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This is a Howdah Rifle.

I bought this Double Rifle 10 years ago. Its a Westley Richards .375 x 2½" Nitro Express with 16" barrels. It tips the scales at a stout 8 pounds 10 ounces, and has an overall length of 32-7/8". That's 1-3/8" shorter than a Winchester Model 94 Trapper model with the same 16" barrel length.

It has a large Butt Plate and stock with a 14-1/2" LOP. This was an upgrade over a Howdah Pistol. When used from the Howdah atop an elephant, this would have been much more controllable than a pistol, and a lot less cumbersome than a full length rifle in the confined space of the Howdah.



It has many very interesting features: Horn Forearm Tip, Horn Grip Cap, and Horn Butt Plate with the Westley Richards Logo. Super condition wood. Sling Eyes. One standing and 4 folding leaf rear sight, 50/100/150/200/300. Lots of original Case Color in protected areas, and a Bore as sharp and bright as any I've seen. Overall finish of the metal is a superb original "purplish-brown" that shows its character from use years ago. Nice overall Engraving with a "Buck Deer" on the bottom of the action, a "Crouching Tiger" on the bottom of the trigger guard, and a "Saber-Tooth Deer" on the back of the Lever. It was shipped to BomBay, India.








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Here's another example. Watch the video.

http://forums.nitroexpress.com/showflat....e=1&fpart=1

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I bought this gun a year ago and just fired it for the first time this week.


























Oh, but I saved the best for last. I told you I shot it earlier this week. I made a video of my first two rounds through it. I promise you will enjoy it. Watch it here:

Greener 10b Ball Gun - First Two Shots by Me.



Here's the target I shot in the video:






And here's a look at two loaded and four fired cases:






This gun is really bad-ass!

Curly

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John aka NitroX

...
Govt get out of our lives NOW!
"I love the smell of cordite in the morning."
"A Sharp spear needs no polish"

Edited by NitroX (04/08/23 12:56 AM)

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I've never shot a tiger, bear or lion at all. Let alone with a shotgun slug or ball.

But I think a 10-bore or 12-bore shotgun, in the short 16 to 20 inch "coach" gun pattern, preferably with hammers, loaded with ball, slug, brennecke etc perhaps with rifle sights(?), or sans a rear sight, flip (?), would make a good Howdah defensive long arm.

Why preferably with hammers? Any of these pistols, or long arms if continually having loaded chambers, it would be much safer with hammers decocked. A lot of modern doubles can benefit from a form of decocking hammers.

The knockdown effect of a 10-bore 700 gr ball at very close range should in my armchair opinion dealnwith a tiger on one's elephant's back. Or a 583 gr 12-bore.

If a 12-bore with slugs can deal with brown bears, it will handle a tiger or lion.

With decent flip up rear sight, and decent ball regulation, might make a decent closer range medium game or big game hunting firearm. Certainly the 10-bore double rifle long arm fulfilled this hunting role.

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I also have never shot a lion or leopard in Africa either.

Many PH's in Africa are nowadays of the opinion that guns loaded with buckshot or even slugs are more than marginal for hunting big cats and above all for backup in case of an attack.

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My armchair knowledge agrees with that for buckshot.

My opinion has long been a big bore double rifle is better for leopard follow up and absolutely for lion follow up. The PHs using shotguns usually do not have or can not afford a proper double rifle.

You misunderstood my comments though. Not using a shotgun on foot, hunting from a lion or tiger charge. But if it works for this, IF in a howdah, defending against a tiger at extremely short range it might be adequate. ???

My comment on brown bears. If carrying a shotgun loaded with some form of slug or solid, is considered adequate defence, per real life experience, against grizzly or brownbear attack, then 8 can't see it not adequate for a tiger at very close range. ??? This is one question which can be answered from many hunters, trekkers, forest workers, even householders personal encounters.

Some of these beasts are still shot with shotguns or similar firearms. Around the world a shotgun. Is often a firearm a peasant or poor farmer might be allowed access to, or could afford.

It's very theoretical, as no one will be hunting tiger from a howdah in our modern age. We have seen videos of tigers leaping onto tourist or forest workers elephants backs however. So if one could be armed, a short barrelled shotgun might be acceptable.

From a historical viewpoint, these theoretical discussions might give an idea what else might have been used. In addition to these very cool double barrelled howdah tiger defence pistols which seem to have had a very specific purpose. Other more usual firearms used for the purpose might have faded into obscurity. The side by side breech loading howdah pistol IMO owes its origins to the earlier muzzle loading howdah pistols. Two barrels being better for tiger than one! With breech loading firearms, breech loading DRs, shotguns might have been used. I am pretty sure the British officers, colonial officials, and Indian gentlemen hunting might have used the very common .455 Webley revolvers as well. All of these common firearms if used as howdah defence weapons would have faded into historical obscurity.

Lastly my personal interest other than historical fascination, personal desire for acquiring examples on the "never never", research for perhaps writing articles, is also I'd love to develop a "Howdah target shooting" competition. I've brainstormed it before. Build a Howdah basket or cage. Perhaps a bit wobbly. Maybe mountable on a trailer cage for elephant height. A charging tiger target, or flippable tiger target. A cool idea might be a shot or two at a running or charging tiger with a suitable long arm. Then a tiger target at extremely close range flips up. One has X seconds to draw the howdah pistol and fire one or two shots into the kill zone. Simulating a elephant back Tiger hunt. Shots a tiger in the jungle. A wounded tiger attacks the elephant or people on its back.

A Pedersoli .45 LC Howdah pistol might make a decent example for such a comp. Or some of these other firearms we've talked about.

Safety and how to ensure it would be an issue to ensure.

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John aka NitroX

...
Govt get out of our lives NOW!
"I love the smell of cordite in the morning."
"A Sharp spear needs no polish"

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From a historical viewpoint, these theoretical discussions might give an idea what else might have been used. In addition to these very cool double barrelled howdah tiger defence pistols which seem to have had a very specific purpose. Other more usual firearms used for the purpose might have faded into obscurity. The side by side breech loading howdah pistol IMO owes its origins to the earlier muzzle loading howdah pistols. Two barrels being better for tiger than one! With breech loading firearms, breech loading DRs, shotguns might have been used. I am pretty sure the British officers, colonial officials, and Indian gentlemen hunting might have used the very common .455 Webley revolvers as well. All of these common firearms if used as howdah defence weapons would have faded into historical obscurity.

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A question, not wanting to go off topic. Remember to answer the original opening posts if you can.

Can anyone supply historical references to elephant howdah defense stories, books, articles? I'm sure I've read at least one. But I forget everything other than they squirmed backwards to escape the tigers slashing and grasping claws. I don't remember if the mahout survived unscathed, if a firearm was used etc. Very exciting and dramatic event no doubt.

How common were these instances? Rare or not?

A collection of historical references would be very cool and revealing.

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John aka NitroX

...
Govt get out of our lives NOW!
"I love the smell of cordite in the morning."
"A Sharp spear needs no polish"

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From a historical viewpoint, these theoretical discussions might give an idea what else might have been used. In addition to these very cool double barrelled howdah tiger defence pistols which seem to have had a very specific purpose. Other more usual firearms used for the purpose might have faded into obscurity. The side by side breech loading howdah pistol IMO owes its origins to the earlier muzzle loading howdah pistols. Two barrels being better for tiger than one! With breech loading firearms, breech loading DRs, shotguns might have been used. I am pretty sure the British officers, colonial officials, and Indian gentlemen hunting might have used the very common .455 Webley revolvers as well. All of these common firearms if used as howdah defence weapons would have faded into historical obscurity.

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A question, not wanting to go off topic. Remember to answer the original opening posts if you can.

Can anyone supply historical references to elephant howdah defense stories, books, articles? I'm sure I've read at least one. But I forget everything other than they squirmed backwards to escape the tigers slashing and grasping claws. I don't remember if the mahout survived unscathed, if a firearm was used etc. Very exciting and dramatic event no doubt.

How common were these instances? Rare or not?

A collection of historical references would be very cool and revealing.

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John, it would not surprise me to find incidents occurring today as common as in the past, maybe more as due to the tourist industry and of course the size of India's human population.

A quick search on youtube brings up a number of attacks today, not necessarily tigers in-the-box but nevertheless, attacking or at least displaying in a manner that would have...in the past...earned them a barrel or two of lead.

These vids might be of service in setting up your Howdah competition!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U-WdLv8Es6g

Driver gets mauled. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lRiyQuIUEXM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4UJ_RBTYK9g

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/9hlWBu63hVk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u4mwuvdnxHs

"The truth is, less than 85 people are killed or injured - accidentally or otherwise - in a year by tigers here. Many times more die of snakebites or rabies."

But still, let's say, 80.... https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-25755104

How many of those 80 might have been stopped by a charge of buckshot or a slug from a "Howdah" gun? Who knows.

I remember when doing wolf research for our government-to-government coordination work being surprised at how many wolf attacks against humans occur in India. Again, dense semi-rural human population and the close proximity to feline and canine predators plus the restrictions on gun ownership and use against them ensures repeated attacks.

"India has the most attacks on humans by tigers, leopards and wolves
People in low-income countries are frequently targeted when farming and fishing."

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-25755104

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What are the Rosary, the Cross or the Crucifix other than tools to help maintain the fortress of our faith in Jesus Christ, the Son of God?

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