#sergeant harper

But you’re all really sleeping on Sgt. Harper? Where’s the love?

The Nock Volley Gun

In 1779, James Wilson approached the British Board of Ordnance with a formidable weapon - a 7-barrelled volley gun. Wilson's design would subsequently be manufactured by London gunmaker Henry Nock, whose name the gun eventually took. 

The Nock Volley Gun saw service with the Royal Navy for around 20 years, with over 600 produced, although just how effective they were is a matter of some debate. 

Immortalised in books, TV and film - most famously as Sergeant Harper’s weapon of Choice in the Sharpe series, the Nock Gun is formidable weapon with an interesting history. 

In which Bernard Cornwell writes some men and women fighting dirty, and other men in acute pain.

“He punched Harper’s throat, then slammed a boot into his groin.” -Sharpe’s Rifles

“The slim, dark-haired girl had taken the Frenchman’s own sabre and plunged it, point first, into his groin.” - Sharpe’s Gold

“Sharpe brought his right knee up into the man’s groin.” - Sharpe’s Escape

“Sharpe thumped the man in the groin for a remembrance.” - Sharpe’s Escape

“The second man had blood pouring from his nose and the pistol was pointing at the leader’s groin.” -Sharpe’s Fury

“He thrust up with the sabre, into the man’s groin, and the scream winged into the night and the pulsed on to Knowles’ wrist.” -Sharpe’s Company

“The tube, jagged brass edges splayed at it’s end, struck Lavin’s groin andSharpe twisted it.” - Sharpe’s Honour

“A Marine, at Sharpe’s shoulder, drove his blade into the sergeant’s groin.” -Sharpe’s Siege

“Harper rode up to the man and saw the broken wheel spokes impaled in his belly and groin. He took the rifle off his shoulder, aimed it, and shot once.” -  Waterloo

And best for last:

“Frederickson, who had removed his eyepatch and false teeth in honour of the occasion, let the Frenchman come, then kicked him massively between the legs. The man collapsed. Frederickson stooped and retrieved the man’s fallen cigar. The Frenchman was breathless on the cobbles, his hands clutching a pain that was like a thousand red-hot musket ball exploding outwards from his groin.” - Sharpe’s Revenge