Take Care,
Brad-soo black powder challenged-
2 Band Volunteer .577" Enfield Musket by G W Bales
Moderators: DuncaninFrance, Niner Delta, Niner, joseyclosey, Miller Tyme, PeterN2, dhtaxi, Aughnanure, blackisler
I've found this out about the maker.
"Henry Bales may have been the Henry J Bales (b.1781) who was employed by Forsyth & Co from about 1808, and moved to Ipswich in about 1814 after having been recorded in business in 1811 at 2 Upper James Street, London.
He was probably the father of John Bales who appears to have taken over the London business, and almost certainly the father of George William Bales of Cornhill in Ipswich, and Colchester.
Henry Bales of Ipswich had a branch in Colchester from about 1825, a gun dated to about 1825 and engraved Henry Bales, Ipswich & Colchester has been seen. It would appear that George William Bales ran this and took over when his father died in 1835.
In 1838 George William was recorded in Tavern Street, but in 1845 he was recorded at 15 Cornhill where he also traded as an archery warehouse.
In 1850 George William was recorded at 150 High Street, Colchester. Both the Ipswich and Colchester shops appear to have closed in 1870.
G Bales and C G Bales of Durban, South Africa who may have been related."
"Henry Bales may have been the Henry J Bales (b.1781) who was employed by Forsyth & Co from about 1808, and moved to Ipswich in about 1814 after having been recorded in business in 1811 at 2 Upper James Street, London.
He was probably the father of John Bales who appears to have taken over the London business, and almost certainly the father of George William Bales of Cornhill in Ipswich, and Colchester.
Henry Bales of Ipswich had a branch in Colchester from about 1825, a gun dated to about 1825 and engraved Henry Bales, Ipswich & Colchester has been seen. It would appear that George William Bales ran this and took over when his father died in 1835.
In 1838 George William was recorded in Tavern Street, but in 1845 he was recorded at 15 Cornhill where he also traded as an archery warehouse.
In 1850 George William was recorded at 150 High Street, Colchester. Both the Ipswich and Colchester shops appear to have closed in 1870.
G Bales and C G Bales of Durban, South Africa who may have been related."
Guess what I found.
Had a few beers to get up some Dutch courage and went under one of my reloading benches in search of treasure, I had a vague recollection that I had a .577" lubrisizer somewhere and lo and behold I found it first rummage. 
It's a doozer, will try and take some pictures of the beast tomorrow the perfect companion for my 2 band Enfield, just need a Minnie ball mould now.
It's a doozer, will try and take some pictures of the beast tomorrow the perfect companion for my 2 band Enfield, just need a Minnie ball mould now.
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stripperclip
- Leading Member
- Posts: 843
- Joined: Mon Dec 22, 2003 9:23 am
- Location: Georgia
Vickers Lubrisizer
What do you think of this beast?
It's a lubrizer made at Vickers Armstrong especially for .577" bullets, evidently it was made by one of the workforce there who was a member of the Vickers Armstrong shooting club.
it also comes with an insert to enable it to take normal sized sizers.
I think it is an appropriate accessory for my 2 band Enfield especially so as was made 6 miles away on the Scotswood road in Newcastle site of the Vickers Armstrong works.
Here it is in comparison to my RCBS and Lyman Lubrisizers, its the one on the left.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/1003/ ... sizer1.jpg[/pic]
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/1003/ ... sizer2.jpg[/pic]
The business bit handle up.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/1003/ ... sizer4.jpg[/pic]
Handle down.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/1003/ ... sizer5.jpg[/pic]
The 'ole the sizer goes into, big isn't it?
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/1003/ ... sizer3.jpg[/pic]
The beast has lube in it, brown stuff that looks and smells like alox type.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/1003/ ... sizer6.jpg[/pic]
This where the lube sticks go and you crank the pressure on.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/1003/ ... sizer7.jpg[/pic]
Sizing die and insert.
The top punch is on the far right.
The sizing die for the sizer is next, it mikes out at .579", with a lyman .312" size die beside it for comparison.
Finally on the left is the insert that enables the press to take normal Lyman type sizers.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/1003/ ... sizer9.jpg[/pic]
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/1003/ ... sizer8.jpg[/pic]
It's a lubrizer made at Vickers Armstrong especially for .577" bullets, evidently it was made by one of the workforce there who was a member of the Vickers Armstrong shooting club.
it also comes with an insert to enable it to take normal sized sizers.
I think it is an appropriate accessory for my 2 band Enfield especially so as was made 6 miles away on the Scotswood road in Newcastle site of the Vickers Armstrong works.
Here it is in comparison to my RCBS and Lyman Lubrisizers, its the one on the left.
The business bit handle up.
Handle down.
The 'ole the sizer goes into, big isn't it?
The beast has lube in it, brown stuff that looks and smells like alox type.
This where the lube sticks go and you crank the pressure on.
Sizing die and insert.
The top punch is on the far right.
The sizing die for the sizer is next, it mikes out at .579", with a lyman .312" size die beside it for comparison.
Finally on the left is the insert that enables the press to take normal Lyman type sizers.
Other than the information you quote from the Historical Database at www.internetgunclub.com and the addresses I posted on my web site forum, I haven't found any more out about the name.
The two band Government rifles were made both three and five groove rifling. Commercial made rifles as this one came in a variety of configurations and barrel weights and did not necessarily conform to the Government pattern. Bore diameter will also vary slightly. It may or may not have progressive depth rifling.
I use an RCBS Minie bullet in mine. It has had the base plug altered to give a shallow base. I dip lube my bullets and size to .577.
You may find some of the commercial moulds cast at .575 dia which may be a bit small.
David
The two band Government rifles were made both three and five groove rifling. Commercial made rifles as this one came in a variety of configurations and barrel weights and did not necessarily conform to the Government pattern. Bore diameter will also vary slightly. It may or may not have progressive depth rifling.
I use an RCBS Minie bullet in mine. It has had the base plug altered to give a shallow base. I dip lube my bullets and size to .577.
You may find some of the commercial moulds cast at .575 dia which may be a bit small.
David
David Minshall - www.researchpress.co.uk
Firearms, long range shooting and associated history
Firearms, long range shooting and associated history
Hi David,
welcome to our board and thanks for your posts and links, hope to see you around here again.
What size does the RCBS mould throw?
welcome to our board and thanks for your posts and links, hope to see you around here again.
What size does the RCBS mould throw?
Last edited by dromia on Tue Jul 05, 2005 3:47 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Well the mould throws a 560 grain bullet of .58 dia. I bought it with the rifle and it had been modified from the original by reducing the base plug depth and it had also been opened out in diameter.
The rifle I shoot is dated 1866 and has 5-groove rifling, 1:48 twist and heavy barrel. It is a commercial model, but similar to the P/58 Naval rifle or the P/60 Short Rifle.
I use 75 grains of 'medium grain shooting powder' sold by Pete Starley (see www.black-powder.co.uk) for most shooting. For those familiar with the now defunct Colonel Farquaharson powder, it is the same. It is not particularly clean, but the fouling stays soft. I can shoot a full match course of fire without cleaning.
David
ps. Saw your posting on British Militaria. I wasn't aware of this forum until then... always nice to find new places to hang out and learn/natter!
The rifle I shoot is dated 1866 and has 5-groove rifling, 1:48 twist and heavy barrel. It is a commercial model, but similar to the P/58 Naval rifle or the P/60 Short Rifle.
I use 75 grains of 'medium grain shooting powder' sold by Pete Starley (see www.black-powder.co.uk) for most shooting. For those familiar with the now defunct Colonel Farquaharson powder, it is the same. It is not particularly clean, but the fouling stays soft. I can shoot a full match course of fire without cleaning.
David
ps. Saw your posting on British Militaria. I wasn't aware of this forum until then... always nice to find new places to hang out and learn/natter!
David Minshall - www.researchpress.co.uk
Firearms, long range shooting and associated history
Firearms, long range shooting and associated history
We've just relocated from Ez board, same provider as British Militaria is on.
We lost well over 90% of our posts there so we've moved here and are rebuilding the board, we have a good British, European and Australian presence here as well as our friends from the Americas so it makes for a knowledgeable and eclectic mix with some healthy irreverance thrown in.
We lost well over 90% of our posts there so we've moved here and are rebuilding the board, we have a good British, European and Australian presence here as well as our friends from the Americas so it makes for a knowledgeable and eclectic mix with some healthy irreverance thrown in.