Videos tagged with Rollin White Patent

This video explores the Colt Thuer cartridge conversion, a workaround developed by Colt to circumvent the Rollin White patent which had granted Smith & Wesson exclusive rights to manufacture modern breach-loading cartridge revolvers. The Thuer conversion, while loading from the front, ingeniously utilized center-fire cartridges to avoid patent infringement, showcasing a fascinating piece of firearm innovation history.

This "From the Vault" episode features Caleb Savant and guest Cody Slocum showcasing an extremely rare 1863 Slocum Side-Loading Revolver. Cody, a descendant of the inventor Frank Slocum, explains the revolver's unique side-loading mechanism, designed to circumvent the Rollin White patent held by Smith & Wesson. This innovative design allowed for metallic cartridges to be loaded into the chambers by sliding them from the side, a clever workaround given the patent restrictions on bored-through cylinders. Manufactured by the Brooklyn Arms Company, these revolvers were produced in limited numbers in 1863 and 1864 and were reportedly carried as backup weapons by Union soldiers during the Civil War.

This video from Forgotten Weapons delves into the Hopkins & Allen XL-6 Revolver, highlighting its unique swing-out cylinder mechanism. The description details how this feature, patented by Samuel Hopkins and previously used by Bacon Firearms, was implemented by Hopkins & Allen after the Rollin White patent expired. The revolvers were typically simple rimfire pocket guns from the 1870s and 1880s, chambered in cartridges like .22 rimfire and .41 rimfire. The video explores the historical context of this design, including patent disputes and the formation of Hopkins & Allen.

This video examines the Lucius Pond .32 Rimfire Revolver, a firearm notable for its involvement in a patent dispute with Smith & Wesson. The description details Pond's original hinged-frame design, its infringement on Rollin White's bored-through cylinder patent, and the subsequent forced turnover of over 4,000 units to S&W. These confiscated revolvers were marked 'Manufactured for Smith & Wesson' and resold. The video also briefly touches on Pond's later, less successful attempt at an alternative design using removable chambers to circumvent the patent.

This video delves into the James Reid No.2 Revolver, a .32 caliber, 7-shot rimfire firearm manufactured in New York City. Before his more famous "My Friend" knuckleduster revolvers, James Reid produced traditional revolvers like this Number 2 pattern. The video highlights that these were made in violation of the Rollin White patent, but due to low production numbers, they did not attract legal attention. Reid cleverly circumvented patent issues by only marking the guns with the names of his wholesale distributors. The description also points out the revolver's effective loading gate system, but notes its cumbersome disassembly process, which requires unscrewing the barrel to remove the cylinder.

This video delves into the Colt Richards Conversion, a significant firearm developed during the transition from percussion to cartridge revolvers. It explains how Colt utilized existing stockpiles of percussion components to create cartridge-firing guns after the Rollin White patent expired in 1869. The Richards conversion is highlighted for its barrel-mounted rear sight and floating firing pin, representing a crucial step before Colt's purpose-built 'Peacemaker'. The description also touches on other conversion types like the Thuer and Richards-Mason, and the broader context of Colt's product strategy during this era.

This video focuses on the Allen & Wheelock Lipfire Navy Revolver, a unique firearm that emerged during the transition to cartridge revolvers. Instead of adhering to the Rollin White patent, Allen & Wheelock developed their own lipfire ammunition system, similar to rimfire. The description highlights their legal strategy to delay infringement lawsuits, ultimately converting to percussion revolvers after an injunction. The specific model discussed is a .36 caliber "Navy" version, which has since been modified to accept both lipfire and rimfire rounds.

This video delves into the historical significance and technical aspects of the Thuer Conversion Colt 1849 Revolver. It explains how this conversion was an early attempt to adapt percussion revolvers to self-contained metallic cartridges during a time when the Rollin White patent restricted cylinder boring. The Thuer conversion utilized a proprietary centerfire cartridge loaded from the front and press-fit into the cylinder. The description highlights the limitations of this system, including the reliance on special ammunition, and how it lost favor once the White patent expired. The video likely explores the engineering challenges and historical context of this unique firearm modification, with a nod to its place in the evolution of firearms technology.

This video delves into the historical significance of Moore's Patent Revolver, a 7-shot single-action firearm manufactured in Brooklyn between 1861 and 1863. It highlights the revolver's groundbreaking swing-out cylinder, the first commercially produced in the US, and its unique loading mechanism. The description also mentions its popularity among Civil War soldiers, the approximate production number, and the patent infringement lawsuit that led to its discontinuation. The video provides a link to Forgotten Weapons for further information and credits Dylan Benson for theme music.

This YouTube video is a book review of "Guns of the Old West" by George Markham. The reviewer, who typically focuses on early to mid-20th century military small arms, explores this book as a starting point for learning about older firearms. They highlight Markham's comprehensive understanding of the period and its weaponry, noting the inclusion of both well-known firearms like Colts and Winchesters, as well as lesser-known arms. The review delves into historical context, patent disputes, and the evolution of firearm technology, specifically mentioning revolvers (Smith & Wesson No.1, Rollin White's patent), early automatic pistols, single-shot rifles, lever-action rifles (Volition repeater, Volcanics), early magazine rifles (Winchester-Lee, Winchester-Hotchkiss), early autoloaders (Winchester 1905/7/10, Remington Model 8), and shotguns (Spencer/Bannerman, Burgess pump action, break action). The reviewer praises the book's depth beyond general history and nice photos.