.450 No.1 Express

[Grumpy]

Which it does.

[Vikram]

Yes, we know that Vikram but the problem was whether the .500/.450 NE is the same as the .500/.450 No 1 and I`ve just found that it isn`t. There were 19 different .500/.450 cartridges, all of which originated from black powder cartridges. There were at least three .500/.450 No 1s . Hopefully this link will take you to the appropriate page :
http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=bjhy ... 01&f=false

Thanks for the link, Grumpy. Will check it out.

Best-
Vikram

[shooter50]

I have a double barrel hammerless rifle in this calibre by Fraser of Edinburgh. It was probably made in the twentieth rather than the nineteenth century.

I am sure thats a 450 BP express. if you post the proof marks I could be sure. Most are British guild guns sent to India and Africa, they were much cheaper than their Nitro Express counterparts. Many of these hammerless DBs came out in the cordite era, and therefore were proofed for reduced cordite loads. you could have both BP and Nitro markings. Just a collectors item now.Forget about the cartridges in this country.
All the best

[Grumpy]

British guild guns ?

[Grumpy]

There was certainly a .500/.450 No1 Express Nitro - Bonhams had a Greener double in the calibre in one of their 2012 sales and the makers volunteered that the rifle was proofed for 50 gr cordite with a 310 gr bullet which is very much a nitro-for-black load - note the light for calibre bullet : http://www.bonhams.com/auctions/19797/lot/69/

[Grumpy]

No such thing as a British guild gun by the way because there never were any British guilds.

[miroflex]

Yes, we know that Vikram but the problem was whether the .500/.450 NE is the same as the .500/.450 No 1 and I`ve just found that it isn`t. There were 19 different .500/.450 cartridges, all of which originated from black powder cartridges. There were at least three .500/.450 No 1s . Hopefully this link will take you to the appropriate page :
http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=bjhy ... 01&f=false

You're right Grumpy. I'm looking for cartridges that may be lying with dealers in India. One occasionally comes across real finds in such a search. I was looking for .280 rimless cartridges for a Ross rifle for my sister and found a lot of rimmed cartridges in that calibre.

[Grumpy]

Yes ..... but you can`t intermix. The fact that the bore diameter is the same does NOT mean that cartridges are interchangeable. The 30/30, 30-06, .308 Win, .300 Win Mag and .300 Weatherby Mag are all .308 calibre but they are definitely NOT interchangeable. The variation between the case sizes and powder charge in the various .500/.450 cartridges is easily as extreme ..... more so in fact.

[miroflex]

I know. That's why I had to pass them up. I only mentioned it to show that this vintage cartridge, once favoured by King George V and Edward, Prince of Wales, later King Edward VIII, is still floating around. One never knows what will come to light in a dealer's stock of goods.

As an aside, I once found a Martini Henry rifle complete with .577/450 cartridges with a dealer on Halsey Road, Kanpur.

[Grumpy]

It`s strange how .577/.450 Martini Henry cartridges hang around - I once found a large biscuit tin almost full of early rolled brass foil .577/.450 M-H cartridges at an antiques dealers. Weighed several kilos and many of the old foil cases had collapsed with powder spread throughout the tin. I had to advise him that he really needed to inform the licencing agency .... which he poo-pooed so I did it for him !

[hemendrasingh]

Hello

I own a .450/500 No. 1 Express By George Gibbs, Bristol. It is a black powder cartridge. It is a family heirloom that I possess. Though the ammo is not available now but would anyone have any knowledge about old ammo available?

Regards

[miroflex]

Here is a double rifle by Daniel Fraser recently sold in the USA by auction in pristine condition, almost as it would have been at the time it left the maker's premises. Mine is in working condition but nowhere near as perfect.

https://www.gunsinternational.com/guns- ... 45282#lg-1

[Ash_Star01]

Any pointers for Nitro Express purchase, any caliber is fine

[marksman]

An uncle of mine owns a 450/400 double, converted to 3 1/4' by the factory in London and reproofed in the days of yore. He used it successfully a few times on tigers and Bisons up north. What might it fetch? just curious.

Marksman

[veeveeaar]

An uncle of mine owns a 450/400 double, converted to 3 1/4' by the factory in London and reproofed in the days of yore. He used it successfully a few times on tigers and Bisons up north. What might it fetch? just curious.

Marksman

Frankly you can never shoot this weapon for the purpose it was bought or used hereafter. It is a good showpiece and will be a subject of yarn spinning by old hunters over a fire and drinks.