Shiloh Rifle Forums

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.

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.

Wonder? Looks like ten empty cases on the ground?
Has he finished his record fire and preparing the bore for future use?

Recent acquisition!



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

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

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

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

and the 303 was originally charged with black powder.
keep safe,
bruce.

Martini-Henry and .303 blow tube




David

david,
you just keep the good things coming.
thank you.
keep safe,
bruce.

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


David