ladder rear-sight, the breech marked 'THOMAS WILSON PATENT' and 'A454', hammerless tubular breech, sprung bolt shaft with locking collar with small lever, brass mounted full walnut stock with chequered wrist and fore-end and three Baddeley pattern barrel bands, sling swivels, rod missing
Provenance: The action is remarkably simple with a hammerless tubular breech in which is located a plunger or bolt shaft on the rear of this is located a locking collar with a small stubby lever, turning this a short way with just a flick of the thumb unlocks the bolt lugs and the bolt being spring loaded automatically withdraws a short way to be pulled further to the rear for loading, to close the bolt is pushed home with the ball of the palm of the hand in one straight move, when fully closed the bolt lugs automatically lock the action
This pattern of rifle was designed and patented by Thomas Wilson a Birmingham, inventor, engineer, gunmaker and entrepreneur, who also patented and marketed the famous Wilson capping breech loader. The design was quite unique and advanced for the period it being arguably the world's first straight-pull military rifle, development started in 1867 but was not completed until 1868, two patents protected the design No 3211 of 1867 and 2744 of 1868. The system was tested in War Dept. trials and its failure was quite dramatic, a premature detonation on closing severely damaged both the trials gun and user and was probably caused by a proud primer. The result being that the British authorities rejected bolt action rifles as being unsuitable for military use and not to be considered again until the late 1880's. Despite this set back Wilson offered his system to France, Germany, and Spain all of which held trials. His success was limited, in France the French Military considered it superior to the Chassepot. It has been recorded by some authorities that Wilson worked with Antoine Chassepot and the French Army to improve his rifle for French service and it might well have been adopted but for the outbreak of the Franco Prussian war. However, the Amiens city council on the authority of the French Dept. of Defence was asked to support the government by purchasing military equipment including arms for their local defence force. To fulfil this request, they purchased 500 Wilson Model 1867 rifles and ammunition direct from Wilson, many of which were apparently captured by the Germans.
This example is believed to be one of the 500 and was obtained by Tower Heritage from a German collection. It is estimated that substantially less than a 1000 Model 1867 Wilson rifles were made, and the survival rate is very limited. Its development, production and marketing costs caused Wilson serious financial loss and ended his interest and involvement in firearms design and manufacture
Literature: This rifle is illustrated in the Thomas Wilson chapter of The Capping Breech Loader in British & Colonial Service by Brian C. Knapp and was in the Tower Heritage collection
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Estimate £1,200-1,600
Sold as an exempt item under Section 58 (2) of the 1968 Firearms Act, to be held as a curiosity or ornament