Farquhar-Hill Pattern 1918
William Beardmore and Company · Rifle · Prototype · 1918
Also known as: Rifle, .303 inch, Pattern 1918, Farquhar-Hill Model 1918
Overview
The Farquhar-Hill Pattern 1918 is a British semi-automatic rifle and the military-adopted form of the Farquhar-Hill design developed by Moubray G. Farquhar and Arthur H. Hill. Chambered in .303 British and fed from a 19-round drum magazine, it used a gas-operated action with a stationary barrel and rotary bolt locking, storing energy in an intermediate spring to smooth the cycling of the bolt. After successful trials, it was officially designated 'Rifle, .303 inch, Pattern 1918' and an order for 100,000 units was placed, but the Armistice ended the Great War before production facilities were allocated and the requirement was abandoned in 1919.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 6600 g (232.8 oz) |
| Overall Length | 1042 mm (41.02") |
| Barrel Length | 686 mm (27.01") |
| Action Type | Gas Operated |
| Firing Mechanism | Hammer Fired |
| Trigger Type | Single Action |
| Magazine Capacity | 19 rounds |
| Magazine Type | Drum |
| Muzzle Velocity | 744 m/s (2441 fps) |
| Muzzle Energy | 3120 J (2301 ft·lbf) |
| Effective Range | 500 m (547 yd) |
| Barrel Rifling | Right Hand |
| Frame Material | Steel |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Stock Material | Wood |
| Finish | Blued |
Calibers
- .303 British · primary — also known as .303 Mk VII, 7.7x56mmR, .303 Enfield
Features
- Firing modes: Semi Automatic
- Feed systems: Drum Magazine
- Safety mechanisms: Manual Safety
- Features: Rotary Bolt Locking, Intermediate Recoil Spring, Detachable Drum Magazine
Base model
Service history
Operators
- British Army · adopted 1918 · as Rifle, .303 inch, Pattern 1918
- Royal Air Force · adopted 1918
Conflicts
- World War I (1914-1918)
Production
Production years: 1918-1919
Ordered in 100,000 units but only a handful built before the post-Armistice cancellation in 1919
Origin
Country of origin: United Kingdom
Designer: Moubray G. Farquhar, Arthur H. Hill
Discontinued: 1919
Notes
Only a small number of examples were built before the contract was cancelled. The rifle saw very limited combat use with British aviators as a flexible weapon for observers and rear gunners late in the war. Farquhar later adapted the design into the Beardmore-Farquhar light machine gun.
Background
Britain's most promising self-loading rifle of the First World War, the Farquhar-Hill was finally judged fit for service in 1918 after a decade of refinement, only for peace to arrive before a single production rifle could be issued.