He Bought W.W. Greener & Co with a Worthless Check

The J.M. Browning Harmonica Rifle, also known as the Slide Bar Repeating Rifle, features a unique harmonica-like chamber arrangement with five percussion cap nipples. Its operation involves a lever mechanism that locks the slide bar, allowing for manual indexing to the next chamber for firing. This antique firearm showcases innovative mechanical design from J.M. Browning.

This video showcases a rare set of Lepage wax-bullet dueling pistols from 19th century France, designed to make dueling a safe sport. The pistols use a unique dummy cartridge system with a primer and a wax bullet, and require a special screw-on handguard for shooter safety. The demonstration covers cartridge assembly and the break-action mechanism of these historical sporting firearms.

This video showcases a rare Japanese 3-barrel swivel-breech matchlock pistol, highlighting its unique rotating mechanism and firing sequence. The pistol features three barrels mounted on a central arbor, each with its own sight and priming pan, secured by a friction lock and detents. The demonstration emphasizes the historical significance and mechanical ingenuity of this antique firearm, noting the scarcity of authentic surviving examples.

This video provides an in-depth look at the Colt Model 1839 Paterson Revolving Rifle, highlighting its unique mechanical features. It details the single-action mechanism, the cylinder rotation driven by the hammer, and the integrated locking pin system. The demonstration covers the loading process using the side-mounted ramrod and the specific .525 caliber.

This video from Forgotten Weapons explores the evolution of firearms collecting, contrasting the early days of collecting bespoke, embellished pieces with the later era of affordable surplus military firearms. It highlights Francis Bannerman's role in making firearms accessible to working men by offering surplus guns from conflicts like the Spanish-American War and the Civil War at reasonable prices, a stark difference from the expensive Winchester rifles of the past.

This video features firearms expert Jonathan Ferguson examining an exquisite Auguste Francotte revolver, a Belgian-made presentation piece gifted to a British officer. The episode delves into the mystery of Captain Bateman, the history of Francotte of Liège, and the craftsmanship and design of the revolver, exploring whether its purpose was primarily functional or fashionable. The Royal Armouries, the UK's national collection of arms and armour, presents this in-depth look at a unique historical firearm.

This video details the unique 'French Finger Trap' issue with the MAS-36 rifle's bayonet, where two rifles can become unintentionally locked together. A 1951 French arsenal memorandum identified this problem, proposing a simple modification to the bayonet handle. Drilling a small hole allows a tool, like a firing pin, to depress the internal spring, enabling the separation of locked rifles.

The M134 Minigun is a scaled-down 7.62 NATO rotary cannon, requiring 24V DC power and consuming 1.5 kW. Its high rate of fire (3,000+ RPM) is essential for aircraft engagement windows. The complex delinker mechanism is critical for feeding ammunition, and practical hand-held use is impossible due to weight and recoil. Live fire demonstrates rapid ammunition consumption and the need for indirect aiming.

The H&K G11 is a revolutionary prototype assault rifle designed in the late 20th century, notable for its caseless ammunition and unique rotating drum bolt mechanism. Despite advanced features like a 2000 RPM burst fire rate and integrated optics, its development was ultimately halted by geopolitical shifts and cost concerns.

This video demonstrates the assembly and live-fire of the German 1936 pattern light mortar (L.Gr.W.36). It highlights the mortar's leveling mechanism for accuracy and the difficulty in visually tracking its 50mm projectiles after firing. The content showcases historical military hardware and its operational use.