Any Experience with Peabody Rifles (of the Swiss Persuasion)?

[barnbwt]

I think they look cool, and the action seems pretty straightforward. As best I can tell they are basically a proto-Martini-Henry with a more elegant looking external hammer (the loss of curly hammers was the first instance of "tactical" triumphing of "beauty" ). I'm curious if they have worked well for any members here, or if they have some obnoxious design flaw that isn't readily apparent (like the lack of an extractor, or something). They are so simple in fact that it may be more fun to try and build something based on the design than purchasing a safe queen

TCB

 

[StrawHat]

New rifles (and carbines) are available from the Providence Tool Company.

http://www.providencetoolcompanyllc.com/rifles.html

Some parts are available, also.

 

[zimmerstutzen]

Friend of mine had a Peabody Martini in .433 Peabody. The butt attachment to the action seemed like a weak link. Now doubt they are cool. His shot fair for a 100 year old gun back then. I personally prefer the Martini Henry for looks AND the cartridges are huge

 

[barnbwt]

"The butt attachment to the action seemed like a weak link"
Hmm, good to know. I can see that now, depending on how the side plates/tangs attach to the main receiver.

I didn't really look into it, but yeah, the Martini is quite a bit larger of a gun than the Peabody. I'm guessing these guns shot a little 6.5 or something? No reason the Peabody couldn't be scaled up, I don't think.

TCB

 

[Jim Watson]

The Peabody doesn't need scaling up. It was originally made in several of the military and sporting black powder calibers like .43 Spanish, .40-70, .45-70, and .50-70; as well as the strange looking What Cheer bottleneck cartridges, designed to get more case capacity in an OAL that would go "around the bend" of the tipping block action.