Was this the world's first belt fed gun? With weapon and firearms expert Jonathan Ferguson
Jonathan Ferguson, Keeper of Firearms & Artillery at the Royal Armouries, details the rare Treb Chain Rifle, potentially the world's first belt-fed firearm. This Victorian-era invention by Thomas Wright Gardner Treb featured an 'endless chain of short barrels' and an innovative gas-sealing mechanism, aiming to improve upon revolver limitations. Despite successful trials in 1859, its complexity and cost likely prevented adoption.



