Friday, March 30, 2012

Gunnie trivia time!

OK, Borepatchians, here a trivia question for you: Sherlock Holmes' companion Dr. Watson was an officer in the British army in Afghanistan (circa 1880s).  As such, he would have been responsible for purchasing his own side arm.  So the trivia question is: which revolver would be have packed?  A Webley, or an Enfield?

14 comments:

  1. ZerCoolMarch 30, 2012 at 7:10 AM

    Oddly enough, I've been reading "The Complete Sherlock Holmes" lately. If memory serves, Sherlock refers to Watson's gun as an Eley.

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  2. bluesunMarch 30, 2012 at 7:56 AM

    For some reason I was under the impression it was a Webley, but I'm not sure if that's just something my brain made up.

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  3. BobMarch 30, 2012 at 7:59 AM

    Enfield in .476, I'd guess. "Eley" was a manufacturer of firearm cartridges, not firearms.

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  4. BobMarch 30, 2012 at 7:59 AM

    If Watson purchased his own sidearm it might have been a Webley R.I.C. (Royal Irish Constabulary) model.

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  5. PeterMarch 30, 2012 at 10:30 AM

    The .476 Enfield Mk. I was used in Afghanistan during Dr. Watson's service period, so if he used an officially-issued revolver, it was probably that model. However, many officers bought and carried their own sidearms, so he might have used an Adams, or a Webley RIC or British Bull Dog model (both pre-dating the Webley service revolver, adopted in 1887 as a result of unsatisfactory experience with the Enfields in Afghanistan). He might also have carried an American revolver such as a Colt or Smith & Wesson (not an uncommon choice among British officers at the time, particularly because the British .476 round was considered underpowered for dealing with uppity fuzzy-wuzzies in the colonies).

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  6. Robert McDonaldMarch 30, 2012 at 10:36 AM

    I would think the Webley. It occurs to me that a novel going into the details of Watson's life before Holmes would be really good if the right author took it up.

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  7. BorepatchMarch 30, 2012 at 10:41 AM

    I was leaning towards the Enfield because IIRC the Webley hadn't been introduced when Watson would have been in Afghanistan.

    But you're absolutely correct, Peter, officers bought all sorts of weapons, to their own taste. Churchill's Broomhandle Mauser in the Sudan is one well known example.

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  8. ZerCoolMarch 30, 2012 at 10:52 AM

    I knew Eley was a cartridge maker, I was trying to recall the reference. So I went and dug it out.

    From "The Adventure of the Speckled Band", with footnote:
    "I should be very much obliged if you would slip your revolver into your pocket. An Eley's No. 2* is an excellent argument with gentlemen who can twist steel pokers into knots. That and a tooth-brush are, I think, all that we need."

    * - Actually a Webley's No. 2, .320 caliber pistol that used Eley bullets.

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  9. BorepatchMarch 30, 2012 at 10:54 AM

    ZerCool FTW!

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  10. CritterMarch 30, 2012 at 1:14 PM

    i dunno if a .32 is "an excellent argument with gentlemen who can twist steel pokers into knots."

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  11. AnonymousMarch 30, 2012 at 1:16 PM

    Okay how about a .450 Second Model Adams revolver?

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  12. AnonymousMarch 30, 2012 at 1:18 PM

    I cheated....
    http://archives.gunsandammo.com/content/guns-sherlock-holmes

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  13. Murphy's LawMarch 31, 2012 at 12:16 AM

    Gotta go with a Webley MK IV in .450.

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  14. AnonymousApril 3, 2012 at 2:02 PM

    The .577 Tranter still holds a certain fascination for me.

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