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Alaskan- James Purdey (the Younger) developed the Express rifle concept in the early 1850's as a two-groove muzzle loader.

Prior to this, muzzle-loading rifles were usually large calibre, multi-grooved and loaded to low velocities with a small powder charges to avoid the problem of bullet stripping.

Although accurate, these rifles suffered from such poor trajectories that range was limited to around 100 yards.

Purdey overcame this by building small calibre rifles with two deep gooves and slow rifling twists. This avoided bullet stripping when large powder charges were used to achieve higher velocities and thus, flatter trajectories.

Borrowing from the earlier military Brunswick rifle of 1837, Purdey used a cast light-weight "winged" bullet that matched the rifle grooving.

The original Purdey rifles were 40 bore, had 32 inch barrels with one turn in six feet rifling twist, and took a charge of 21/2 drams of powder over a 1/2ounce "ball".The effective range was in excess of 300 yards; revolutionary in their day!

Originally, Purdey described his rifle concept as the "Express Train", to reflect the contempory developments in railway technology, "speed, power and straight direction". In time, this was shortened to "Express".

This concept was later adapted to the new breechloading rifles coming into vogue, and the term came to describe any rifle of ordinary weight that fired a large charge of powder and a light bullet; the object being higher velocities and flatter trajectory. To fully realise this benefit, expanding bullets(read hollow nosed) were also developed.

The definition of the term "Express" soon came to be hotly debated in the English gun trade. The prominent innovator, Metford described it in the popular press of the day as follows; "I agree with Sir H. Halford that about 1600 ft. per sec. may be called the lowest express rate, which I find will require, in usual bores, and usual length of barrel, about 1 of powder to 4 of lead (by weight)". Thus introducing the concept of a minimum ratio of powder and ball to the definition.

There were other opinions on what constituted an "Express Rifle". The editor of "The Field", J.H. Walshe in his book: "The Modern Sportsmans Gun and Rifle, Vol 11" , devoted 16 pages to it! Interested parties should go to page 11.

Sadly, like most many terms in the English language, the the application of "Express" as is refers to rifles is now almost completely corrupted!

If anyone is interested, (Nitro - are you there?),I have a photo of the muzzle of an original Purdey two-groove Express rifle that I could post?

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