The Cunk clip reminded me that last year me and my wife and some friends went to Iceland. One morning we were prepping our food for a day of hiking with the Cunk show on in the background when Jonathan appeared onscreen and I, Pavlov Style, exclaimed "oh my god, It's Jonathan Ferguson, Keeper of Firearms and Artillery at the Royal Armouries Museum!" Which did elicit a good few confused looks from my friends.
Well it might be perfect for some, as it seems practical enough in layout and motion to potentially be useable - nothing can ever be perfect for every hand size and nothing about this design screams you need an extra hand or black magic to mange to operate it... A problem demonstrated rather well by the huge gulf in design between Microsoft and the Japanese console controllers over time, which the original Xbox controller being virtually unusable for folks with tiny hands etc.
0:19 Relevant to this video, Belgians were also quite notable and indeed important in inventing and improving revolver mechanisms, which by the turn of the twentieth century were used by pretty much every military in one way or another. 4:41 Nice cameo. 11:22 Could it perhaps be that the trigger in this case is to be pulled by both the index finger and the middle finger acting together, the former on the front of the ring and the latter through it? 13:50 I see we're back on topic of revolver safeties. 😀
Yet another example of Belgian innovation and creativity, the lineage of which has carried through to the modern day, exemplified by the 1989 hit by Technotronic, Pump Up The Jam. (Couldn't resist after seeing the cameo)
The French and Belgians were absolutely on fire in the development of firearms in this era, and this was in an era where people in general were coming up with all kinds of brilliant and outside of the box ideas for guns. The amount of "Let's see if this wild idea works... " or "Can we achieve a similar or even better thing while avoiding a patent infringement?" was constant.
I think you were holding correctly when you had your middle fingers through the ring and the trigger finger resting on the front. It looks like there is enough room to pull the trigger and the two finger together should have enough strength to pull the trigger through full motion.
The problem I can see is if your index finger is "pointing" down the barrel the tip can be level with the cylinder gap. I've seen enough demonstrations (incl. Mythbusters) to know that's not a good idea.
@@ericpode6095 Although by the 1980s, this was a viable pistol (Browning Hi-Power) and long-arm (SLR) trigger manipulation technique taught in the Australian Army.
Judging from the background; Jonathan Ferguson, keeper of firearms and artillery at the Royal Armouries Museum in the UK, which houses a collection of thousands of iconic weapons from throughout history; is Boy 71 - Boy 80!
I love the walnut and deeply blued steel aesthetic. It’s interesting that the ramrod is designed to give one a comfortable mechanical advantage, the trigger ring not so much.
I love that David Bowie track *"Space Belgian"* that's a lovely little mechanism to charge that weapon...a very civilized weapon, "I say old chap, he took his life after a draught of opium, with a Hermann's Patent Revolver"
I would love to visit these stores, just to spin those handles and watch the whole lot move at once. If I worked there not only would it not get old, I could possibly wear out the gears
Yeah, spinning the cylinder can be really bad for revolvers, especially for the swing-out cylinders where you snap it shut. Undeniably fun and iconic, but bad for the mechanism.
With double-action revolvers made for concealment today, a long/heavy trigger pull is made to prevent accidental discharge while in a pocket or even while drawn.
It looks to me like the cylinder has not been chiseled and engraved, but etched. Etching would certainly be a simpler and cheaper means of producing decoration like that.
The town Liege belonged once to HRE ( up to 1792) and together with Suhl a center of HRE gunmaking. German name for Liege is Lüttich. Now a stange thing : The famous bicycle race Liege - Bastogne - Liege is in Germany known as , Bicycle race Lüttich - Bastogne - Lüttich. The strange thing is : When Liege is called with its german name Lüttich, then Bastogne also should be called with its german name Bastnach.
Jonathan have you considered the pistol might have been made for someone missing a finger? This leads to an interesting research project, in that people missing fingers attempt to use the "weird" guns in the collection that have "difficult" mechanisms.
I'd say you're supposed to pull on the ring with your index finger, but not with your index finger through the ring. The lack of spur is to reduce the chance of it snagging on clothing. Perhaps also why the trigger is a ring in the first place.
I think this is a self-defense pistol - intended to be carried in/under the typical long jackets of the period. It's long and slim - and the handle alone might look like an umbrella on first glance. I guess the trigger is for the middle finger - to be supported by your index finger.
That's great if you want everyone you meet looking at you like you were some sort of lunatic, thinking "why the HECK does that goober have an umbrella in their pocket???"
A remarkably intricate and nicely arty....waste of time! 😂😂 How many hours did it take to make and how many were made? Seems a fairly pointless pistol when compared to contemporary offerings. Great video and hugely interesting as ever, so thanks Jonathan! 👍🏻
I was taught to shoot an air pistol by pointing with the index finger and using the middle finger to pull the trigger. SO this doesn't seem odd to me. I suspect that the theory of being a 'Lady's gun' is correct. It could be carried in a holster/pistol that was sewn into a muff.
Actually, I believe Water Rat was armed with a pair of these very pistols, in "The Wind in the Willows" Chapter XII. The Return of Ulysses. Which makes sense really, when you think just how tiny his hands were. Leaves me wondering if he'd have enough Trigger pull weight to fire the thing.
Looks like a hybrid between a Colt Navy and old Pepper-box revolver... Had I seen that in a cartoon/anime or steam punk game I would have just gone "Huh..." and carried on. Interesting though.
I suspect it was indeed a pepperbox in its previous life. Then it got the barrels cut down and the front part added. That would also explain the somewhat redundant "rear sight" notch on the hammer, as the proper rear sight was added later with the front bit.
Plenty of varied 'nipple' talk! 😅 Good to see that safety was an important consideration, this having a double - firstly the hammer block, & secondly the trigger block (i.e. your trigger finger)
In climbing we do "finger stacking" to allow greater pressure on a on a small area (one finger sized ledges/holds). I wonder if you were to put your digitus medius (middle finger) in the ring & your digitus indicis (index finger) on the outside if you'd pull it better. This also leaves space above the digitus medicinalis (ring finger) for the trigger to pull back into. Anyway, great looking pistol & I love that rack & gear rammer, such a cool system.
wonder why the royal armories doesnt make replicas more often so you can try out how to fire this thing without having to fear breaking anything make test replicas to give a deeper insight that can then be well recorded and documented
I wonder, does there exist any other examples of this exact gun? Down to its odd proportions? People were indeed a little bit smaller in the western world about a century back, and women do have a little bit smaller hands than men, but beyond that, maybe this specific gun was a bespoke gun made (or maybe even modified) to fit a specific person's hands. Perhaps it was intended for a rather young person? Just as an example, one on the extreme end, I have seen examples of oddly shaped antique pistols which were deliberately custom crafted to fit and suit clients who had hand deformities, from birth or from injuries.
Could it maybe have been made for someone lacking a part of, or maybe their entire index finger? I'm sure some well paid major or general could get one of these made for themselves
The Cunk clip reminded me that last year me and my wife and some friends went to Iceland. One morning we were prepping our food for a day of hiking with the Cunk show on in the background when Jonathan appeared onscreen and I, Pavlov Style, exclaimed "oh my god, It's Jonathan Ferguson, Keeper of Firearms and Artillery at the Royal Armouries Museum!" Which did elicit a good few confused looks from my friends.
Thanks for the reminder to watch Cunk interview Jonathan
Cunk Quest for Meaning later this year (don’t think they’ll be much in the way of firearms though)
where do i watch it?
Two of our greatest national treasures.
@@RDG99 Its on the official channel 3:50 in the "Cunk's Best One-Interview Experts - Part 2"
Legend @@ListlessWither
Another excellent example of ergo-NOT-mics in weapons design.
Well it might be perfect for some, as it seems practical enough in layout and motion to potentially be useable - nothing can ever be perfect for every hand size and nothing about this design screams you need an extra hand or black magic to mange to operate it... A problem demonstrated rather well by the huge gulf in design between Microsoft and the Japanese console controllers over time, which the original Xbox controller being virtually unusable for folks with tiny hands etc.
"It is not a Desert Eagle". That's the kind of world-class expertise that Jonathan brings.
Or, in the parlance of the time, it's not a Colt Walker.
Can we get official Royal Armouries “cushion the nipple” merch.
only if we can get a "stick your finger through the ring" one as well.
@@RobSandman “finger the ring, cushion the nips”
Matt Easton needs to join this conversation….
Don't forget 'self cocking'
0:19 Relevant to this video, Belgians were also quite notable and indeed important in inventing and improving revolver mechanisms, which by the turn of the twentieth century were used by pretty much every military in one way or another.
4:41 Nice cameo.
11:22 Could it perhaps be that the trigger in this case is to be pulled by both the index finger and the middle finger acting together, the former on the front of the ring and the latter through it?
13:50 I see we're back on topic of revolver safeties. 😀
Gotta love the ergonomics of old weapons
Lol.... or not.
"What if saber, but gun?" - - German cavalry officers, when asked what they wanted in a revolver
Lol
Despite its shortcomings.... that is without a doubt.... the sexiest percussion pistol I've ever seen.
Yes a realy beautifull looking master piece.
Yet another example of Belgian innovation and creativity, the lineage of which has carried through to the modern day, exemplified by the 1989 hit by Technotronic, Pump Up The Jam.
(Couldn't resist after seeing the cameo)
The French and Belgians were absolutely on fire in the development of firearms in this era, and this was in an era where people in general were coming up with all kinds of brilliant and outside of the box ideas for guns.
The amount of "Let's see if this wild idea works... " or "Can we achieve a similar or even better thing while avoiding a patent infringement?" was constant.
A national that is capable of producing ‘ça plane pour moi’ is capable of any atrocity.
Nope! Don't get it. 🤔
We need an emotional support EM-2 pin as well please! And the MP5 if possible but the EM-2 is the priority for me :)
I think you were holding correctly when you had your middle fingers through the ring and the trigger finger resting on the front. It looks like there is enough room to pull the trigger and the two finger together should have enough strength to pull the trigger through full motion.
The problem I can see is if your index finger is "pointing" down the barrel the tip can be level with the cylinder gap. I've seen enough demonstrations (incl. Mythbusters) to know that's not a good idea.
@@ericpode6095 Although by the 1980s, this was a viable pistol (Browning Hi-Power) and long-arm (SLR) trigger manipulation technique taught in the Australian Army.
@@tonyrigby7948 the High-Power is an auto, I'm thinking about revolvers.
Judging from the background; Jonathan Ferguson, keeper of firearms and artillery at the Royal Armouries Museum in the UK, which houses a collection of thousands of iconic weapons from throughout history; is Boy 71 - Boy 80!
I love the walnut and deeply blued steel aesthetic. It’s interesting that the ramrod is designed to give one a comfortable mechanical advantage, the trigger ring not so much.
Jonathan and Philomena. A pairing I never knew I needed.
The editor and Johnathan need a humongous raise. Whatever they're being paid it's not enough
I love that David Bowie track *"Space Belgian"* that's a lovely little mechanism to charge that weapon...a very civilized weapon, "I say old chap, he took his life after a draught of opium, with a Hermann's Patent Revolver"
What an interesting design. Love these old firearm designs. Thanks for reviewing them 🙂
Very interesting firearm - and now off to track down that Cunk episode!
The Cunk on Earth scene was unexpected but very much welcome.
Omg I love the editing haha
I love how inorder to pull the trigger jonathan had to flip us the bird
Super neat! Such an unusual silhouette.
Love that rammer. Did anyone else use a similar one.
There's a few revolvers which used a rack and pinion or gear-like mechanism for the rammer, not unlike this. The Starr revolver is one.
I would love to visit these stores, just to spin those handles and watch the whole lot move at once. If I worked there not only would it not get old, I could possibly wear out the gears
Yeah, spinning the cylinder can be really bad for revolvers, especially for the swing-out cylinders where you snap it shut. Undeniably fun and iconic, but bad for the mechanism.
@@Stevarooni
I think he was referring to the cpmpactus storage in the background.
@@michaelwise1224 Yeah, I wasn't reading very deeply. 🫤
Just thinking out loud here: there was an infantry barracks in 'Yeperes' in the 1800's. Could that be the reason for the 'Y' marking?
With double-action revolvers made for concealment today, a long/heavy trigger pull is made to prevent accidental discharge while in a pocket or even while drawn.
Jonathan's waffling this week turns to Belgian Waffles ! 🤣 Very interesting, as usual ! Odd little old handguns are my field of interest !
As a Belgian girl from Liège, it's always nice to see thoe weapons 😊
It looks to me like the cylinder has not been chiseled and engraved, but etched. Etching would certainly be a simpler and cheaper means of producing decoration like that.
The town Liege belonged once to HRE ( up to 1792) and together with Suhl a center of HRE gunmaking. German name for Liege is Lüttich. Now a stange thing : The famous bicycle race Liege - Bastogne - Liege is in Germany known as , Bicycle race Lüttich - Bastogne - Lüttich. The strange thing is : When Liege is called with its german name Lüttich, then Bastogne also should be called with its german name Bastnach.
Jonathan have you considered the pistol might have been made for someone missing a finger?
This leads to an interesting research project, in that people missing fingers attempt to use the "weird" guns in the collection that have "difficult" mechanisms.
Glad to see the Cunk cameo.
I love her very british face
Really fascination, thanks Jonathan and team. I'd sooner carry a Colt 1849!
Getting the whole Matrix "Guns. Lots of guns." vibe from the background.
Looking at the background, is Jonathon actually stored in Bay 80 and just brought out for the videos?
Maybe 2 finter triggered?
Middle finger in the ring, pointy one before, so you can use the force of 2 fingers to pull through?
I actually really like the little meme edits
Fascinating! A very 'steampunk' sort of pistol.
I love that Philomena Cunk video 😁
You have great info, and pin badges! Look forward to my baby browning tomorrow!
Hands of blue, two by two!
it's ok to cushion the nipple.
I feel that it should be encouraged...
The Cunk interview clip 😂😂😂
With a side-order of Matt Berry.
Peak Internet from Jonathon and The Royal Armouries crew... 😊👍
Would the two rear sight thing make it harder to aim, easier, or just different?
Perhaps the JCS was the owner's initials?
I'd say you're supposed to pull on the ring with your index finger, but not with your index finger through the ring. The lack of spur is to reduce the chance of it snagging on clothing. Perhaps also why the trigger is a ring in the first place.
I too struggle 4:42 to unhear this
I think this is a self-defense pistol - intended to be carried in/under the typical long jackets of the period. It's long and slim - and the handle alone might look like an umbrella on first glance.
I guess the trigger is for the middle finger - to be supported by your index finger.
That's great if you want everyone you meet looking at you like you were some sort of lunatic, thinking "why the HECK does that goober have an umbrella in their pocket???"
They stuck a barrel on a pepperbox is the vibe I get from this thing.
2:10
"Which colt didn't invent, but he did patent"
Our dearest Ferguson said he's talked about this before, can anyone tell me where?
NEVER apologise for going Matt Berry :p
Noticed near the beginning there was a mini Jonathan caricature behind him on the gun rack, wondering if they was gonna leave it as an easter egg 😅
Jonathan, There is a game that was just released on PC called Gunsmith Simulator. It seems like a game built just for folks like you. :)
A remarkably intricate and nicely arty....waste of time! 😂😂 How many hours did it take to make and how many were made? Seems a fairly pointless pistol when compared to contemporary offerings. Great video and hugely interesting as ever, so thanks Jonathan! 👍🏻
It's like a really really well made Khiber Pass pistol. At some point of all that work someone must have said "this not gonna work".
There's a reason why Colt revolvers were so popular. That wacky trigger design wasn't one.
Could it have been made for someone with restricted ability in their hands? Arthritis or missing finger(s) maybe?
I was thinking about that, that maybe this revolver was crafted or modified for someone who needed it to be different like this.
A bit on the Suchet end of the Poirot scale.
Fun memes! 😂 "middle finger pull" had a double meaning.
I’ve seen a wealth of Belgian oddities, both on this channel, and out in the wild.
I was taught to shoot an air pistol by pointing with the index finger and using the middle finger to pull the trigger. SO this doesn't seem odd to me.
I suspect that the theory of being a 'Lady's gun' is correct. It could be carried in a holster/pistol that was sewn into a muff.
Once disassembled, it does give quite a bit of a Men In Black vibe (noisy cricket style)
Actually, I believe Water Rat was armed with a pair of these very pistols, in "The Wind in the Willows" Chapter XII. The Return of Ulysses. Which makes sense really, when you think just how tiny his hands were. Leaves me wondering if he'd have enough Trigger pull weight to fire the thing.
Check to see if someone hasn't removed a spur from the trigger to increase safety.
Middle finger trigger pull might work for someone missing an index finger
i think it's to stop someone using it against yourself if they take it from you .
Looks like a hybrid between a Colt Navy and old Pepper-box revolver...
Had I seen that in a cartoon/anime or steam punk game I would have just gone "Huh..." and carried on. Interesting though.
I suspect it was indeed a pepperbox in its previous life. Then it got the barrels cut down and the front part added.
That would also explain the somewhat redundant "rear sight" notch on the hammer, as the proper rear sight was added later with the front bit.
I was thinking it make a good basis for a Star Wars prop. Like some fancy guys blaster.
Forgot about that Cunk bit xD
Plenty of varied 'nipple' talk! 😅
Good to see that safety was an important consideration, this having a double - firstly the hammer block, & secondly the trigger block (i.e. your trigger finger)
A tiny Jonathan in the upper left
In climbing we do "finger stacking" to allow greater pressure on a on a small area (one finger sized ledges/holds). I wonder if you were to put your digitus medius (middle finger) in the ring & your digitus indicis (index finger) on the outside if you'd pull it better. This also leaves space above the digitus medicinalis (ring finger) for the trigger to pull back into.
Anyway, great looking pistol & I love that rack & gear rammer, such a cool system.
It would have been more user friendly as a pepperbox in my opinion. Very interesting though.
Why didn’t it catch on?
seems intended for a 2-finger trigger pull. middle finger through the ring, index finger in front
Typically Belgium the are noted for developing any.
Guns sure are neat
Could it be using the ring . Is meant for a lady to use and outside for a man ?
I reckon it'd make a good starting weapon in some steampunk RPG
You are supposed to put your thumb inside the ring and fire it over your shoulder towards enemies behind you...
the editor either cares too much or too little about their work here. any way, I love it :)
these were commonly used, to shoof off roses for the ladies.
After he takes the cylinder and barrel off, it becomes the perfect gun to run around with while saying "pew pew pew!"
wonder why the royal armories doesnt make replicas more often
so you can try out how to fire this thing without having to fear breaking anything
make test replicas to give a deeper insight that can then be well recorded and documented
It's on probation.
It could have been a pocket pistol for a child/young boy perhaps, it would explain the inability for an adult to pull the trigger.
It would give more room for a forefinger to pull. 🤔
I wonder, does there exist any other examples of this exact gun? Down to its odd proportions?
People were indeed a little bit smaller in the western world about a century back, and women do have a little bit smaller hands than men, but beyond that, maybe this specific gun was a bespoke gun made (or maybe even modified) to fit a specific person's hands. Perhaps it was intended for a rather young person?
Just as an example, one on the extreme end, I have seen examples of oddly shaped antique pistols which were deliberately custom crafted to fit and suit clients who had hand deformities, from birth or from injuries.
😊
The sight doesn't need to tay visible for people who close their eyes when firing 😂
The editing on this one had be cracking up.
was it made for someone missing their index finger?
It's actually designed to be used by children... those were some rough times! 😅
I've never heard of a Y proof mark.. it's more likely a regular old V just punched at an angle.
A duelling pistol? One of an UNMATCHED pair. Other chap gets this one??
Looks like it is a crew served weapon for some very angry Smurfs.
Could it maybe have been made for someone lacking a part of, or maybe their entire index finger? I'm sure some well paid major or general could get one of these made for themselves
4:40 😂🤣
4:41 Rat Shit? Ratchet.
8:53 Jesus Christ Superstar
16:24 😂 he says that to all the ladies...
The gun i drew as a kid..... i still draw guns like this tbh