Information from donor: This gun originally belonged to Mr John Slatter of Adelaide, South Australia. It cost £40, sights £5 extra. It had been used in the Wimbledon competitions in the U.K. They were valued in the Army and ten were supplied per company to the marksmen of the regiment. On Slatter’s death it was presented to Lt. Col. Morrow. Lt. Col. Morrow in 1901 was on district Staff as D.A.A.G. to the Prince of Wales (George V)". The gun was subsequently given to the donor, a grandson of Captain Morrow

Note: maker Benjamin Beasley,(1861-1864), made military pattern Whitworth-rifled target rifles under license from Joseph WHITWORTH.

Information from Ed Smith (Antique Arms Association) in 1981: “There is no reference to John Slatter … in the Australian team competing at Wimbledon who used Rigby rifles, but this does not mean that he did not at some time compete….”

Reference: English gunmakers: the Birmingham and provincial gun trade in the 18th and 19th century, by De Witt Bailey, Douglas A. Nie, published Arms and Armour Press, 1978