6 pdr. Wiard Rifle
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- Type: Rifled gun, 8 rifle grooves
- Rarity: Rare
- Years of Manufacture: 1861 - 1862
- Tube Composition: Puddled wrought-iron (semi-steel)
- Bore Diameter: 2.6 inches
- Standard Powder Charge: 0.75 lbs.
- Projectiles: 6 lb. Hotchkiss bolt
- Tube Length: 53 inches
- Tube Weight: 725 lbs.
- Effective Range (at 35°): 7,000 yards
- No. in North America: about 60
- Invented By: Norman Wiard
- US Casting Foundry: O'Donnell's Foundry, New York City, NY
- Special Notes: The 6 Pounder Wiard Rifle was mounted on a special Wiard Field Carraige, designed to permit much greater elevations than standard gun carraiges.
More about the 6 pdr. Wiard Rifle
Norman Wiard, a Canadian working for the United States invented several light artillery pieces which, although apparently excellent weapons, do not seem to have been very popular. Wiard described his weapons as being made of semi-steel in two calibers: a 6-pdr Rifle with a 2.6 inch bore and a 12-pdr smoothbore with a 4.62 inch bore.
Wiard designed a unique carraige for his pieces. The first unusual feature was the axle and cheek arrangement which was designed for strength and high angle of barrel elevation, as high as 35 degrees. This arrangement also permitted tighter storage and transportation because one carraige could slide beneath the next. Another innovation was the flat trail plate with a metal keel to guarantee that upon recoil the trail would slide straight and not dig in to soft dirt. Wiard also devised a better system for braking a gun carriage using a steel skid that held the carraige wheel from turning without damaging the iron tires.
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