Metal Storm...1850s Style

[Rachen]

I found this thread over at CAS City. Pretty neat:
http://www.cascity.com/forumhall/index.php/topic,39719.0.html

This Navy style revolver uses a partitioned chamber which is loaded with TWO charges, the front one fired off by a cap which is directed through a side tube into the cylinder, the other charge fired normally. So instead of a six round revolver, you have a 12 round gun.

Apparently, the inventor, and the operator as well took some great risks when using this thing, because you are literally firing off a charge in front of another, and this has been a pet peeve in many "chainfire" discussions.

 

[Bill Akins]

I've seen that one too Rachen. A six chambered cylinder but with superimposed charges in each chamber giving it twelve shots. And with a separate nipple for each regular and superimposed load, making it six chambers but twelve nipples. Basically a Roman candle cylinder like the superimposed flaming balls of flying tallow/naptha all superimposed in one tube Roman candle fireworks I used to play with as a kid on July 4th. That revolver supposedly used wax between the the superimposed loads to prevent chainfires. But whether it was wax or cornmeal making the chainfire fire break, with those superimposed loads like that, I'd certainly be nervous firing it. Definitely an interesting concept though.

There was a flintlock that also used superimposed loads. It had a sliding flint action that slid along the side of the barrel. The barrel had superimposed loads with a touch hole for each load. After you fired the most forward load in the barrel, you slid the flint action back to the next touch hole. Another Roman candle type of system. Something else I'd be real nervous about firing though.



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[Jo6pak]

Interesting find Rachen. Looks like one of those "it works on paper" designs. I wouldn't want to be the trigger man tho.

Another pistol design was the "tap-action" which had two barrels and one lock. The tap position decided which barrel fired, and then was postioned so that it allowed the flash into the other barrel.