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Clearing Bannerman's Island: Tales from the Golden Age of Surplus

Forgotten Weapons
Published on March 11, 2026
Category: General
Duration: 43:18

This video details the complex and dangerous operation to clear Bannerman's Island of vast quantities of ordnance in the 1950s. Valforjet, an explosive ordnance demolition expert, recounts the challenges of dealing with unstable explosives and historical munitions. The clearing of the island ultimately financed the start of Navy Arms' reproduction revolver business.

Tags

Bannerman's Island
Ordnance Disposal
Explosive Ordnance Demolition
Francis Bannerman
Navy Arms
Valforjet
Historical Ordnance
Civil War Ammunition
Spanish-American War Ordnance
Picric Acid
Brown Flake Powder
Island Clearing Operation
Military Surplus

Quick Summary

The clearing of Bannerman's Island in the 1950s was a dangerous operation involving unstable explosives like picric acid. Valforjet, an EOD expert, led the effort to remove ordnance from the Civil War to the Spanish-American War. The project's funding ultimately allowed Navy Arms to begin producing replica revolvers.

Chapters

  1. 00:00Introduction to Bannerman's Island Clearing
  2. 00:05Ian McCullum and Valforjet Discuss the Task
  3. 00:31Bannerman's Island Sale and Ordnance Clearance
  4. 01:06Valforjet's Father Recruited for Clearance
  5. 01:42European Gun Manufacturer Tour and Navy Arms Origins
  6. 02:33Clearing the Island Finances Navy Arms
  7. 03:41Valforjet's Father's Talk on Clearing the Island
  8. 05:27Valforjet's Account of Clearing Bannerman's Island
  9. 06:48Hazards of Picric Acid and Brown Flake Powder
  10. 07:05Bannerman's History and Early Business
  11. 08:28Move to Sterling Place and First Catalog
  12. 09:30Business Moves and Purchase of Bannerman's Island
  13. 10:00Acquisition of Palopal Island (Bannerman's Island)
  14. 10:35Bannerman Family Business Operations
  15. 11:52Bannerman's Spanish Acquisition and Arms Dealing
  16. 13:00History of Bannerman's Island Ownership
  17. 13:48Origin of the Name Palopal/Polypel
  18. 16:14Map of Bannerman's Island and Its Features
  19. 17:24Construction of Bannerman's Island and Labor Practices
  20. 18:19Reason for Island's Deterioration: Condemned Cement
  21. 19:37Bannerman's Life on the Island and Arrest
  22. 20:52Post-Bannerman Era and 1920 Explosion
  23. 21:53Slides: Bannerman's Island Views and Features
  24. 24:21Surveying the Mess: Ordnance Everywhere
  25. 24:42Hotchkiss Shells and Landing Barge Operations
  26. 26:26Variety of Ordnance Found on the Island
  27. 27:14Inside the Castle: Caretaker's Actions and Found Items
  28. 28:29Carriages and Parts for Gatling Guns and Cannons
  29. 28:45The Wheel Room: Hundreds of Wheels
  30. 29:00Bayonets, Scabbards, and Ammunition Cases
  31. 29:45Loading Material on the Dock and Artillery Accessories
  32. 30:40Admiral Farragut's Gun and Furnace Grates
  33. 31:10Debris After Magazine Explosion
  34. 31:25New Hotchkiss Cannon and Baby Gatling Gun Crate
  35. 31:44Collector's Value of Firearms (Bulldog Revolver)
  36. 32:10Civil War Artillery Buckets and Water Buckets
  37. 33:01Working Conditions Inside the Castle
  38. 33:35Artillery Rammers, Sponges, and Worms
  39. 33:44Shells Piled Against the Old Magazine
  40. 34:16Dangers of Deactivating Civil War Shells
  41. 35:01Unloading and Stacking Ammunition
  42. 35:29Dock Loaded with Material for Removal
  43. 36:07Upper Floors of the Castle: No Lights, Rotted Floors
  44. 36:39Cannon Carriages and Parts in the 'Dungeon'
  45. 36:52Rotting Civil War Knapsacks
  46. 37:06Civil War Tin Cups and Canteens
  47. 37:45Piles of Civil War Knapsacks
  48. 38:01Sword Scabbards and Pith Helmets
  49. 38:37New York State Militia Helmets
  50. 38:55Capstan from the Hartford
  51. 39:09Castle After Burning
  52. 39:49Castle After Burning: Gutted Remains
  53. 40:02Bannerman's Island Today: Burned Out Hulk
  54. 40:18Inside the Gutted Storehouse
  55. 40:40Bannerman's Island Today: Overgrown Castle
  56. 41:02Story of the Island Clearing
  57. 41:11Last Memories: Checking Naval Shells
  58. 42:21Dumping Artillery Shells into the River
  59. 42:47Departure from Bannerman's Island
  60. 43:07Conclusion and Applause

Frequently Asked Questions

What was the primary hazard during the clearing of Bannerman's Island?

The primary hazard was the presence of vast quantities of old ordnance, including artillery shells and ammunition, which contained unstable explosives like picric acid and brown flake powder. Many of these items were rotting and oozing dangerous materials, making the operation extremely hazardous.

How did the clearing of Bannerman's Island contribute to the founding of Navy Arms?

The cost estimate Valforjet's father submitted for clearing Bannerman's Island, which included an additional $5,000 he didn't expect to be accepted, was approved. This $5,000 provided the necessary capital to start Navy Arms' production of replica cowboy revolvers.

What historical periods of ordnance were found on Bannerman's Island?

Ordnance from the Civil War through the Spanish-American War was found on Bannerman's Island. This included artillery shells, ammunition, and various military accessories from these conflicts, often in a state of decay and posing significant safety risks.

What was the reason for the structural deterioration of Bannerman's Island?

The island's structures, particularly the cement work, deteriorated rapidly because Francis Bannerman used a condemned lot of cement for construction. This decision stemmed from a smuggling scheme where he mixed ammunition with cement, and the substandard cement was all he had available.

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