Evans New Model Carbine: High Capacity in the Old West

Published on June 3, 2016
Duration: 17:43

This guide details the unique loading process for the Evans New Model Carbine, highlighting its springless helical magazine. The video, presented by Ian McCollum of Forgotten Weapons, emphasizes the manual nature of loading, requiring each round to be individually fed and cycled. It also touches upon the historical context and technical challenges of this innovative, albeit complex, firearm design from the late 19th century.

Quick Summary

The Evans New Model Carbine is renowned for its innovative 28-round springless helical magazine, a unique feature for its time. Developed by Warren Evans, it fired the .44 Evans Long cartridge but faced market challenges and reliability issues, ultimately leading to the company's demise.

Chapters

  1. 00:00Introduction and History
  2. 01:08Old Model vs. New Model
  3. 03:58Market and Military Testing
  4. 06:57Helical Magazine Mechanism
  5. 10:44New Model Improvements
  6. 15:22Technical Mysteries and Conclusion

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the capacity of the Evans New Model Carbine?

The Evans New Model Carbine features a high-capacity helical magazine capable of holding 28 rounds, specifically 26 in the magazine tube and 2 in the action, utilizing .44 Evans Long ammunition.

How does the Evans New Model Carbine's helical magazine work?

The Evans Carbine's unique springless helical magazine uses a central follower that rotates within a spiral track. The lever action manually advances the follower, acting like a conveyor belt to load cartridges from the buttplate into the action.

Why was the Evans Carbine ultimately unsuccessful?

Despite its high capacity, the Evans Carbine faced challenges including a complex loading process, failure in military dust tests, and intense market competition from established manufacturers like Winchester, leading to the company's bankruptcy.

What caliber does the Evans New Model Carbine use?

The Evans New Model Carbine fires the .44 Evans Long cartridge. This was an upgrade from the .44 Evans Short used in the earlier Evans Old Model, intended to increase ballistic performance.

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