Videos tagged with Mid-19th Century Firearms

This video provides an in-depth look at the Burton Breechloading Rifle, a mid-19th-century trials weapon designed by James Henry Burton. Expert Jonathan Ferguson details Burton's significant contributions to firearms manufacturing, particularly his role in establishing interchangeable parts at the Royal Small Arms Factory in Enfield. The video explores two of Burton's designs submitted for British trials: a lever-action (Number One) and a bolt-action (Number Two), highlighting their mechanical differences and historical context within the search for a new service rifle.

This video details the unique operation and mechanics of a mid-19th century turret revolver, specifically a Heinrich Genhart design. It highlights the complex system involving a reciprocating barrel for gas sealing and an underhammer mechanism for ignition. The presentation emphasizes the intricate loading process for its custom cartridges and the reasons behind its limited production and eventual obsolescence.

This video details the British Snider-Enfield rifle, a crucial stop-gap measure that converted muzzle-loading Pattern 53 Enfields into effective breech-loaders. It highlights the ingenuity of Jacob Snider's design, the significant increase in rate of fire from 3 to 15 rounds per minute, and its combat debut in Abyssinia. The entry also covers the three marks of the Snider-Enfield and its eventual replacement by the Martini-Henry, while noting its continued service with colonial forces.