Blow Tube (historical)

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bruce m
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Re: Blow Tube (historical)

Post by bruce m »

some supine positions used a tang sight in any rifle events.
the butt was held behind the head by the left hand of a right hand shooter.
the head is a little further bach on the stock than when belly down, and might require a bigger aperture.
this position could also be used for the martini pictured.
it is the position of the guy's legs that give suspicion of supine, but we will never know.
keep safe,
bruce.
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martinibelgian
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Re: Blow Tube (historical)

Post by martinibelgian »

Shooting military rifle - supine was not an 'approved' military position, just read Halford. And the guy is in uniform, so he porbably is shooting a service rifle match.
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desert deuce
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Re: Blow Tube (historical)

Post by desert deuce »

Wonder? Looks like ten empty cases on the ground?
Has he finished his record fire and preparing the bore for future use?
Sometimes you get the chicken, and sometimes you get the feathers!
dbm
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Re: Blow Tube (historical)

Post by dbm »

Recent acquisition! :)

Image

This is an original blow tube for Martini-Henry. On other examples I have seen the end has been solid and perforated with a number of small holes. This one, the insert in the end makes sure the breath is directed to the rifling. The mouth piece appears to be bone. I have similar for .303 but without the bone mouth piece.

David
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Historical Firearms, long range target shooting and military history
dbm
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Re: Blow Tube (historical)

Post by dbm »

Contemporary advertising for the above (1887) suggests that blowers using long India Rubber Tubes use up the moisture from the breath in the tube itself, while this metallic Tube Blower blower directs the breath onto the rifling without loss.

David
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Historical Firearms, long range target shooting and military history
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kenny s
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Re: Blow Tube (historical)

Post by kenny s »

ok, that is really interesting.
but wait.

HOLD UP ALL YOU 10,000 CHARGING AFRICAN WARRIORS....I HAVE TO BLOW IN MY TUBE!

When I was in Nam, the first thing we all did was throw away the useless stuff we had to carry.
kept the beer, threw away the soap
:lol:
dbm
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Re: Blow Tube (historical)

Post by dbm »

HOLD UP ALL YOU 10,000 CHARGING AFRICAN WARRIORS....I HAVE TO BLOW IN MY TUBE!
:)

Just another piece of the keen rifleman's equipment for the rifle range. Target rifle shooting was a popular activity amongst Rifle Volunteers (akin to the US National Guard) and they were armed with the Martini-Henry. Once cleaning between shots was banned in 1883 such devices became popular. It was another decade before the Volunteers were armed with the .303.

David
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bruce m
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Re: Blow Tube (historical)

Post by bruce m »

and the 303 was originally charged with black powder.
keep safe,
bruce.
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dbm
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Re: Blow Tube (historical)

Post by dbm »

Martini-Henry and .303 blow tube

Image


David
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Historical Firearms, long range target shooting and military history
bruce m
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Re: Blow Tube (historical)

Post by bruce m »

david,
you just keep the good things coming.
thank you.
keep safe,
bruce.
ventum est amicus meus
dbm
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Re: Blow Tube (historical)

Post by dbm »

Lucky enough to have now acquired a second type of original 19thC blow tube for the Martini-Henry rifle! :D

mhblowtubes.jpg

David
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Historical Firearms, long range target shooting and military history
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