POTD: Contender in 1868 British Military Trials – Money-Walker Rifle
Sam.S 07.12.24
Welcome to today’s Photo of the Day! Towards the end of the 1860s, the British army made efforts to change their muzzleloaders to breech-loading rifles. The Money-Walker rifle, developed in conjunction with Colonel G.H. Money and Mr. M. Walker was among ten finalists in the trials of 1868. The single-shot falling-block action rifle had a unique loading top-mounted lever while being tested it fared averagely in rapid-fire trials with twenty rounds fired for one minute and fourteen seconds thus ranked fifth out of ten. However, it failed woefully during exposure tests since rust rendered it unserviceable. The design of the rifle was simple including internal strikers, extractors as well as rudimentary sighting systems. Despite being advanced at that time, this invention did not make it because Martini-Henry beat Money-Walker to become a British service rifle. Commercial production of this design was limited and involved shotgun and rifle variations.
“The incredibly rare Money-Walker military pattern rifle was included as one of the final ten contenders considered for acceptance by the British Army in the Select Committee on Breech Loading Small Arms in 1868, but it failed, and the Martini-Henry went on to become the standard Army issue rifle. This rifle follows British patent No. 70 dated January 8th, 1868, G.H. Money and M. Walker. Fixed blade front and Pattern 53 style stepped ladder rear sight, rear barrel band stamped with a “Broad arrow/WD” British War Department acceptance mark over top of “crown/E/6”. Top of barrel marked “WALKER & MONEY’S PATENT No 17”. Tilting breechblock operated by pulling up on a lever at the rear similar to an early Peabody or Roberts with cased cartridge loading access from the top. Dual cartridge extractors, and an internal centerfire hammer, with a “crown/V” mark on top of the breech block, and hidden “4” stampings underneath the breech block. Left side of stock stamped “19” and “357”. Cleaning rod absent.”
Lot 262: Money-Walker 1868 Prototype Breechloading British Trials Rifle – Rare Money-Walker 1868 Prototype Breechloading British Military Trials Rifle. (n.d.-i). Rock Island Auction Company. photograph. Retrieved July 11, 2024, from https://www.rockislandauction.com/detail/82/262/moneywalker-1868-prototype-breechloading-british-trials-rifle.
