Hall's Patent Clock Gun: A Shot Every Hour, On The Hour

Published on March 30, 2018
Duration: 7:16

The Hall's Patent Clock Gun is a unique 12-gauge pinfire firearm designed to fire a shot hourly to scare birds. Patented in 1902 by John Hall, it features twelve chambers and a clock mechanism with a razor blade to sever strings, triggering the firing sequence. While intended for pest control, it may have also served as an audible time signal.

Quick Summary

The Hall's Patent Clock Gun, patented in 1902 by John Hall, is a rare 12-gauge pinfire firearm designed to fire a shot hourly. It uses a clock mechanism with a razor blade to cut strings, triggering weights that detonate pinfire cartridges, likely for scaring birds or as an audible time signal.

Chapters

  1. 00:00Introduction to Hall's Patent Clock Gun
  2. 00:55History and Purpose of the Clock Gun
  3. 02:10Internal Mechanism: Pinfire Chambers
  4. 03:54Firing Sequence Explained
  5. 04:46Clock Interface and Razor Blade Trigger
  6. 06:02Rarity and Conclusion

Frequently Asked Questions

What was the primary purpose of the Hall's Patent Clock Gun?

The Hall's Patent Clock Gun was primarily designed to scare birds away from fields by firing a shot automatically every hour. However, it's also suggested it could have served as an audible time signal for work crews.

How does the Hall's Patent Clock Gun fire automatically?

It features a clock mechanism where the hour hand has a razor blade that cuts strings. These strings hold steel weights that fall onto the pins of 12-gauge pinfire cartridges, detonating them hourly.

What type of ammunition does the Hall's Patent Clock Gun use?

The firearm uses 12-gauge pinfire shotgun cartridges. Pinfire was an early form of metallic cartridge where a protruding pin needed to be struck to initiate firing.

How rare are Hall's Patent Clock Guns?

These devices are considered quite rare. They occasionally appear at auctions, particularly in England, and are sought after by collectors of unique antique firearms.

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