firearms - an illustrated history

7/23/2019 Firearms - An Illustrated History

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A N I L L U S T R AT E D H I S TO RY


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A N I L L U S T R AT E D H I S TO RY

FIREARMS


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CONTENTSINTRODUCTION 8

BEFORE THE FLINTLOCK(UP TO 1650)

Early cannon 12

Field and naval artillery 14

Naval cannon 16

Harquebuses 20

Early matchlock guns 22

Showcase: Matchlock musket 24

Turning point: Ready-to-re guns 26Sporting long guns 28

European hunting guns 30

Early pistols and carbines 32

Combination weapons 34

THE FLINTLOCK YEARS(16501830)

Turning point: Guns for all 38

Early intlock guns 40

Flintlock pistols (16501700) 42

LONDON, NEW YORK, MELBOURNE,MUNICH, AND DELHI

First American Edition, 2014Published in the United States by

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Sachin Singh, Vishal Bhatia, Nand Kishor Acharya

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CONTRIBUTORSPrimary Consultant

Consultants

Graeme Rimer

Herbert G. Houze, Peter Smithurst,Philip Wilkinson, Christopher Henry


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Muskets (16501769) 52

Muskets (17701830) 54

Flintlock ries, carbines, and shotguns (16501760) 56Flintlock ries, carbines, and blunderbusses (17611830) 58

Showcase: Baker rie 60

Great gunsmiths: Springeld Armory 62

European hunting guns 64

Field and siege artillery (16501780) 66

Field and siege artillery (17811830) 68

Naval guns 70

Asian rearms (16501780) 72

Asian rearms (17811830) 74

Ottoman rearms 78

Turning point: Fail-safe guns 80

Early percussion guns 82

THE AGE OF CHANGE (183080)

Percussion-cap pistols 86

American percussion-cap revolvers 88

Showcase: Colt Navy revolver 90

British percussion-cap revolvers 92

Great gunsmiths: Colt 94

Muskets and ries (183152) 96

Turning point: Practical ries 98

Showcase: Eneld ried musket 100Muskets and ries (185370) 102

Showcase: Le Page sporting gun 104

Visual tour: Dreyse needle-re rie 108

Breech-loading carbines 110

Turning point: Self-contained cartridges 112

Single-shot breech-loading ries 114

Manually operated repeating ries 116

Great gunsmiths: Winchester 118

Breech-loading shotguns 120

Sporting ries 122

Metallic-cartridge pistols (185370) 124

Metallic-cartridge revolvers (187179) 126

Great gunsmiths: Smith and Wesson 128

Muzzle-loading artillery 132

Breech-loading artillery 134

Early machine-guns 136

Visual tour: Gatling gun 138


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Introduction

8 I N T R O D U C T I O N

THROUGHOUT THEIR HISTORY, rearms have had a profound effect on human activity.Created to wage war, guns soon provided a means for hunting and defending life and property.

They also helped sustain traditions of target shooting that began with bows and arrows.

The rst rearms appeared in China in the Middle Ages. At the time, gunpowder was already

being used to create explosives. The Chinese discovered that by putting some of this powder, and

a projectile, into a metal tube, and then igniting the powder, they could propel the projectilewith enormous force. So, as far as we can tell, the rst guns were born. While the earliest guns

were artillery pieces, portable handguns were not far behind. Personal arms would never be

the same again.

For several centuries, guns remained simple metal tubes, loaded at the muzzle and ring

spherical balls of lead or stone, propelled by burning gunpowder. At rst, they were red

manually by smoldering match-cord, but later, mechanical devices called locks ignited the

powder, freeing the hands to concentrate on aiming. Matchlocks, and then wheel-locks and

intlocks, made guns quicker and simpler to re.The 19th century saw the greatest advances in the development and manufacture

of rearms in their entire history. Muskets developed into ries, smoothbore artillery evolved

into ried weapons, gunpowder was replaced by smokeless powder, and muzzle-loading gave

way to breech-loading. Fulminatescompounds that exploded when struckwere discovered,

and for the rst time, guns would re reliably even in the rain. Fulminates would eventually

be incorporated into self-contained metal cartridges, loadable in an instant from magazines.

Arms manufacturers such as Samuel Colt pioneered technologies for mass-producing

guns with precision-made interchangeable parts, creating a blueprint for how rearms wouldcome to be manufactured. The turn of the 20th century saw the almost universal adoption of

repeaters, self-loading pistols, and machine-guns. With evolving rearms technology, military

tactics also changed forever.

Firearms development has consistently pushed the limits of available manufacturing

technology and spurred the creation of new materials. Modern manufacturers utilize materials

such as plastics and pressed steel to build guns using computer-controlled production processes.

Todays designs still owe much to earlier periods. Many modern revolvers, pistols, and ries

are rooted in the genius of their 19th-century designers. This book provides a fascinating visualsurvey of rearms, from their earliest forms until the present day. It celebrates the inspiration

of great rearms designers and also the traditional craftsmanship that is still vital for the

creation of ne sporting guns.

GRAEME RIMERCONSULTANT

COLT MODEL 1911

(TOOLROOM MODEL,

DISASSEMBLED VIEW)


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I N T R O D U C T I O N 9


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GERMAN WHEEL-LOCK RIFLE


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UP TO 1650

BEFORE THE

FLINTLOCK

A gunlock, or ring mechanism, ignites propellantgunpowderto re aprojectile down the barrel of a gun. At rst, rearms had no special mechanismfor igniting the charge, just a smoldering hemp-cord to light the gunpowder.Then the development of gunlocks such as the matchlock and wheel-lockandultimately the intlockmechanisms made guns quicker and easier to re.


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12 B E F O R E T H E F L I N T L O C K ( U P T O 1 6 5 0 )

EARLY CANNONThe gun was rst developed in medieval China. Withthe invention of gunpowder, blacksmiths there attemptedto create a tube strong enough to contain its explosions.In the early 14th century, craftsmen in China, and then inEurope, made cannon by casting them in bronze. Shortlyafterward, blacksmiths began to build cannon by assemblingthem from strips of wrought iron. The strips, or staves, ranlengthwise, and heated iron bands were placed around them.On cooling, the bands shrank, binding the strips tightly toform the bore of the cannon, a little like wooden staves form a

wooden barrel. Early cannon were mostly loaded at the muzzle,with gunpowder and balls carved from stone. A vent in thebarrel of the cannon allowed the gunpowder to be ignited,usually with a smoldering match-cord.

In the 1400s, large siege guns were knownas bombards. The stone balls they hurledwere loaded through the muzzle after thegunpowder charge. Flanders, where this

bombard was made, had a strong traditionof gunmaking, particularly during thereign of Charles the Bold (143377).

FLEMISH BOMBARDDate Early 15th centuryOrigin FlandersLength Not knownCaliber Not known

Lifting ring Muzzle

Towingeye

BOXTED BOMBARDDate c.1450Origin EnglandLength 734ft (2.4m)Caliber13in (230mm)

As with most types of early gun,bombards had a narrow powderchamber and a wider bore. Thishelped to concentrate the force ofthe exploding gunpowder and tofocus it behind the center of the ball.

Powder chamberin breech

Wrought-iron barrelmade of bands and staves

Liftingring

Vent for ignitinggunpowder


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Muzzle lostthrough corrosion

Forged-iron barrel

Elaborate sight block holds blades ofvarying heights for different ranges

Wrought-iron barrel

Modern reproduction of wooden tiller,used to aim the weapon

Cord binding

Match-holderto holdsmolderingmatch-cord

Trigger

Woodenstock

Hooped ironbarrel

Lock and furniture madeof brass to resist corrosion

Pan holds a quantity of gunpowder, which isignited by a smoldering match-cord to lightthe main gunpowder charge in the barrel

Muzzle ring

Touchhole


FIELD AND NAVAL ARTILLERYArtilleryguns that are too big and heavy to be red by handinclude not only cannon but also smaller weapons such as swivel guns. Whilethe design of early artillery used on land or at sea was similar, guns made forships had to meet special requirementsspace aboard ships is limited andthe risk of re considerable. Guns mounted on a pivotswivel gunsweredeveloped to increase the maneuverability of artillery. Light versions ofswivel guns were created for naval use, and these guns could be t ontosockets on the sides of ships. This helped to stabilize the guns when ringand to absorb recoil. Although most naval guns were muzzle-loading, loadingthe charge in the breech of the guns barrel rather than in the muzzle, or

breech-loading, made these guns easier to load. This was a useful feature,because it was impractical to reload a muzzle-loader whose muzzleprojected from the side of the ship. Field and naval artillery graduallybegan to use balls of iron and lead rather than stone.

Hand-cannon were really small-scale versions of cannon and were deployed in thesame way, but unlike true artillery they were small enough to be carried and red

by one user. Their muzzle-loading barrels were attached to wooden tillers. Smallhand-cannon were used in naval and land warfare, but they were difficult to aim.The user had to hold the gun, look where he was aiming, direct the gun using atiller, and then place a burning match-cord into a small amount of gunpowderaround a touchholea vent at the rear of the barrel. On ignition, this primingpowder would re the main gunpowder charge in the breech of the barrel.

ENGLISHHAND-CANNONDate 1480Origin EnglandBarrel Not knownCaliber Not known

SWEDISH SWIVEL GUNDate c.1500Origin SwedenMaterial IronShot Round or grapeshot

Swivel guns rst appeared in the late14th century. Unlike xed cannon,which could only re in one direction,they provided an arc of re, and weremainly breech-loading. This modelwould have been mounted on a boator a building and would often beloaded with grapeshotsmall ballsof iron and lead.

FULL VIEW


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Elaboratelydecorated barrel

Small-borebarrel

Widelyared muzzle

Bronze barrel

Astragals (decorative moldings)

Dolphin-shapedlifting handles

Ornamental gureof pouncing lion

Decoration depicting arms ofPrince Maurice of the Netherlands

BRONZE DEMI-CULVERINDate 1636Origin FranceLength 912ft (2.92m)

Caliber4.3in (110mm)

BRONZE DEMI-CANNONDate 1643Origin FlandersLength10ft (3.12m)Caliber6in (152mm)

MALAYSIANBRONZE SAKERDate c.1650Origin MalaysiaLength7ft (2.29m)Caliber3.5in (89mm)

This naval version of a demi-culverin, a medium-sized cannon,was cast for Cardinal Richelieu,chief minister to King Louis XIII

of France, who reorganized theFrench eet and established afoundry at Le Havre.

This demi-cannon, a heavypiece designed for naval use,was cast in the famous Flemishgun-foundry at Malines. It wascapable of ring heavy shot,which could cause devastatingdamage at short range.

Sakers were light cannondesigned for long-range attack.This ornate model was castin Malacca, Malaysia, by localcraftsmen who probablyfollowed a Dutch model.

N A V A L C A N N O N 17

Trunnion


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EARLY MATCHLOCKGUNSThe matchlock was an early ring mechanismforhandheld guns. It featured a devicethe serpentinethatheld a piece of smoldering match-cord. Upon pulling thetrigger, the serpentine plunged the match-cord into a pancarrying priming powder. Ignition of the priming powderproduced a ash, which ignited the main charge via a ventin the side of the barrel. Firing the gun by just pulling atrigger or squeezing a lever allowed the rer to focus on thetarget by looking down the barrel. Early matchlock guns

were muzzle-loading. A wooden rod called a ramrod wasused to ram the gunpowder charge and ball into the breech.

Henry VIII of England ordered 1,500 ofthese guns from the Venetian Republic in1544. A year later, some of them wereaboard his agship, the Mary Rose,when it sank. Experiments haveshown that their ammunitioncould penetrate up to in (6mm)of steel at 30 yards (27m).

SNAPPING MATCHLOCKDate c.1540Origin ItalyBarrel42in (105cm)Caliber.47in (12mm)

Decorativebrass inlay

Brasslock plate

Trigger guard

Small of stockts in hand

Trigger guard

Lock plate

Pan cover Serpentinematch-holder

Shoulder stock

Brass serpentinespring

Trigger

Serpentine match-holder is shaped

like an S and resembles a snake

Brass serpentine match-holder is forward-facing



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MUSKET RESTThe earliest military matchlockswere very heavy and required theuse of a rest. The rest itself had to beof sturdy design, and this increasedthe gunners load. By about 1650,guns had become light enough thatrests were no longer needed.

Sling isdecorative

as well asfunctional

Socket forwooden staff

Trigger

Curled armof rest

Triggerguard

Comb of stock assistsin bringing shoulder

to axis of recoil

FULL VIEW

Nozzle withoutmeasuring device

POWDER FLASKThis ask is made of wood,covered in fabric, and has an

outer iron frame. Originallyits nozzle would have had a

thumb-operated shutterat its base, which was used

to measure the individualcharges of gunpowder

for a musket.

MATCHLOCK MUSKETWhile the matchlock musket was a signicant improvementover the hand-cannon, it was still a very clumsy weapon.Even in dry weather the match could be extinguished alltoo easily, and its glowing end was a giveaway at night. The

best models were, however, surprisingly accurate and werecapable of killing a man at 109 yards (100m) or more.

SHOWCASE

MATCHLOCK MUSKET

In the late 16th century, the harquebus (see p.20) developed into a typeof matchlock musket that was widely adopted in western Europe. Matchlockswere more unwieldy and unreliable than the wheel-lock guns invented soonafterward (see p.27), but they continued to be popular until the end of the17th century, largely due to their simplicity.

MATCHLOCK MUSKETDate c. mid-17th century

Origin Britain

Barrel 4912in (126cm)

Caliber.75in (19mm)


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S H O W C A S E M A T C H L O C K M U S K E T 25

BANDOLEERIn addition to carrying a powderask, a musketeer would haveworn a belt from which small askswere suspended. Each ask was lledwith a measured charge of powder.

Serpentine match-holdershaped like a dogs head

Octagonal-sectionbarrel

Lock plate

Pan cover

Pan carries primingpowdera small amountof gunpowder for lighting

the main gunpowdercharge in the breechof the barrel

FULL VIEW

FULL

VIEW

Leatherbelt

Flask is carvedfrom wood


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This early intlock rie, with a characteristicBaltic lock from the south of Sweden, has thedistinctive Goinge type short butt stockreminiscent of weapons of a still earlier date.Compared with later examples, its simplelock is crudely made, but it features the frizzencommon to all intlocks (see pp.3839).

In this gun, wheel-lock and matchlocksystems are set beside each otheron the same lock plate. The wheel-lock mechanism and stock are typical

of those made in the Netherlandsand in parts of what is modern-dayBelgium and Germany around 1650.

SWEDISHBALTIC FLINTLOCKDate c.1650Origin SwedenBarrel38in (98cm)Caliber.4in (10mm)

COMBINATION WHEEL-LOCK/MATCHLOCK MUSKETDate1650 (mechanism)

Origin GermanyBarrel 4612in (118cm)Caliber.70in (17.7mm)

Rear sight

Aperturerear sight

Pin securingbarrel to stock

Rear sightFrizzen (pan coverwith swiveling steel)

Dog spring

Frizzenspring

Dog

FULL VIEW

FULL VIEW

FULL VIEW

S P O R T I N G L O N G G U N S 29


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EARLY PISTOLSAND CARBINES

The advent of the wheel-lock (see pp.2627) notonly made it possible to dispense with a lighted match-cord, but now rearms could also be madesmaller, be red with one hand, andcarried around, instantly ready to re.This gunlock made new types of rearmspractical. Pistols and carbines appeared.These were lighter than cumbersomemuskets and easier to handle. Carbines

were shorter than muskets, but largerthan pistols, and they providedcavalry with signicant repower.


HOLSTER PISTOLDate c.1580Origin GermanyBarrel12in (30.5cm)Caliber.58in (14.7mm)

WHEEL-LOCK PISTOLDate 1590Origin Germany

Barrel12in (30.5cm)Caliber.50in (12.7mm)

In northern Europe, pistols wereknown as dags (the origin of thename is obscure) until the late16th century. The ball pommel,a common feature of dags, wasdesigned to make the pistol easierto retrieve from a pocket or bag,instead of being used as a bludgeon.

Decorative ballpommel isattached to buttby a dowel

Dog spring

Iron pyrite

Pan

Trigger guard

Trigger

Trigger guard

Scroll-work insteel wire

Lock plate

Dog is contacting the pan cover,as it does when the shooter is

readying the gun to re

Dog spring

Jaw to holdiron pyrite

Triggerguard

Inlaid brass wire

Jaw to hold iron pyrite

Pommel acts as acounterbalance

Pistol grip Ramrod

This holster pistol has a recognizablyangular handgun layout, which meantit could be stored in a holster whileon horseback. Every aspect of the gunis highly decorated, including a largepommel at the end of the grip.

E A R L Y P I S T O L S A N D C A R B I N E S 33


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E A R L Y P I S T O L S A N D C A R B I N E S 33

This pistol was made by Lorenz Herold,who is recorded as working in Nuremburgfrom 1572 until his death in 1622. Thismodel is, however, stamped with theAugsburg control mark. Herold was,therefore, either working in both regionsor buying in Augsburg-made barrels.

GERMAN WHEEL-LOCKDate 1620Origin GermanyBarrel17in (43cm)Caliber.57in (14.5mm)

ITALIAN WHEEL-LOCKDate 1635Origin ItalyBarrel10in (26cm)

Caliber.52in (13.3mm)

WHEEL-LOCK CARBINEDate 1650Origin GermanyBarrel20in (52cm)

Caliber.50in (12.7mm)Made by German gunmaker HansRuhr, this wheel-lock features a short,attened butt. The steel butt plateis drilled with a cavitypossibly tocontain a cartridge or powder measure.The stock is inlaid with scroll-workin steel wire featuring a cherubs head.

WHEEL-LOCK PISTOLDate17th century

Origin GermanyBarrel20in (50.8cm)Caliber.50in (12.7mm)

Military wheel-lock pistolswere expensive (see p.27) andused only by cavalry. Pairs ofthese pistols were carried inholsters in front of the saddle.This example is more decorativethan most, having mother-of-pearl inlay in the stock.

Ramrod

Ramrod

Lock plate

Trigger guard

Dog spring

Top jawscrew

Forestock

Dog spring

Mother-of-pearlinlay butt stock

Dog spring

Ramrod

Ramrod

FULL VIEW

This wheel-lock was produced inBrescia, Italy, by the famed gunmakerGiovanni Battista Francino. Francino

built his reputation on the high qualityof nish, ne balance, and superb

lockwork of his guns, and he often madepaired pistols for affluent customers.



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COMBINATION WEAPONSThroughout history, arms-makers have tried to combine thebenets of more than one weapon. Sometimes these were attempts

to produce practical military weapons, but often these hybrid weaponswere made as objects of interest and technical curiosity. Combiningtwo weapons would often compromise the effectiveness of both, butthey could be splendidly decorative, even if they were not very practical.Firearms were frequently attached to other kinds of weapon, with theidea that a staff weapon, shield, or sword might gain additional potency.

The head of this wheel-lock pistol has six pointed anges,each pierced with a trefoil shape. The lock incorporates asimple safety catch that engages with the sear, a part of themechanism that holds back the dog before the trigger ispulled.The hollow shaft at the rear of the gun formsanother barrel. It contains a compartment that can beaccessed by opening the hinged pommel.

HALBERD WITH TWOWHEEL-LOCK MECHANISMSDate c.1590Origin GermanyLength27in (69.1cm)

Caliber.33in (.83cm)This is a ceremonial halberd equipped witha double-barreled wheel-lock pistol. Thepistol barrels are octagonal and mountedon either side of the leaf-shaped blade. Thewhole gun is etched and partly gilt withstrap and scroll-work, the ax and uke ofthe head having additional trophies of arms.

MACE WHEEL-LOCKDate c.1560Origin GermanyLength23in (58.5cm)Caliber.31in (.78cm)

Barrel

Dog

Safety catch

Beakof warhammer

War hammeris missing thebalancinghammer head

Hinged pommel Shaft forms a second barrel

Wheel-lockTrigger

Ax blade

Mace headcomposed of six

pierced anges

Ramrod

Squared shaft takes thekey that winds the action

Wheel

FULL VIEW

FULL VIEW

Dog

Shaft

Gilt with strapand scroll-work



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16501830

THE FLINTLOCK

YEARS

The intlock mechanism appeared in the late 16th century. It was cheaper and simplerthan the wheel-lock, and produced sparks by striking a piece of int onto a piece of

hardened steel. By around 1650, it was being used widely in Europe and NorthAmerica, although matchlock and wheel-lock guns remained in use. Employed onrearms ranging from pistols to artillery, the intlock would continue to be theprincipal ring mechanism for more than 200 years.


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E A R L Y F L I N T L O C K G U N S 41


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FLINTLOCK PISTOLDate c.1650Origin EnglandBarrel6in (15.3cm)Caliber .59in (15mm)

ENGLISH FLINTLOCK PISTOLDate c.1650Origin EnglandBarrel14in (34.2cm)Caliber.57in (14.5mm)

DUTCH DOUBLE-BARRELEDFLINTLOCKDate c.1650Origin NetherlandsBarrel19in (50.3cm)Caliber.51in (13mm)

Multibarreled pistols gave travelers

the advantage of additional repowerif attacked. The barrels on this pistolcan be rotated by hand, in what isknown as the Wender system. Oncethe upper barrel has been red, a catchis drawn back to allow the two to beturned, bringing the unred barrelup from beneath. Each barrel has itsown pan and frizzen.

English gunmakers produced manythousands of plain but functionalmilitary rearms during the period ofthe English Civil War in the middleof the 17th century. This pistol is of thetype that was usually issued in pairs

to cavalry troopers and carried in twoholsters mounted on the front of thesaddle. It has a lock plate and stockshaped like those of a wheel-lock, whichwas a fashionable design at this time.

This all-steel pistol is interestingbecause its mechanism is exposedon the outside of the stock. Eventhe spring-loaded tumbler, which isnormally on the inside of a intlock,is visible on the side of the gun. Thetumbler governs the striking actionof the cock via the mainspring when

the trigger is pulled.

Engraved stock

Barrel becomes roundtoward the muzzle

Frizzen spring

Thin iron ramrod

Frizzen

Cock

Flint

TumblerSteel stock

Mainspring

Muzzle

Steel barrel

Ramrod

Striking surfaceof frizzen

Flint-clamping screw

42 T H E F L I N T L O C K Y E A R S ( 1 6 5 0 1 8 3 0 )


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FLINTLOCK PISTOLS(16501700)

In the second halfof the 17th century, intlockrearms in Europe were developed into the formthey were to keep until well into the 19th century.Various intlock mechanisms had been in useby the middle of the 17th century, but by1700 the French design of lock had becomethe most common throughout Europe. Seenpredominantly in the sear or cock-releasemechanism underneath the lock plate of the gun,

French inuence was also considerable on theform and decoration of pistols and other rearms.However, regional styles, such as those in Austriaand Silesia (in modern-day Poland, Germany, andthe Czech Republic), continued to prosper.

Trigger

Butt is brass-bound

Lockplate

Trigger forupper barrel

Trigger forlower barrel

Figuredwalnut stock

Gildedsteel decoration

Frizzenspring

Steel mountingson butt cap areselectively gilded

Metal-boundbutt

SILESIAN HOLSTER PISTOLDate c.1680Origin SilesiaBarrel14in (35.5cm)Caliber.54in (13.7mm)

This large, sophisticated holsterpistol was made in the principalityof Teschen (now divided betweenthe Czech Republic and Poland),

but shows considerable German

inuence in the angular shapeand beveled edges of its lock.The staghorn inlaid decorationof the stock is also of Germanorigin and indicates that the gunwas made as a presentation piece.

AUSTRIAN HOLSTER PISTOLDate c.1690OriginAustriaBarrel14in (35.5cm)Caliber.64in (16.2mm)

Holster pistols were heavy, with longbarrels and metal butt caps. Madein Vienna by Lamarre, this ornate

example, although certainly atypicalin the extent and high quality of itsdecoration, represents the stateof the gunmakers art as itwas in the last decadesof the 17th century.

Frizzen

Flint wrapped inleather patch toimprove jaws grip

Staghorn inlay

Twin cocks

Pan

FULL VIEW

Jaw


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F L I N T L O C K P I S T O L S ( 1 7 7 6 1 8 0 0 ) 47


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JOHN WATERSBLUNDERBUSS PISTOLDate 1785Origin England

Barrel7in (19cm)Caliber 1in (25.4mm) (at muzzle)

SEA SERVICE PISTOLDate c.1790Origin EnglandBarrel 1234in (30cm)Caliber.56in (14.2mm)

POCKET PISTOLDate 1800Origin Belgium

Barrel 414in (11cm)Caliber.59in (15mm)

PUNJABIFLINTLOCK PISTOLDate c.1800Origin Lahore (in modern-day

Pakistan)Barrel8in (21.5cm)Caliber.55in (14mm)

The blunderbuss (from the Dutch donderbus,or thunder gun) was used in boardingships during engagements with the enemy.A blunderbluss red spherical shot (many

lead balls) and the ared muzzle increasedthe spread of the shot over a short distance.This box-lock blunderbuss was made by

John Waters of Birmingham. His name islegible on the mechanism.

Introduced in 1757, this pistol isof the type used in British navalservice for the rest of the 18thcentury. Pistols issued to sailorswere normally red only onceinthe initial attack or as a last resort.

The pistols brass-plated butt couldalso be used as a club.

Short-barreled pistols replacedthe sword as the gentlemansweapon of self-defense.

Box-locks were preferred toside-locksin which the cockwas mounted on the side of thegunas they were less likely tocatch in the clothing. Pistols oftenhad a bayonet, which was released

by pulling back the trigger guard.

This is one of a pair of superbly decoratedpistols made in Lahore. By the early19th century, Sikh gunmakers were ableto fashion the components of a intlock,

although they were mostly devoted tomaking workaday muskets known asjazails. This pistol has a Damascus barrel,formed by a process of pattern-weldingin which spirally welded tubes weremade from specially preparedstrips of iron.

Safety catchlocks frizzen in

closed position

Octagonal barrel

Frizzen

Brass-platedbutt

Bayonet

Frizzen

Frizzen

Trigger

Jaws tohold int

Catch locksbayonet inopen position

Box-lock mechanism

Box-lock mechanism

Jaw clamp screw

Bell mouth ensures widespread of shot at close rangeBrass barrel

Smoothbore barrel

Damascus barrel

Rear trigger

releases bayonet

Spring-loadedbayonet

Trigger guardretains bayonet

in closed position

RamrodRamrod pipe


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THE FRENCH REVOLUTION


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Flintlock muzzle-loaders were still common inFrance in the 1830s. Firing muskets producedthick, white smoke from burning gunpowder, asseen in this painting of the battle of the rue deRohan (July 1830) in the French Revolution. Atthe center, a man in a top hat is priming his lock.


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MUSKETS (16501769)Throughout the 17th century, Europeanarmies purchased muskets mostly as complete

weapons, rather than in parts from variouscompanies that were then assembled bycraftsmen. These muskets were made bycommercial gunmakers working undercontract to government authorities. Therewas little control over size, shape, andquality, which made maintaining largenumbers of rearms a major logisticalproblem. Ammunition supply for rearms

was particularly difficult if their barrelsdid not have bores of a regulated size. Inthe early 18th century, many Europeancountries sought to overcome this problemby introducing officially approved standardmuskets, manufactured to specications that weremuch more strictly controlled, so that all weaponsof that type, or pattern, would be identical.

Comb of stock

Frizzen

Rearsling swivel

Cock

Sling swivel

Frizzenspring

Pivotscrew

Trigger

FULL VIEW

Lock plate engraved

with makers nameCombof stock

Cock

Smallof stock

TriggerTrigger guardextension

Trigger guard

Pan

Barrel-retaining pinholds barrel in place


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F L I N T L O C K R I F L E S , C A R B I N E S , A N D B L U N D E R B U S S E S ( 1 7 6 1 1 8 3 0 ) 59

R i ht F i h


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HALL RIFLEDate 1819Origin USBarrel32in (82.5cm)Caliber.54in (13.7mm)

HEAVY DRAGOON

CARBINE PATTERN 1796Date c.1805Origin UKBarrel26in (66cm)Caliber.75in (19mm)

Vent hole

Foresight

Frizzen

Frizzen

Rear sight

Priming pan Frizzen spring

Forestock

Foresight

Flaredmuzzle

Steel ramrod

Foresight

Forestock capand barrel band

Forestock band Barrel is much shorter thanthat of an American long rie

Frizzen spring

Barrel band

Hinged openingbreech

Cleaning rod

Ramrod

Ramrod

Ramrod

Muzzle

John Hancock Halls rie, designed in 1811 and introduced into servicein 1819, was the rst regulation American rie that was loaded at the

breech; hinged at the front, it tipped up at a 30-degree angle for loading.Hall ries and carbines were eventually produced in percussion form(see pp.8081), too, where the entire breech unit could be removed andused as a pistol. Many breech-loading guns of the intlock period hadcleaning rods instead of the ramrods seen in muzzle-loaders.

Napoleonic-era carbines such

as this one had shorter barrelsthan earlier models. Dragoonswere mounted infantry, andwhile on horseback, eachdragoon clipped the carbineto his belt, from which ithung next to his thigh.

HARPERS FERRY RIFLEDate 1814Origin USBarrel35in (90cm)Caliber.54in (13.7mm)

Following the success of American riemen duringthe American Revolutionary War (177583), it wassurprising that the rst official US military riefollowed a European design rather than that of thetraditional long rie (see pp.9697). Introduced in1803, this rie was built at the US Armory atHarpers Ferry (in modern-day West Virginia).


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G R E A T G U N S M I T H S S P R I N G F I E L D A R M O R Y 63


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1777 The Springeld Arsenal is founded. As a store

for weapons and ammunition, it plays a key

role in the Revolutionary War.

1787 Daniel Shays and a group of rebels attempt

to capture the arsenal in protest against unfair

taxation and the debt collection practices of

the Massachusetts state government, but are

repelled by the state militia.

1795 Weapons production at the Armory

begins with the Springeld Charleville

Pattern Musket.

1815 Roswell Lee becomes superintendent of

the Armory and leads efforts to mechanize

production and improve management.

1863 The Model 1863 Type II is the last muzzle-

loading long gun produced by the Armory.

1873 The US Army adopts the breech-loading

Model 1873 Trapdoor rie.

1936 The semiautomatic M1 Garand rie

is launched. It becomes the rst general

issue self-loading rie to be accepted for

military service in the US.

1968 Springeld Armory is closed; its buildings

are preserved as the Springeld Armory

National Historic Site.

MODEL 1873 TRAPDOOR RIFLEMODEL 1863 TYPE II MUSKET M1 GARAND RIFLE

It has long been considered a privilegeto beemployed at Springeld Armory.

G. TALCOTT, LT. COL. OF ORDNANCE,ADDRESSING THE US SENATE, 1842

SHARPENING CUTTERSA woman sharpens cutters for a milling machineat Springeld Armory in around 1943. The cutterswere not only used for manufacturing rieparts but also for building the tools usedto make those parts.

Krag rie, designed in Norway, and the Model1903, which was designed in Springeld. Theretooling and adaptation required to producethese new weapons was a challenge, but thanksto machine upgrades and a reorganization ofthe workforce, they were successfully put intoproduction and demonstrated that the Armorycould build quality rearms en masse. TheArmorys Model 1903 was used in both worldwars. It was followed by a new generation ofsemiautomatic rearms, including the famedGarand rie of 1936, which made USinfantrymen much better equipped thanthose in other parts of the world who wereissued with slower bolt-action ries. Suchproducts kept the Armory going throughthe mid-20th century, until the USgovernment decided to rely solelyon private manufacturers and shutdown the facility in 1968.


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E U R O P E A N H U N T I N G G U N S 65


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RUSSIAN FLINTLOCKDate 1770Origin RussiaBarrel35in (89.8cm)Caliber.35in (8.9mm)

DOUBLE-BARRELEDFLINTLOCK SHOTGUNDate c.1770Origin EnglandBarrel35in (90.2cm)Caliber.60in (15.2mm)

SCOTTISH DOUBLE-BARRELED FLINTLOCK

Date 1819Origin ScotlandBarrel30in (76cm)Caliber.68in (17.3mm)

ITALIAN MIQUELET

SPORTING GUNDate c.1775Origin ItalyBarrel31in (80cm)Caliber.75in (19mm)

Jaw clamp screw

Gold-plated pan Silver-mountedforestock cap

Ramrod

Frizzen

Right trigger

Trigger for ringleft barrel

Trigger for ringright barrel

Silver-mountedtrigger guard

Abbreviatedforestock

Left trigger

Triggerguard

External

mainspring

Frizzen spring

Forestock

Ramrod

Ramrod pipe

Barrel lacks forestock

Small of stock isgripped in hand

Ramrod

Rear slingswivel

Abbreviatedforestock

Ramrod pipe

Muzzle

ForesightCock

This beautifully decorated sporting gun wasmade by Ivan Permjakov, one of the mostaccomplished Russian gunmakers. It may have

been recovered after the Battle of Alma Riverin 1854, during the Crimean War. Perhaps itwas lost from the gear of one of the officersin the Russian force.

This side-by-side double-barreled intlockshotgun, attributed to the gunmaker Hadley, istypical of high-class fowling pieces of the latterpart of the 18th century. Not only is its shortstock silver mounted, but both its pans and itstouchholes are gold-plated to fend off corrosion.

By the beg inning of the 19th century, the designof sporting guns had already begun to diverge from

that of military weapons, with shortened stocksbecoming commonplace. This double-barreled pieceis thought to have been made by Morris of Perthfor Sir David Montcrieffe, a celebrated sportsman.

This miquelet-lock musket is something of

an oddity. It was manufactured in Naplesby Pacico around 1775, but has anEnglish-made barrel dating from aroundthe time of the Battle of Waterloo (1815).


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CHINESE SILK GUN This unusual cannon designed for

F I E L D A N D S I E G E A R T I L L E R Y ( 1 7 8 1 1 8 3 0 ) 69


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FRENCH 6-POUNDERFIELD GUN

Date 1813Origin FranceLength5ft (1.68m)Caliber3.78in (96mm)Range 1,600 yards (1.4km)

CHINESE 18-POUNDERDate 1830Origin ChinaLength10ft (3.2m)Caliber5.25in (133.4mm)Range 2,000 yards (1.8km)

CHINESE SILK GUNDate c.1825Origin ChinaLength2ft (0.83m)Caliber2.5in (63.5mm)

Range 200 yards (180m)

This eld gun could retwo rounds a minute. Its

carriage is marked takenat Waterloo. It red 6-lb(2.72-kg) iron balls.

This 18-pounder hasinscriptions on top of its

breech. It is mounted ona Russian wrought andcast iron carriage, whichdates to 1853.

This unusual cannon, designed forportability, was made from a copper tubewrapped with iron wire and silk cord. Itderived from some earlier guns whichwere made from bamboo wound withcord. Chinese paintings show soldiers

lying on the battleeld ring similar guns.

Wrought and cast irongarrison carriage

Muzzle

Carriagewheel

Trail

Carriage wheel

Carrying handles

Muzzle

Trunnion

Touchhole

Breech

Muzzle

NAVAL GUNS



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NAVAL GUNSAlthough most artillery pieceswere muzzle-loading by the 18th century, some naval guns continued

to be breech-loading. In naval warfare, different typesof gun could be useful in different situations, so specialpieces of artillery were developed. For longer ranges,conventional cannon were used, mounted on carriageswith wooden wheels, or trucks, while for close-inattacks, a short-barreled type of gun called a carronadewas very effective. Sometimes known as the smasher,the carronade was built in different sizes and couldre solid shot or explosive shells with great power,

although it did not have great range. Mortars couldbe used to attack ships, but were more often usedto shell defenses or troops on shore.

BRITISH 13-IN MORTARDate 1726Origin EnglandLength 512ft (1.6m)Caliber13in (330mm)

The reinforce ring of this sea servicemortar shows the royal arms of theBritish king George II. The mortarmay have been made for HMSThunder, which saw action atthe Siege of Gibraltar in 1727.

FOUR-POUNDERSWIVEL GUN

Date 1778Origin ScotlandLength1ft (0.32m)Caliber3.30in (84mm)

BRONZE BREECH-LOADING SWIVEL GUNDate c.1670Origin NetherlandsLength4ft (1.22m)Caliber2.91in (74mm)

Reinforce ring

Replacement bedfor land service,812ft (2.64m) long

Reinforce ring

Carryinghandles

Trunnion inscriptionreads Carron 1778

Muzzle

This short, heavy swivel gun was one of theprototypes for the carronade made by the

Carron Ironworks. Its trunnionsused toelevate and lower the gunare equippedwith pivots, and the cascabelused tosecure the gun against recoilis connectedto a long, curved tiller for directing the gun.

This swivel gun wasowned by the Dutch EastIndia Company and wasmost probably used as anantipersonnel weapon.


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Flared muzzle

FrizzenBarrel is blued (heated to protect

O T T O M A N F I R E A R M S 79


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Barrel bandsmade of twine

Octagonalbarrel

Entire stock iscovered in engravedand decorated ivory

MIQUELET LOCK RIFLEDate Late 18th centuryOrigin TurkeyBarrel32in (81.3cm)


This rie is of classic Turkish form. Its stock hasthe typical pentagonal-section butt, and ne inlaiddecoration incorporating panels of metal wire andcolored and natural ivory. The ried Damascus

barrel (see p.47) has a marked grain pattern and

a tall aperture rear sight. The lock is decoratedwith gold and panels of coral.

FULL VIEW

Ramrod

FLINTLOCK PISTOLDate Late 18th centuryOrigin TurkeyBarrel12in (31.75cm)Caliber.62in (15.7mm)

FLINTLOCK PISTOLDate 1788Origin CaucasusBarrel12in (30.5cm)Caliber.60in (15.2mm)

A pistol such as thisstockedall the way to the muzzle, with itswoodwork copiously inlaid andits lock, barrel, and trigger guarddecorated with silver and goldwould have graced many armscabinets in the Ottoman world. Theintlock ring this weapon appearsto be of European origin.

The stocks and muzzle of thisall-metal, ball-butt pistol (oneof a pair) are covered with castand chiseled silver gilt. Thelock plate is inscribed Rossi,the makers name, suggesting

that the lock, at least, wasimported from Italy.

FLINTLOCK BLUNDERBUSSDate Late 18th centuryOrigin TurkeyBarrel17in (43.18cm)Caliber 1.5in (38.1mm) (at muzzle)

Ornate, even by Ottoman Empire standards,this silver-gilt blunderbuss carbine was mostlikely made as a presentation piece. Uponits lock plate is the inscription Londonwarranted, which suggests that the lockis a copy of an English intlock.

BALKANMIQUELET TFENKDate Early 19th century

Origin TurkeyBarrel36in (91.4cm)Caliber.55in (13.9mm)

This piece is reminiscent of Indian muskets. The stock isentirely covered in ivory and further embellished withinlays of precious stones and brass. The miquelet lock,common in Spain and Italy, is thought to have made itsway to the Ottoman Empire via Africa.

( pagainst rust) and inlaid with gold

Frizzen springRamrod

Barrel isleft unblued

Decorationextends to muzzle

Narrowbutt

Triggerguard

Cast and chiseleddecoration on stock

Pan

Muzzle ares to spreadshot and facilitate loading

Lock plate

Cock

Octagonal barrel

Frizzen Saddle bar


TURNING POINT


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In the early 19th century, Alexander Forsyth,an avid duck hunter, was frustrated by theshortcomings of the intlock system. Althoughreliable, it suffered from the occasional ashin the pan when the priming powder wouldignite but the gun would fail to re. Along withthe noise of the int striking the frizzen and

the puff of smoke, the ash alerted potentialgame, which would quickly disappear.

THE SCENT-BOTTLE LOCKForsyth set about devising a simpler, faster, andmore effective means of ignition. He designeda mechanism that could be attached to anyrearm. It used a detonating compound calledmercury fulminate as a primer to ignite themain powder charge. The fulminate was held

in a vessel shaped like a perfume bottle, whichgave this mechanism the name scent-bottlelock. It was mounted on a hollow, cylindricalspindle and screwed into a intlock guns ventthat had been specially enlarged.

Forsyths invention embodied thefundamental principles of chemicalignition upon which all future gun andammunition development would be based.

PERCUSSION DESIGN EVOLVESAlthough revolutionary, the scent-bottle lockwas unsafe as it carried a large quantity of adetonating compound, which could explodeaccidentally and injure the user. Many peopleattempted to adapt Forsyths idea to design avariety of safer percussion systems that would

use a tiny, isolated quantity of primerjustenough to prime the gun once. The gunmaker

BEFORE THE THIN RED LINEArmed mainly with Pattern 1851 percussion ries,the 93rd Highlanders regiment of the British Army

bravely formed an unmoving line of defense against theRussian cavalry in the Battle of Balaclava in 1854. Froma distance, they appeared to onlookers as a thin red line

because of their red coats.

At the beginning of the 19th century, most gunswere red by the intlock mechanism. In this,a piece of int was struck against steel to createsparks that ignited some priming powder in asmall pan alongside the barrel. The ame from

this passed through a vent in the barrel andignited the main charge.

LOOSE POWDER PLACED IN A PRIMING PANin small quantities was not efficient. Wind could blowit away and rain could make it wet. The powder couldalso ignite but fail to detonate the main charge.

DELAYS BETWEENPULLINGTHETRIGGERand the gun actually discharging gave time for

birds and animals, startled by the ash and smokeof the ignited priming powder, to escape.

FLINTS NEEDEDTO REPLACEDafter 15 shotsor so, and the quality of ints often varied. The hardsteel face of the frizzen also wore out, reducing itsability to create a spark.

FLINTLOCK

MECHANISM

FAIL-SAFE GUNS

Matchlocks, wheel-locks, and intlocks used a small amount of gunpowderto prime the propellant (main gunpowder charge). In 1807, the Reverend AlexanderForsyth patented a way of igniting the propellant by using a different substancea sensitive chemical primer that detonates when struck. Joshua Shaw later patented thepercussion cap as the simplest way of making Forsyths invention work. Firearms couldnow use chemical ignition. This key development in rearms technology enabled guns tore instantaneously and reliably, unlike earlier guns with exposed gunpowder priming. Italso enabled the development of the revolver and the self-contained metallic cartridge

(see pp.12223), now used by nearly every modern rearm.

PERCUSSION CAPSPercussion caps were smallcopper or brass cups containinga minute quantity of fulminate. Acap was held in place on a hollowplug, or nipple, that was attached

to the breech of the gun.


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EARLY


Early V-shapedForsyth hammer


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PERCUSSION GUNSA new way of priming a gun, by strikinga small amount of chemical primer (a substancethat ignites when struck), was invented inthe 19th century. The rst step toward thispercussion system was taken by AlexanderForsyth, who developed a gunlock in whichfulminate powder (the primer) was held in amagazine shaped like a scent bottle. Althoughthis lock had advantages over the intlock, loose

fulminate was dangerous to use, so further deviceswere invented to contain just enough for priming agun once. The evolution of percussion designculminated in the percussion cap (see pp.8081).In the early 19th century, guns employed a varietyof percussion locks, but the percussion cap hadbeen almost universally adopted by the 1830s.

FULL VIEW

BELGIAN DUELING PISTOL

Date 1830Origin BelgiumBarrel9in (23.8cm)Caliber.31in (8mm)

Percussion-cap pistols were morereliable than even the best intlocks,and one of their earliest uses was asdueling pistols. This half-stocked pistol

by the gunmaker Folville, one of a casedpair, was made in Lige, Belgium, aninternationally signicant center of

gunmaking at the time.

Percussion capts over nipple

Steadying spur

Hammer

Incised

checkeringon butt

Trigger

guard

Magazine axle,or roller

Priming magazineshaped like a scent bottleGrip extension

Wooden butt

E A R L Y P E R C U S S I O N G U N S 83


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FULL VIEW

Octagonal barrel

Foresight

This sporting gun was red using Forsyths scent-bottle lock. Loosefulminate powder (the chemical primer) was contained in a rotatingmagazine. This was tted with a striker. To re the gun, a user pulledthe hammer back and then rotated the vessel backward, which depositedsome fulminate in a small hole in the axle. Pulling the trigger released thehammer, which hit the striker in the vessel, detonating the primer.

This gun utilized a pellet-lock system, whichwas a major early step in the evolution of percussion(chemical ignition) technology. The detonating materialin this gun was bound with gum or varnish, and thepellets thus formed were contained in a rotating drumattached to the cock. Each partial rotation of thedrum brought a fresh, unred pellet over the nipple,

onto which the pellet was driven by the hammer.

FORSYTH PATENT PERCUSSIONSPORTING GUNDate c.1808Origin EnglandBarrel32in (82.2cm)Caliber.73in (18.5mm)

ENGLISH PELLET-LOCKPERCUSSION GUNDate 1820Origin EnglandBarrel32in (82.2cm)Caliber.73in (18.5mm)

NOCK VOLLEY GUNDate 1795, converted topercussion in c.1830

Origin EnglandBarrel20in (52cm)


A version of this seven-barreled gun was usedby the British Royal Navy in close-range ghtingwhen boarding a ship or attempting to repelenemy boarders. This gun, like many intlockweapons, was modernized by being convertedto percussion ignition. Its central barrel was red

by the percussion cap. The exploding charge of thegunpowder in its breech was linked by radiatingvents to those of the other six barrels, which redsimultaneously as a volley.

Forestock cap

Barrel-retaining pin

Hammer

Pellet dispenser

Nipple Ramrod pipe

Ramrod

Triggerguard

Gripextension

Barrel-retaining pin

Trigger guard

Hammer

Seven barrelsbrazed together

Trigger

Grip extension


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183080

THE AGE

OF CHANGE

Firearms technology leaped ahead in the 19th century. Around 1830, the intlockwas still in almost universal military service, but the next 50 years saw the invention

and adoption of percussion ignition, successful breech-loading mechanisms, themetallic cartridge, effective repeating rearms, and even machine-guns. Many of themechanisms developed during that time are still in use today.

PERCUSSION-CAP PISTOLS

86 T H E A G E O F C H A N G E ( 1 8 3 0 8 0 )

Hammer


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The percussion cap (see pp.8081) was simply a small cupcontaining primer, yet it enabled a revolution in the design of

all handheld rearms. While intlock pistols were bulky, thepercussion cap made it possible to design sleeker and morecompact handguns with fewer lock components.It made muzzle-loading pistols more reliable,and eventually spurred the developmentof more efficient breech-loadingpistols. Among pistols, therevolverwith its chambersin a revolving cylinder

improved mostsignicantly withthe coming ofpercussion-captechnology.

FRENCH TARGET PISTOLDate 1839Origin FranceBarrel11in (28.3cm)Caliber.47in (12mm)

Technically, there is little differencebetween dueling pistols and thoseused for shooting at paper targets.However, the latter, such as thisexample by the renowned Parisian

gunmaker Gastinne-Renette, wereoften beautifully decorated.

Hammer

Trigger ispreset to avery light pull

Lock plate

Plain walnutstock

Butt hasincised

decoration

Animal decoration

BAR-HAMMER

PEPPERBOX PISTOLDate 1849Origin UKBarrel3in (9.1cm)Caliber.55in (13.9mm)

Pepperbox pistols had multiple barrels,

which offered the advantage of multishotcylinder revolvers without their principaldrawbackthe leakage of propellant gas

between chamber and barrel. Unfortunately,these pistols were generally inaccurate,except at point-blank range.

Checkeringon butt

Bar hammeracts vertically

Lanyard ring

Barrelsrotate onaxial pin

PATTERN 1 842COASTGUARD PISTOLDate 1842Origin UKBarrel6in (15cm)Caliber.57in (14.7mm)

British pistols used by the coastguard,police, and other security agencieswere similar in style to the Land-and Sea-Pattern pistols of the army andnavy, but usually lighter and smaller.In this muzzle-loading pistol, theramrod retainer swiveled to allowthe captive rod to be inserted in the

barrel. Revolvers replaced Pattern1842 pistols in the 1850s.

P E R C U S S I O N - C A P P I S T O L S 87


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Barrel-retainingslide

Ornate octagonal barrel

SHARPS BREECH-LOADING PISTOLDate c.1860Origin USBarrel5in (12.7cm)Caliber.34in (8.6mm)

COOPER UNDER-HAMMER PISTOLDate 1849

Origin EnglandBarrel4in (10cm)Caliber.45in (11.4mm)

American inventor ChristianSharps was famous for his

breech-loading ries andcarbines. His pistolswere based on the sameprinciples as his early riesand carbines (see p.110).

Joseph Rock Cooper was a prolicEnglish rearms inventor. One of hispatents was for this under-hammer

pistol, which includes a hammerlocated under the barrel along withthe percussion-cap plug, or nipple.

Combinedmainspring

and hammer

Butt is planed aton the sides

Ring trigger ischaracteristic ofCoopers pistols

Round barrel

Hammer

Under-leverpivot bar

TriggerTrigger guardand breechunder-lever

FULL VIEW


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Hammernose extensionOctagonalbarrel

Ried barrel and cylinderscrew onto smoothbore barrel

A M E R I C A N P E R C U S S I O N - C A P R E V O L V E R S 89


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Colts mainstay during the rst 15 years of the percussionera was the Dragoon Pistol, so called because it wasintended as a sidearm for cavalrymen. A new factorywas built at Hartford in Connecticut to produce thissingle-action revolver to fulll an army contract.

This open-frame revolver designed by FrenchmanJean-Alexandre Le Mat was a double-actionweapon (see p.92). Its nine-chambered cylinderrevolved not around a pin but a second, unried

barrel, charged from the muzzle with pellets, forantipersonnel, last-ditch defense.

COLT SECOND MODELDRAGOON PISTOLDate 1849Origin USBarrel7in (19cm)Caliber.44in (11.17mm)

LE MAT PISTOLDate 1864Origin USBarrel (Lower) 5in (12.7cm)Caliber .3in (7.62mm) and.66in (16.83mm)

STARR ARMY MODELDate 1864Origin USBarrel7in (19.2cm)Caliber.44in (11.17mm)

American gunmaker Nathan Starr was thepioneer of the break-open pistol, in which the

barrel, top strap, and cylinder were hinged

at the front of the frame before the tr iggerguard. The cylinder could be removed forcleaning or for replacing with another. Theforked top strap of this solid-frame, double-action revolver passed over the hammer andwas retained by a knurled screw.

Octagonal barrel

Part of frame formsrear of barrel

Top strap

Locking screw

Checkeredwalnut grip

Rammer pivot pin

Compoundrammer lever

Compoundrammer

Smoothbore barrelacts as cylinder axis pin

Compound rammer

Cutaway for bulletto pass under rammer

Compound rammer

Bottom strap

Top strapCylinder-locking

slot

Round barrel

Compound rammer

Trigger


Round barrel


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Side-mountedhammer

B R I T I S H P E R C U S S I O N - C A P R E V O L V E R S 93


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Articulated rammerhead linked to lever

Octagonalbarrel

Hammer

Foresight


JOSEPH LANGTRANSITIONAL REVOLVERDate 1855Origin UKBarrel6in (15.2cm)Caliber.44in (11.17mm)

Transitional pistols continued to beproduced, mostly in Europe, even aftermuch more sophisticated designs hadappeared. This open-frame, single-actionrevolver is of the type produced by one ofthe best-known proponents, Joseph Langof London. Lang was more successfulthan most gunmakers of the time insolving the problem of propellant gasleaking between chamber and barrel.He designed the revolver in such a waythat when the cylinder rotated and eachchamber reached the end of the barrel,the mouth of the chamber engaged withthe rear end of the barrel, mechanicallysealing this connection between the two.

DEANE-HARDINGARMY MODEL

Date 1858Origin UKBarrel5in (13.5cm)Caliber.50in (12.7mm)

When Robert Adams broke withhis partners in 1853, the elder ofthe Deane brothers, John, set uphis own business. He later beganmanufacturing a revolver designed

by William Harding with a new,simpler type of double-actionlockthe forerunner of modernactions. The two-piece solid framecould be dismantled by removingthe pin located in the top strapin front of the hammer nose.Considered unreliable, the pistolnever achieved lasting popularity.

KERR DOUBLE-ACTIONREVOLVERDate 1856Origin UKBarrel5in (14.7cm)Caliber.44in (11.17mm)

James Kerr, Robert Adamsscousin, equipped his solid-framerevolver with a separate lock anda side-mounted hammer. The lockwas held by two screws and could

be easily removed. If a componentbroke, any gunsmith would havebeen able to repair it.Trigger

guard

Lockplate

Cylinderaxis pin

Octagonalbarrel


Trigger

Triggerguard

Prawl prevents pistol fromslipping through hand


OctagonalbarrelCylinder

Combined cylinderlocking catch and

frame latch


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96 T H E A G E O F C H A N G E ( 1 8 3 0 8 0 )

MUSKETS ANDRIFLES (1831 52)

LockplatePatchbox


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RIFLES (183152)Many intlock rearms remainedinactive use well into the 19th century. The iconicKentucky long rie was one of many civilianarms that saw sustained use as a intlock,only gradually being converted to percussionignition. European countries began to adoptries more widely for military use. Loadinga rie via the muzzle remained a problem.Ries were loaded either using a shaped ball tomechanically t the riing grooves, or ramminga ball hard enough into the breech to deformthe ball for gripping the riing.

The so-called turret gun, an attempt to evadeColts revolver patent (see p.94), appeared inthe 1830s. Examples also exist in which thewheel of cylinders is set vertically. It soon

became apparent that if ash-over from one

cylinder to another occurred, the result wouldmost likely be catastrophic to any bystanders,or even to the shooter himself.

This percussion-cap rie was introduced intoBritish military service in 1830. It had deep,two-groove riing and red a lead ball withan integral band, or belt, around it. This beltt into the grooves and caused the ball to spinas it was red (see pp.9899).

UNDER-HAMMERTURRET RIFLEDate 1839Origin UKBarrel29in (73.7cm)


BRUNSWICK RIFLEDate c.1837Origin UKBarrel32in (82.5cm)Caliber.71in (18.03mm)

Disk is boredwith sevenradial chambers

TriggerHammer

Small of stock has

incised checkering

Hammer

Steel

butt plate

Catch for hingedupper frame strap

Nipple forlower barrel

Barrellatch lever

Trigger

Finger grip

Combof stock

Engravedlock plate

Iron buttplate


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conicalball pass throughthe bodiesf t o men d l d i th b d f third

CLAUDE-ETIENNE MINI(180479)

KEY FIGURE

T U R N I N G P O I N T P R A C T I C A L R I F L E S 99


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of two menand lodge in the body of a third

ATTRIBUTED TOGEORGE MACLEOD, CRIMEAN WAR SURGEON

( )

Claude-Etienne Mini served as captainwith the French Chasseurs (light infantry)

in North Africa. He was frustrated with theshortcomings of the muskets issued to histroops. Following his invention of the Minibullet, he was awarded 20,000 French francsand made an instructor at the Vincennesmilitary establishment. In 1858, he retired ascolonel, later becoming a military instructorfor the Khedive of Egypt, and then managerat the Remington Arms Company, US.

The Mini bullet was critical in spurring onthe development of long-range shooting. Newmilitary training regimes were needed. NationalRie Associations, such as those formed inBritain and the US, encouraged long-range targetshooting as sport. Military sharpshooters became

snipersunseen long-range killers adding newlevels of terror to an already fearsome business.

MILITARY TACTICShad to be revisedin the face of long-range accuracy, sinceclose-range combat would increase thelikelihood of soldiers being killed.

INDIVIDUAL SHARPSHOOTERSand snipers picking off specic targetsreplaced the military tradition of ring

by numbers, or volley-re.

DEADLY TEAMSOFSNIPERSandspotters evolved; the spotters usedtelescopes to identify targets and passeddetails to the snipers.

HIGHER-VELOCITYBULLETSinicted greater damage than earlier

bullets. Instead of repairable woundsto arms and legs, amputations

became common.

NEW SNIPER RIFLESin the

20th century, ring a .50in machine-gun cartridge, made it possible to aimat and hit human targets at ranges ofmore than 1 mile (1.7km), far greaterthan the 12-mile (0.9-km) rangeof an early muzzle-loading rie.

AFTER

.50IN BMG

CARTRIDGE,

1910

enemy, now danger lay up to a distance of1,000 yards (914m) or more. In the US, thenew Model 1855 Springeld rie employedthe Mini bullet, while in Britain, the rst rieto use the new bullet on a large scale was theEneld Pattern 1853 (see pp.10001). In theCrimean War, it was discovered that with theseries, for the rst time, infantry could outgun

artillery, picking off the gunners from a safedistance. A few years later, almost a million

Pattern 1853 ries would be shipped to serveboth sides in the American Civil War. Battles,once close-quarter volleys followed by tidesof bayonet or cavalry charges, now becamelong-range engagements from entrenchedpositions, against which a cavalry charge wasalmost suicidal. Judgment of distance andsetting of sights now became paramount in

making the rie, in the hands of well-trainedinfantry, the new god of the battleeld.

100 T H E A G E O F C H A N G E ( 1 8 3 0 8 0 )

SHOWCASE

ENFIELD RIFLED MUSKET


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PATTERN 1853 RIFLED MUSKETThis ried musket, produced by the Ordnance Factoryat Eneld, London, was a highly successful weapon. In thehands of a competent infantryman, it was effective beyondits sighted distance (900yards/820m), and at 100yards(90m), the bullet could pass through a dozen -in (1.5-cm)

planks. A soldier was expected to maintain a ring rate ofthree to four rounds per minute. For all its apparentsimplicity, this ried musket has a total of 56 parts.

FULL VIEW

ENFIELD RIFLED MUSKETAdding grooves to a muskets bore, or replacing its smoothbore barrelwith a ried one, helped convert muskets into ried weapons, or ries. With theperfection of the expanding bullet (see pp.9899), it became possible to issueries to all troops, not just to sharpshooters, because ries could now be loadedas fast as muskets. The British Army adopted a key rie in 1853. This gunthePattern 1853 Ried Musketremained in service until 1867.

CARTRIDGESCartridges were dipped in wax to lubricate the bore.

For loading, soldiers tore off the twisted end of the cartridgewith their teeth, poured the powder into the barrel, and rammed

the lubricated end, carrying the projectile, down the muzzle.Rumors that cow or pig fat were used in the wax offended Hindu

and Muslim soldiers because they were forbidden to eat beef or porkrespectively; this is one suggested cause of the Indian Mutiny of 1857.

BAYONETThe socket bayonet, withits triangular-section blade,protruded almost 18in(46cm) beyond the muzzle.It alone required 44 separatemanufacturing operations.

Trigger

Hammer

Attachmentpoint for sling


Rear slingswivel

Forward slingswivel

Socket ts

over muzzle

Triangular-section

blade

Nipple pierced toallow ash from cap

to enter breechLock cover plate bears

makers name and insignia

ENFIELD

RIFLED MUSKETDate 1853

Origin UK

Barrel33in (83.8cm)



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MUSKETS ANDRIFLES (185370)

FUSIL REGLEMENTAIREMLE 1853Date 1853Origin France

For its nal smoothbore musket, Francemaintained its established form of percussionrearms. This musket had a small sphericalnipple seat on top of the breech of the steel

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RIFLES (1853 70)Percussion ignition, whether usingcaps (see pp.8081)or other devices, was a major improvement over the cumbersomeintlock. Not only was the percussion mechanism easier to useand maintain, it was also more weatherproof. In another keydevelopment, most European and American infantry had theirsmoothbore muskets replaced with muzzle-loading ries,which had an accurate range several times greater thanthat of the musket.

WHITWORTH RIFLEDate 1856Origin UKBarrel36in (91.45cm)Caliber.45in (14.3mm)

Origin FranceBarrel40in (103cm)Caliber.71in (18mm)

Sir Joseph Whitworth (see p.98) produceda rie for a British Army trial with a hexagonal

bore that red a hexagonal bullet. It proved tobe accurate over 1,500 yards (1.4km), but itwas four times the price of an Eneld Model 1853(see pp.10001), and never adopted by the army.

pp pbarrel. It was red by a strong and simpleback-action locka percussion-cap variantin which the mainspring inside the lockplate lay behind the hammer, not in frontof it, giving the lock a more slenderappearance. This would be one of thelast new patterns of smoothbore musketissued to European troops.

Americaneagle motif

Hammer

Rear sling swivel

Sling swivel for use whensling is used to stabilize aim

Butt

Nipple forpercussion cap

Rear sling swivel

Hammer

Sling swivel


Lock plate

Primer tape is fed over thepierced anvil and positionedby cocking the hammer

Armory mark

Primer tapecompartment cover

Americaneagle motif

Trigger

Hammer

Low combto butt

Armory mark

Rear sightNipple forpercussion cap

Barrel band

Rear sling swivel

Nipple seat


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104 T H E A G E O F C H A N G E ( 1 8 3 0 8 0 )

SHOWCASE

LE PAGE SPORTING GUN


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LE PAGE SPORTING GUNWhile the technical quality of the gun is excellent,its appeal lies in its decoration. The scroll-work onthe small of the stock is enhanced by steel wire,while the metalwork is engraved with scenes fromNapoleons life and the names of some of his battles.

FULL VIEW

LE PAGE SPORTING GUNPierre le Pageset up in businessas a harquebusier in Paris, perhaps as earlyas 1716, and was later appointed gunmaker to the king. He was succeeded byhis nephew Jean in 1782, who was retained by the Emperor Napoleon to refurbishweapons from the royal gun-room for his own use. Jeans son Henri took over therm in 1822, by which time Napoleon had died in exile. This sporting gun wasmade to commemorate the return of his ashes to France in 1840.

Engravedhammers

Standingbreech

Sling attachment point

Front triggerres right barrel

N for Napoleon,surmounted by a serpent

Sling attachment point

Lock plate engraved withdepiction of the Battleof the Pyramids

Rear triggerres leftbarrel

Cutters forremoving ashing

from molded bullet

Trigger guardengraved with date

of the return ofNapoleons ashes

ACCESSORIES BOXThis is a turned rosewood box intended forstoring small accessories such as charge-drawingworms and spare percussion nipples. The joint

between the lid and the body of the box is hiddenin a groove within the decorative turned bands.

WAD PUNCHWadding, usually made of paper,

was rammed into the barrels afterthe powder, but before the bullets,

using this punch. Because it wasessential that the wads precisely t

the barrels, a wad cutter wasincluded with the guns tools.

BULLET MOLDA percussion sporting gun couldbe loaded with pellets, for huntingbirds and wildfowl, but also withballs for to hunt large game. Thismold was used to make such balls.

Scroll-work inlaidwith wire

LE PAGE SPORTING GUNDate 1840

Origin France

Barrel 31in (80cm)

Caliber .84in


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VISUAL TOUR

DREYSE NEEDLE-FIRE RIFLE

3

Bolt handle

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German gunsmith Johann Nikolaus von Dreyse invented the rst rotatingbolt for loading a rie at the breech (see p.304). It sealed the breech much moresecurely than previous breech-loaders did and ensured that the energy of theexpanding gas propelled the bullet forward. The rie was also revolutionary inusing a long, thin ring pin to pierce a self-consuming paper cartridge, bothdrawn from the designs of Jean Samuel Pauly, Dreyses employer.

BOLT AT REAR (BREECH OPEN)Bolt action provides the rie with an effective

opening breech mechanism. The bolt was connectedto a needle-shaped ring pin (opposite). Before the

bolt could be unlocked, the ring pin would be retracted

using the catch at the rear of the bolt. The bolt wouldthen be rotated using the handle and pulled rearward,opening the breech. Once the breech was open, a

cartridge was placed into it to load the gun.

BOLT AT FRONT (BREECH CLOSED)The bolt was closed by pushing the handle forward and

rotating it. Doing this sealed the breech and also cocked thegun ready for ring. This gun red paper cartridges that were

not only self-contained (containing primer, charge, andbullet) but also self-consuming. The cartridges would

combust fully, leaving behind no shell or residue to eject,allowing the weapon to be reloaded very efficiently.

1Bolt

2

4

Firing pin (insidethe stock)

Firing pin catch

Triggerguard

Trigger

Hole forsling swivel

Bolt housing,or receiver

1

2


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Foresight

Nipple for Rear sightH

B R E E C H - L O A D I N G C A R B I N E S 111


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Rear sight

Breechblock

Barrel bandBarrel band-retaining spring

Foresight

CALISHER AND TERRYCAPPING BREECH-LOADINGCARBINEDate 1861Origin UKBarrel20in (51.2cm)Caliber .54in

The Calisher and Terry carbine was the rstbolt-action weapon adopted by the British Army.Its paper cartridge included a greased felt wad,which remained in the breech after ring and waspushed into the barrel by the insertion of the nextround, lubricating and cleaning the bore when it

was red. In a trial, one carbine red 1,800 roundswithout requiring additional cleaning.

percussion capg

Barrel band

Bolt

Lockplate

Trigger

Hammer

WESTLEY RICHARDSMONKEY TAIL CARBINE

Date 1866Origin UKBarrel18in (45.5cm)Caliber .45in

Birmingham gunmakers WestleyRichards produced two carbines

for the British Army. This one hada front-hinged, tilting breech with along, curved lever, which is how theweapon got its nickname.

Barrel band

Monkey Tailbreech lever

Lock plate

Hammer

CHASSEPOTPERCUSSION CARBINEDate 1858Origin FranceBarrel28in (72cm)Caliber 13.5mm

In the mid-1850s, gunmakers at the FrenchImperial Armories began experimenting with

bolt-action, percussion-cap breech-loaders.Alphonse Chassepot produced a design using arubber washer to seal the breech. He subsequently

replaced the hammer with a needle striker withinthe bolt, which was accepted for use by the FrenchArmy as the Modle 1866.

FULL VIEW


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SINGLE-SHOT BREECH-LOADING RIFLESFor many years, military authorities throughout theWestern worldhad appreciated thebenets of breech-loading rearms Muzzle-loading muskets and ries were difficult to reload while a

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benets of breech loading rearms. Muzzle loading muskets and ries were difficult to reload while asoldier was lying prone, and were also usually slower to load than a well-designed breech-loader. Breech-loading mechanisms continued to evolve. Many ries began to be loaded at the breech using bolt action(see p.304), which would inuence the future development of these arms. In the 19th century, a numberof breech-loading weapons were taken into military service in Europe and North America. Many wereefficient conversions of existing muzzle-loading ries and would have a long service life.

BALLARD RIFLEDate 186266Origin USBarrel28in (72.4cm)

Caliber .54in

Scroll under-lever

Rear sling

attachment

Iron trigger guard

The Ballard rie used a breech-loading mechanism calledlever action, in which an under-lever was used to open the

breech chamber. The ries scroll under-lever operated apivoting breechblock.

Hingedbreechblock

Trapdoor breechcover incorporatesring pin

Small of the stock isgripped in hand

Action cocked/uncocked indicator

Under-lever

Rear sight

Barrelband

S I N G L E - S H O T B R E E C H - L O A D I N G R I F L E S 115

Bolt handle


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DREYSE NEEDLE-FIRERIFLE MODEL 1862Date 1868Origin GermanyBarrel 32in (81.2cm)Caliber 15.43mm

PEABODY-MARTINI RIFLEDate c.1870Origin USBarrel30in (76cm)Caliber .45in

MAUSERMODEL 1871 RIFLEDate1872 onwardOrigin GermanyBarrel32in (83cm)Caliber 11 60mm

SPRINGFIELD MODEL1866 RIFLE ALLINTRAPDOOR CONVERSIONDate 1874Origin US

Barrel 3212in (83cm)Caliber .45in

Barrel band Foresight

Rear sight graduatedto 1 mile (1.6km)

Front slingswivel

Frontsling swivel

Foresight

Cleaning rodPrussia adopted Dreyses revolutionary bolt-actiondesign (see pp.10809) into its military service in1848. Soon, different models began to be built,each one for a different branch within the army,such as line infantry or cavalry. The Model 1862was an infantry rie rst manufactured in1862, but this particular piece was built in 1868.

This lever-action military rie was designed byHenry O. Peabody and produced by the ProvidenceTool Company of Providence, Rhode Island. It isequipped with a safety catch. Many units were

bought by the government of Turkey for theRussoTurkish War (187778).

Many single-shot breech-loading ries of the time employed combustible car tridges.German manufacturer Waffenfabrik Mauser began modifying Dreyse guns, such as theModel 1862 (above), to accept brass cartridges, but Peter Paul Mauser produced a newdesign with a bolt-action breech mechanism stronger than that of the Dreyse rie. It wasmodied to take metallic cartridges (see pp.11213) rather than fully combustible paperones, and could therefore re more powerful ammunition (cartridges with a largerpowder charge). Effective out to a range of 875 yards (800m), the Infanteriegewehr(infantry rie) M71 established Mausers preeminence among suppliers of military ries.

The perfection of the unitary cartridge left theworlds armies with a dilemma: what should they dowith their millions of redundant muzzle-loaders? TheUS Army modied its ried muskets by millingout the top of the barrel, creating a chamber for the

cartridge, and installing a front-hinged breech cover,or trapdoor, incorporating a ring pin.

FULL VIEW

Barrel band anchorsthe barrel in the stock

Rear sight

Front sling swivel

Cleaningrod


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GREAT GUNSMIT HS

WINCHESTERTh i i A i i i d

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In 1857, entrepreneur Oliver Winchesterfound himself in control of the Volcanic ArmsCompany after many of the other investorspulled out. The repeating rearms produced bythe company were impressive compared to thesingle-shot weapons that were then the norm,

but they were not successful, mainly because the

cartridges they red lacked power. Winchestersaw the need to improve the companysproducts and hired Benjamin Tyler Henry todevelop a new repeating rie. Patented in 1860,

just before the outbreak of the Civil War, theweapon was the rst practical lever-action gun(see p.116), and, when it came on to the marketa year into the war, it made Winchesters name.

The repeating rie was an American inventioncreatedinitially in the 1840s by inventors Walter Hunt and Lewis Jennings.It was the Winchester Repeating Arms Company, owned by OliverWinchester, that developed the idea, manufactured the rearms,and sold them both to American pioneers and hunters, and to armiesall over the world. Known for producing high-quality rearms, thiscompany was highly successful, especially in the period betweenthe American Civil War and World War I.

THE WINCHESTER AT WARDuring the Civil War, the US federal governmentbought about 2,000 of Winchesters rearms,which were then known as Henry ries, aftertheir designer. Individual soldiers purchasedstill more, realizing that the increasedrepower provided by the repeating actiongave them a better chance in battle. Soon,

that damned Yankee riethat they load onSunday and re all week

ATTRIBUTED TOCONFEDERATE SOLDIERS

RUSSOTURKISH WAR

Russian riemen (on the right) are seen here ringon Ottoman Turkish troops armed with swords atthe battle of Stara Zagora, Bulgaria, in July 1877,during the RussoTurkish War. Their guns weresingle-shot, however, and the Turkish forces alsohad Winchester repeating ries, with which theyeventually defeated the Russians.

pioneers in the American West were usingHenry ries, too, but Winchester saw that theweapons could be improved, and subsequentlyintroduced the Model 1866 (see p. 117),

which had a better loading system and awooden forestock to protect the user fromthe hot barrel. These improved ries helpedspread Winchesters fame far beyond the US,particularly when they were used in largenumbers by the Ottoman Turks in the RussoTurkish War of 187778. During this conict,the repeating ries helped the Turks at the

HENRY MODEL 1860

OLIVER

WINCHESTER


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BREECH-LOADING SHOTGUNSIn 1835, a French inventor named Casimir Lefaucheux made a breakthroughin sporting gun design with his patent for a pin-re cartridge (see p.112) and a

Burrwalnut stock

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gun with a break-open design (its barrels hinged downward for loading at thebreech). Hinged barrels became almost universally adopted for sporting guns,although gunmakers created

firearms - an illustrated history

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