| 9.3x57 |
| (.450 member) |
| 07/08/23 12:29 PM |
|
Re: What is a Howdah RIFLE?
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Quote:Quote:
An article on the Howdah Rifle that has resided in my gunsafe, can be found here:
TIGER TAMER: A 12-BORE HOWDAH DOUBLE.
It was published in our local Arms Collectors Club Journal way back in June 2008, and famously plagiarized by a "Walter Mitty" with the screen-name Monish over on African Hunting forums!
Still haven't fired that marvelous howdah rifle, but intended to make a handful of solid-web cartridges on the "12-bore from Hell" principle to provide strength at the breech.
Life's too short!
Thanks so much for posting this.
Very interesting.
@Marrakai
This quote suggests a sort of definitive answer to my original question:
"Could this particular rifle have been intended for more general hunting than from a howdah? Most historical writings from Baker to Burrard would tend to indicate otherwise. Even at the beginning of the breech-loading era, the 3 dram charge and spherical ball was not considered particularly adequate for jungle shikar, and was probably rather light even as the primary arm in a howdah."
Big Bore + Light(-er) Powder Charge = Howdah Rifle.
Have you ever encountered a vintage double rifle with barrels less than, say, 18 inches in length?