William Ellis Metford
Encyclopedia
William Ellis Metford was a British engineer best known for designing the Metford rifling used in the .303 calibre Lee-Metford
and Martini-Metford
service rifles in the late 19th century.
Metford was apprenticed to Isambard Kingdom Brunel
and worked on the Bristol and Exeter Railway
., and the Wilts, Somerset and Weymouth Railway
. In March 1856 he was elected as an Associate of the Institute of Civil Engineers in 1856, and soon moved to India with his wife to work on the East Indian Railway, arriving in 1857 during the Indian Mutiny. The next year, he was forced to return to England because of poor health.
Metford was interested in both firearms and mechanics from an early age. Much of his work with rifles and bullets was conducted in the period 1852-1857; during this time he was instrumental in designing the Pritchett bullet for the .577 calibre Enfield Rifled Musket, as well as an explosive bullet and explosive shell which were adopted by the British Government. Metford was also involved in designing bullets and rifle barrels for target shooters, and his bullets designs were noted for their accuracy.
In 1889 the Metford rifling design was chosen by the British Government for use in the new .303 calibre rifles being introduced to replace the Martini-Henry
, and in 1891 Metford received £6,500 in royalties from the British Government relating to the use of his rifling in military service.
William Eliis Metford died in Bristol, England on 14 October, 1899 after a number of years of ill health.
Lee-Metford
The Lee-Metford rifle was a bolt action British army service rifle, combining James Paris Lee's rear-locking bolt system and ten-round magazine with a seven groove rifled barrel designed by William Ellis Metford...
and Martini-Metford
Martini-Enfield
Martini-Enfield rifles were, by and large, conversions of the Zulu War era .450/577 Martini-Henry, rechambering the rifle for use with the newly introduced .303 British cartridge...
service rifles in the late 19th century.
Metford was apprenticed to Isambard Kingdom Brunel
Isambard Kingdom Brunel
Isambard Kingdom Brunel, FRS , was a British civil engineer who built bridges and dockyards including the construction of the first major British railway, the Great Western Railway; a series of steamships, including the first propeller-driven transatlantic steamship; and numerous important bridges...
and worked on the Bristol and Exeter Railway
Bristol and Exeter Railway
The Bristol & Exeter Railway was a railway company formed to connect Bristol and Exeter.The company's head office was situated outside their Bristol station...
., and the Wilts, Somerset and Weymouth Railway
Wilts, Somerset and Weymouth Railway
The Wilts, Somerset and Weymouth Railway was a broad gauge railway that linked the Great Western Railway at Chippenham in 'Wilts' with Weymouth in Dorset, England. Branches ran to Devizes, Bradford-on-Avon and Salisbury in Wiltshire, and to Radstock in Somerset. The majority of the line survives...
. In March 1856 he was elected as an Associate of the Institute of Civil Engineers in 1856, and soon moved to India with his wife to work on the East Indian Railway, arriving in 1857 during the Indian Mutiny. The next year, he was forced to return to England because of poor health.
Metford was interested in both firearms and mechanics from an early age. Much of his work with rifles and bullets was conducted in the period 1852-1857; during this time he was instrumental in designing the Pritchett bullet for the .577 calibre Enfield Rifled Musket, as well as an explosive bullet and explosive shell which were adopted by the British Government. Metford was also involved in designing bullets and rifle barrels for target shooters, and his bullets designs were noted for their accuracy.
In 1889 the Metford rifling design was chosen by the British Government for use in the new .303 calibre rifles being introduced to replace the Martini-Henry
Martini-Henry
The Martini-Henry was a breech-loading single-shot lever-actuated rifle adopted by the British, combining an action worked on by Friedrich von Martini , with the rifled barrel designed by Scotsman Alexander Henry...
, and in 1891 Metford received £6,500 in royalties from the British Government relating to the use of his rifling in military service.
William Eliis Metford died in Bristol, England on 14 October, 1899 after a number of years of ill health.