Collectors Club Meeting March

Meeting was very well attended with several items brought for display. 

Gary brought an extremely rare Calisher & Terry Carbine. This breech-loading bolt-action percussion rifle was patented in the mid-1850s by William Terry and used a .54-caliber Minie-style bullet wrapped in a waterproof greased-paper cartridge which contained a charge of blackpowder and was ignited by a percussion cap. 

Terry later formed a partnership with Bertram Calisher and together they promoted and sold these rifles to both civilian and government customers alike until 1870 when the Terry action was surpassed by several other action types that were able to use the more durable metallic cartridges that being developed at the time. 

This particular example bears what is believed to be NSW Gaols markings on the butt, who were a known recipient of other Agencies surplus arms, including a shipment of these Terry Carbines.

This Carbine is an important piece of both our State and Military history, along with being an important footnote in early firearms development of the 1800s.

Rhys brought a Winchester Model 1890 slide-action rifle, believed to be a Second Model with a case-hardened, take-down receiver and chequered timber-work. Rhys’ rifle is chambered in the unusual .22 Winchester Rim Fire cartridge, a forerunner to the popular .22 WMR of today, and has definitely seen some use over the years with several marks along the stock that may be damage and subsequent repairs made over the years and well-worn metalwork to match. 

These iconic rifles were made in various forms from 1890 through to 1941, with production ceasing, so Winchester could focus on producing wartime materials. Approximately 849,000 Model 1890 rifles were made during production.

A member also brought a bayonet for identification. The meeting established that the bayonet in question was a Yataghan style, but were ultimately unsure of the country or model due to a lack of markings except for a small mark on the ricasso, possibly a proof-mark. 

Unfortunately, one of our more knowledgeable members on this topic was away at the time, and we requested that the member seeking identification bring the bayonet back in the future. 

The Range is Closed on Saturday 4th of April (first Saturday of that month). Our next meeting is scheduled for Saturday 11th of April (second Saturday of that month)