What are the requirements for a rifle to be designated as an "Express Rifle"?

The term originated in the "express" trains circa 1870. You can guess about any bullet travelling at 2500 fps or better in these days.
Regards

In todays terms;
banded front sight
bbl. band front swivel
1/4 rib or island rear sight

This is what you get on Ruger's "Express" rifles. Something to hunt Africa with.

Great answer, Fred!

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As always, Alf has the crap on hand! ButTTTt there are two phrases here which will, most likely, be confuseing to some here! One is the mention of "CAPE" but not defined. This will confuse most here who know of the CAPE GUN as a combination S/S rifle/shotgun, And the calling of a rifle an EXPRESS rifle, and discribeing an EXPRESS cartridge, or load. They are two intirely different things today. The popular "EXPRESS" rifles of today are a Type of rifle most associeated with big bore African rifle. Fredg338's discription is what is Known as an Express rifle today, and I believe is what SBT was asking about. In addition to Fredg338's format, the stock design is African classic, with short forarm, drop magazine, and egg cheekpiece, with drop set for Iron sight use, with scope as an add on. Chambered for nothing smaller that 9.3 caliber.

Seems to me like we have here a description of two different things!

1. What constitutes an EXPRESS RIFLE, based upon architecture.

2. What constitutes an EXPRESS RIFLE CARTRIDGE, based on ballistic characteristics.

In regard to No. 2, which I believe lead to the description of rifles that fired such cartridges, (No. 1 above) was a round or load that used a LIGHT-FOR-CALIBER bullet (ie., a 300-grain .458" vs a 480 to 500 grain .458") AT HIGHER THAN USUAL velocities. A 300 grain .45 @ 1600+ FPS (BP ballistics) as opposed to a 500-grain .45 @ 1250 or so FPS, etc.

The terminology "Express" caught on, and was carried over into the smokeless era, at which time the distinction of LIGHT-FOR-CALIBER bullet disappeared. But the term Express Rifle continued in use, AND was also now being used for rifles displaying certain architecture, as noted in other posts above.

Thanks you guys. I was inquiring abount an express rifle based upon architecture, but found the definition based upon caliber interesting.

To me an "Express Rifle" is an over/under double rifle, by architecture. A side by side I consider a "Double Rifle". While both are double rifles, I accept an "Express" as the over/under version.

Just my opine.

Rusty
We band of brothers!

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ALF,
Well, you're literate in Afrikaans. Translate that puppy. If he's feeling particularly mellow, Saeed might even publish it for us.