Obscure Gun Facts

[Beo]

Who made the first working rifle scope?
While other scopes were out there most were blurry at best and added to much weight or did not line up the to the shot, in 1880, August Fiedler the forestry commissioner of Prince Reuss, managed to build the first telescopic sight that really did work.

[Beo]

What is the Puckle Gun?
Puckle Gun - 1718
In 1718, James Puckle of London, England, demonstrated his new invention, the "Puckle Gun," a tripod-mounted, single-barreled flintlock gun fitted with a multishot revolving cylinder. This weapon fired nine shots per minute at a time when the standard soldier's musket could be loaded and fired but three times per minute. Puckle demonstrated two versions of the basic design. One weapon, intended for use against Christian enemies, fired conventional round bullets, while the second variant, designed to be used against the Muslim Turks, fired square bullets, which were believed to cause more severe and painful wounds than spherical projectiles

[Beo]

Who started the NRA?
Gen. George Wingate formed the National Rifle Association in 1871.

[Beo]

What is Palliser shot?
Palliser shot invented by Sir William Palliser and hence its name.
Major Palliser's shot, approved October 21, 1867 was an improvement over the ordinary elongated shot of the time. It was adopted for the larger types of Rifled muzzle loading guns rifled on the Woolwich principal (with three rifling grooves). Palliser shot in many calibers stayed in service in the armour piercing role until phased out of service (British) in 1909 for naval and fortresses, and land service 1921.
Palliser shot was manufactured from round billets of cast iron. The points were heated and quick chilled to harden the metal. At times there were defects that lead to cracking in the projectiles but these were overcome with time. Bronze studs were installed into the outside of the projectile so as to engage the rifling grooves in the gun barrel. The base had a hollow pocket but was not filled with powder or explosive. This hole at the base was threaded to accept a copper gas check. This prevented propellant gasses from blowing around the projectile providing obturation as the driving band had yet to be perfected. Later designs did away with the studs on the projectile body with the gas checks being set with grooves to impart spin to the projectile.
At the Battle of Angamos the Chilean battleships fired 20 250 pound-Palliser gunshots, against the Huascar, with devastating results. It was the first time that such piercing shells were used in actual combat.

[Beo]

Did you know that the Winchester .300 magnum has the same amount of muzzle velocity at 1000 yards as a .44 magnum at point blank range.

[Rick]

Whoa there buckaroo. You sort of missed the point on this little game. You ask the question and someone else has to answer it. It's no fun for us watching you play by yourself.

I was so tempted to word that differently but I'll keep it PG.

[trax]

Someone tell me the name of a rifle first produced in Russia in 1889-90 that fired 7.62 x54mm? This is not for prize money this is for a gentleman who just came by my office and asked me. He seemed to know everything about it except the name. He also said that somewhere between '90 and 1900 about 250,000 of them were produced in the US. Anyone?

Never mind, found it.

[canid]

that cartridge was developed in 1891 for the Mosin-Nagant rifle.

sorry, didn't see your edit.

[Sam]

You got another. They invented the self-contained, waterproof cartridge or bullet!

I'll take Obscure Gun Facts for $150, Alex.

Mikhail Kalashnikov invented the AK-47 (like who doesn't know that?). He is also a WWII veteran. What was his occupation (MOS) during the war?

Tank commander

[klkak]

The genesis of the .410 does not coincide with the heyday of shotgun design, which occurred from circa 1850 to 1870. It wasn't until about 1900 that the cartridge is making its appearance in catalogs and the proof houses of England. No one today knows who invented it. There is a good amount of speculation that the .410 was originally a rifle caliber, the .444 Marlin. This is probably so, due to the rather recent discovery of older "rook rifles" that were originally rifles that were converted to shotgun use.

Wikipedia says that the .444 marlin was designed in 1964 by Marlin firearms and Remington arms.

[FVR]

Who and what does J. Hanquet have to do with Sam Colt, dated 1853?

[Rick]

He signed a letter to the Liege Gun Trade that stated the conditions of how the Colt could be manufactured in Belgium.

[FVR]

Rick, you're on top.

So you know who Albert and Paul are, eh?

[crashdive123]

The first rifle, which was developed in the 15th century and was easier to load and more accurate than the crossbow was called?_________________

[Rick]

Albert and Paul Hanquet? Centaure Revolvers. Cousins I think. My dad was in Belium during the war and sent back several items from there.

You might be interested in this:

http://www.1960nma.org/

[Rick]

The first rifle, which was developed in the 15th century and was easier to load and more accurate than the crossbow was called?_________________

You and Beo and your word games. There was no rifle during the 15th century. There were unrifled muskets. Rifles (rifled twists in the barrel) didn't come along until 19th century.

[crashdive123]

I stand corrected. Like its successor, the musket, it is a smoothbore firearm, but it is lighter and easier to carry. It is a forerunner of the rifle and other longarm firearms. And it would be????

[Rick]

Matchlock? I'm trying to think of the name of an early weapon. Blunderbus? I know that isn't right but I'm brain dead at the moment. Can't think of the blasted name but it sounds similar I know.

EDIT: Donderbus. Blunderbuss was right. That's the English name. Donderbus is the Dutch name.

[crashdive123]

It does have the .......bus in it, but not the blunder.

[Rick]

I did an edit above. Donderbus?