Welcome to today’s Photo of the Day! The Ferguson rifle, patented in 1776, was a groundbreaking breech-loading design that could have changed the course of warfare. Created by Major Patrick Ferguson, this .615 caliber rifle featured an innovative vertical screw breech system operated by lowering the trigger guard, allowing for an unprecedented 6-10 rounds per minute. To prove its capabilities, Ferguson demonstrated firing six accurate shots per minute at 200 yards from a stationary position, and four while marching. The rifle could even function reliably when the barrel was intentionally wetted. Despite this impressive performance, only about 100 Ordnance rifles were manufactured by four British gunmakers, led by Durs Egg. Though used effectively at the Battle of Brandywine in 1777, the weapon’s wider adoption was hindered by its complexity and cost – four gunsmiths could only produce 100 rifles in six months at four times the cost of a standard musket. The rifles also suffered from structural weaknesses around the lock mortise, requiring iron reinforcement. After Ferguson was wounded at Brandywine, his experimental unit was disbanded and the rifles were replaced with standard muskets.
“Innovative for its time, the Ferguson rifle is considered by many to be the king of early breechloading rifles, and the most desirable, bar none. Originally invented by Captain Patrick Ferguson with intent for military use in 1774 and granted 1776 dated British patent number 1139. To operate, the knob protruding off the rear of the trigger guard is turned one rotation clockwise, which opens up the top of the breech end of the barrel, allowing access for loading of powder and ball; during a time when loading from the muzzle end with a rammer on a smoothbore musket was commonplace. In a combat scenario, the advantages of this system include the ability to reload drastically quicker, and also the ability to reload from the prone position in order to keep oneself from being exposed to the enemy, a feat near impossible with a muzzle-loading musket. “
Lot 1285: Ferguson Patent Breechloading Flintlock Rifle by J. Hunt – Extraordinarily Rare Late 18th Century Ferguson Patent Breechloading Flintlock Rifle by London Gunmaker Joseph Hunt. (n.d.-c). Rock Island Auction Company. photograph. Retrieved February 12, 2025, from https://www.rockislandauction.com/detail/82/1285/ferguson-patent-breechloading-flintlock-rifle-by-j-hunt.
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