Britain's First Sniper Rifle? The Scoped Whitworth Rifle with firearms expert Jonathan Ferguson
Royal Armouries
Aug 19, 2026 16:11
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Chapters
Long before modern sniper rifles, British firearms designers were experimenting with telescopic sights on military rifles.
In this episode of What Is This Weapon? Jonathan examines three extraordinary 19th-century rifles fitted with early Davidson telescopic sights.
Sources/Further Reading
Patent summary
https://www.google.co.uk/books/edition/The_Engineer/mmLju10zFskC?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=telescope%20is%20furnished%20with%20two%20slides%20moving%20at%20right%20angles&pg=PA82&printsec=frontcover
David Minshall (UK) and Tom Rowe (USA) have collaborated on a book on the Whitworth Rifle. The work commenced in association with the late W.S. (Bill) Curtis and De Witt Bailey. Publication is anticipated during the summer of 2026. News will be published on David's web site - https://researchpress.uk/
Davidson’s memoir;
https://www.google.co.uk/books/edition/Memoirs_of_a_Long_Life/ibsTAAAAIAAJ
Steven Roberts. ‘Davidson‟s Telescopic Rifle Sight’ (2010);
https://springfieldarsenal.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/davidson-telescope.pdf
Bob Carlson. ‘Sharpshooter Weapons in the American Civil War’ (2013);
https://americansocietyofarmscollectors.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/2013-B107-Sharpshooter-Weapons-in-the-American-Civ.pdf
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