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View Full Version : 1861 Whitworth breechloader operator's manual



cannonmn
02-21-2009, 11:04 PM
I ran across this small handbook today among the J.A. Dahlgren papers at the Library of Congress. I've never seen this information before, and I think I've read nearly everything in print regarding Whitworth artillery.

The Camera Lucida view of a 12-pounder Whitworth breechloader came from the official US Navy Bureau of Ordnance drawing archives.

The view of the gun and the handbook are related in that the US Navy apparently acquired two of the field guns in 1861 as part of an intensive design and testing program to develop rifled ordnance.

The small papers stuck in the front of the handbook with brief notes and numbers are, I'm fairly sure, in the hand of John A. Dahlgren. The yellow paper binding is found on many of his "workbooks" or calculation books on various topics. However the actual authorship of the small manual is not known. It may be something Dahlgren copied from another document. The book is followed by pricing data from Whitworth & Co.

The South had a few of these Whitworth 12-pounder breechloaders, and the North had a battery of six, presented by the Union Committee of the City of New York. This model of breechloading rifle saw very limited use during the Civil War. The troops found the closely-toleranced breech mechanism subject to frequent jamming due to powder residue fouling.

The handbook can be viewed quickly in the slideshow at the link. Click on the image to stop the show and to enlarge the image. If after that you can't read the text, let me know and I'll work on a better way to present the images.

slideshow:

http://s17.photobucket.com/albums/b62/c ... 68de69.pbw (http://s17.photobucket.com/albums/b62/cannonmn/miscforumsetc/forums27/?action=view&current=2a68de69.pbw)

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b62/cannonmn/miscforumsetc/forums27/WhitworthinWNY002.jpg

R. C. Hubbard Jr
02-22-2009, 08:57 AM
cannonmn,
Your research ability continues to amaze me. A very interesting find.
In the description of the loading of the is to push the cartridge in as far as it will go. Does this mean the the barrel is actualy chambered or is the cartridge made so as to stop at a certian point? Perhaps where the base is soldiered in?
A platnium lined vent is also interesting as that was (and is) felt to be a requirement of muzzleloading long range shooters to have a lined nipple.
Do you have a better veiw of the top of page 5 with the rest of the info about the shell extractor?

I have always wanted to build a 3pdr Whitworth but that may never come about; other things keep coming up in front of it because I cant find enough information on them. ( none to measure.)
Thanks for continuing to post such information.
Bob

cannonmn
02-22-2009, 10:36 AM
Bob, here's some info on the 3-pdr.

What measurements of it do you need? All the basic dimensions are in the '86 Artilleryman article, and I could post those here if they'd be helpful.

http://www.go2gbo.com/forums/index.php/ ... 064.0.html (http://www.go2gbo.com/forums/index.php/topic,127064.0.html)

cannonmn
02-22-2009, 11:05 AM
Bob, here's a pic of page 5 that may come out better, I don't know, but it really doesn't say too much more about the extractor.

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b62/cannonmn/miscforumsetc/forums27/DahlgrenG095.jpg

cannonmn
02-22-2009, 09:34 PM
Does this mean the the barrel is actualy chambered or is the cartridge made so as to stop at a certian point? Perhaps where the base is soldiered in?

I think I have that one figured out. The front 80% or so of the length of the cartridge case is shaped just like the bore. the rear 20% or so of its length is cylindrical and has a small flange or lip that will not go into the chamber due to being oversized, and is used for extraction as well as proper positioning of the case in the chamber. That's why the big hexagon is scribed or engraved on the breechface, because you can't easily see the grooves or flats due to the rear of the chamber being cylindrical, yet you have to align both projectile and case properly before you load each one. Does that make sense?

R. C. Hubbard Jr
02-23-2009, 08:37 PM
cannonmn,
I think that is correct. The larger round portion would allow a good surface for the extractor band to grasp.
Anything worth doing is worth doing right. The article from the artillerman gives some basic measrements (which I have )but there are many more Dem.'s and some method of construction questions.

Bob.

cannonmn
02-23-2009, 09:58 PM
I could take some more pix and measurements, when you get a chance email me what you need.

R. C. Hubbard Jr
02-25-2009, 02:38 PM
cannonmn,
That would be Great! I will find my folder and see wwhat I need .
Thank You
Bob

M&C
06-14-2012, 10:50 AM
Cannonmn, What a fascinating find. It is hard to read the pages in the slide show, is there a way I could get a copy of the operator's manual or see clearer pics? Thanks

cannonmn
06-26-2012, 02:29 PM
Here are the individual URL's for the pages, see if that's better.

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b62/cannonmn/miscforumsetc/forums27/DahlgrenG088.jpg
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b62/cannonmn/miscforumsetc/forums27/DahlgrenG089.jpg
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b62/cannonmn/miscforumsetc/forums27/DahlgrenG090.jpg
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b62/cannonmn/miscforumsetc/forums27/DahlgrenG091.jpg
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b62/cannonmn/miscforumsetc/forums27/DahlgrenG092.jpg
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b62/cannonmn/miscforumsetc/forums27/DahlgrenG093.jpg
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b62/cannonmn/miscforumsetc/forums27/DahlgrenG094.jpg
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b62/cannonmn/miscforumsetc/forums27/DahlgrenG095.jpg
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b62/cannonmn/miscforumsetc/forums27/DahlgrenG096.jpg
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b62/cannonmn/miscforumsetc/forums27/DahlgrenG097.jpg
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b62/cannonmn/miscforumsetc/forums27/DahlgrenG098.jpg
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b62/cannonmn/miscforumsetc/forums27/DahlgrenG099.jpg
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b62/cannonmn/miscforumsetc/forums27/DahlgrenG100.jpg
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b62/cannonmn/miscforumsetc/forums27/DahlgrenG101.jpg
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b62/cannonmn/miscforumsetc/forums27/DahlgrenG102.jpg
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b62/cannonmn/miscforumsetc/forums27/DahlgrenG103.jpg
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b62/cannonmn/miscforumsetc/forums27/DahlgrenG104.jpg
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b62/cannonmn/miscforumsetc/forums27/DahlgrenG105.jpg
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b62/cannonmn/miscforumsetc/forums27/DahlgrenG106.jpg
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b62/cannonmn/miscforumsetc/forums27/DahlgrenG107.jpg
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b62/cannonmn/miscforumsetc/forums27/DahlgrenG108.jpg
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b62/cannonmn/miscforumsetc/forums27/DahlgrenG109.jpg