WW Marston Breechloading Pistol and Leather-Base Cartridge
This video dives into the unique WW Marston Breechloading Pistol, a single-shot firearm produced in New York City. The pistol is notable for its innovative cartridge design, featuring a heavy paper or cardboard case and a leather base pad that Marston intended as a self-cleaning bore wipe. Approximately 1,000 of these pistols were manufactured in various barrel lengths and calibers (.31, .36, and .44). While an improvement over muzzleloaders, the cartridge didn't achieve significant commercial success against competing designs. The video also touches upon the pistol's interesting tang sight, suggesting a possible intended use with a wire stock.











