The Ferguson rifle was a breech-loading rifle designed by British officer Patrick Ferguson, one of the first breech-loaders issued to any army, entering British service in 1776 with only about 200 made between 1776 and 1778. Its breech opened by turning the trigger guard, which acted as a crank on a tapered eleven-thread screw, letting a soldier load from the rear and fire some six to eight rounds a minute, far faster than a muzzle-loading musket. It fought in the American Revolutionary War, most notably at the Battle of Brandywine in 1777 where Ferguson himself was wounded, but its high cost and slow production, roughly four times that of an ordinary musket, kept it from ever becoming standard issue.
Facts
Classification
Service Status Weapon Class Introduced Year Weapon Class
Weapon Class (category) FAQs
What happened to the Ferguson rifles after the Battle of Brandywine?
The riflemen were disbanded on 12 September 1777 and the rifles put into storage.
Ferguson's corps of riflemen was raised in spring 1777 and fought in the Philadelphia campaign, including at Brandywine. The unit was disbanded the day after that battle, on 12 September 1777, and the rifles were put into storage.
Connections
Operated By
Source Ferguson rifle (Wikipedia)
Used In
Source Ferguson rifle (Wikipedia)
Sources
1. Ferguson rifle (Wikipedia)
Infobox: type
Rifle
Lead section
He received an English patent in December of 1776 (number 1139) on details of the design. Roughly one hundred of the Ordnance rifles were manufactured by four British gun firms, Durs Egg being the most notable, and issued to Ferguson's unit when its members were drawn from numerous light infantry units in General Howe's army.
service status
It fought in the American Revolutionary War, most notably at the Battle of Brandywine in 1777 where Ferguson himself was wounded, but its high cost and slow production, roughly four times that of an ordinary musket, kept it from ever becoming standard issue
- Infobox: caliber 0.650 in
- Used In: American Revolutionary War, infobox wars field: 'American Revolutionary War'
Operated By: British Army, Infobox: service
British Army 1776
View the Source2. Wikidata: Ferguson Rifle
Wikidata Q2090925, class allow-list match (w-wdresolver-0926)View the Source Reader Challenges (0)
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