Davide Pedersoli muzzleloading rifle Withworth

In 1858, Sir Henry Whitworth was commissioned by the English War Ministry to design a new rifle as a replacement for the "Enfield Pattern 53."

He began his work on a rifle in caliber .451 with a hexagonal bore profile. The rifle exceeded all expectations of the "British Rifle Association" and impressed Queen Victoria during the shooting tests conducted in 1859 at 400 yards (366 m). The rifle was used during the American Civil War.