This video from Rock Island Auctions features Brownells Gun Techs Keith Ford and Steve Ostrem examining a Colt Model 1860 Army revolver that has undergone a Thuer Conversion. The Thuer Conversion allowed Colt to produce metallic cartridge revolvers without infringing on Smith & Wesson's patent for bored-through cylinders, which was held by Rollin White. The video highlights the unique front-loading nature of these conversions and demonstrates the loading, unloading, and even reloading process using the gun itself as a press. The condition of the featured revolver is noted as superb, including some original tapered cartridges. The discussion also touches on the comparative finickiness of the Thuer Conversion compared to Smith & Wesson revolvers and mentions that a cap-and-ball cylinder was often included as a backup. The video concludes by noting that the Thuer Conversion was eventually superseded by the Colt 1872 open-top revolver after White's patent expired.
This video explores the Rollin White Single Shot Pistol in .38 Rimfire, a unique firearm developed during the Civil War era. Rollin White, known for patenting the bored-through cylinder, had licensed this technology exclusively to Smith & Wesson. To circumvent this agreement and capitalize on wartime demand, White designed this single-shot pistol. The video details its design, which mimics a Smith & Wesson revolver but features a single-shot tip-out breechblock. It contrasts the limited production of the large-frame .38 Rimfire model (200-300 units) with the more successful smaller .32 Rimfire version (3,000 units), suggesting the larger caliber was less practical for a single-shot firearm.
This video delves into the intriguing history of Rollin White's involvement with firearms manufacturing, specifically focusing on the solid-frame .22 rimfire revolvers produced by the Rollin White Arms Company. Despite Rollin White's pivotal patent for the bored-through cylinder, his personal firearm designs were largely impractical and unproduced. The video highlights the limited production bearing his name, the mysterious formation and quick name change of the Rollin White Arms Company, and its contract to supply revolvers to Smith & Wesson. It also details the variations in these early revolvers, including the loading mechanism and the early model's unique ejector system.
This video delves into the fascinating world of Colt "Brevete" copies, exploring the legal and illegal manufacturing of Colt revolvers during and after the expiration of Sam Colt's patents. It highlights how European and American gunmakers produced unlicensed replicas, and how Colt responded by implementing a licensing system marked with "Colt Brevete." The presenter examines nine different examples, showcasing the variety of licensed, illicit, and post-patent copies, offering a unique perspective on early firearm patent infringement and its consequences.
This Q&A episode from Forgotten Weapons covers a diverse range of firearms-related topics. It delves into the design of Rollin White's revolver, the historical decline of pan magazines, and the reasons behind the absence of pointed pistol bullets. The discussion extends to unconventional ammunition like Trounds and Gyrojet rockets, the current US MHS trials, and underappreciated firearms designers. Additional segments address import markings, military field modifications, the replacement of .30-06 with 7.62x51mm, and cancelled development programs. The video also touches upon the presenter's father's interest in Japanese arms, the scarcity of ammunition for them, and the use of gloves for handling valuable firearms, concluding with a look at an Austro-Hungarian WWI machine gun.
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