14 Barrel Flintlock

[PetahW]

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Check it out   

A video and the backstory:


https://www.forgottenweapons.com/perdition-to-conspirators-magnificent-14-barrel-flintlock/

[Ohio Joe]

Interesting for sure... And the second stock along with being able to separate the two sets of seven barrels is interesting. 

[Oldetexian]

WOW! Good stuff...fascinating!

Would luv to watch some shoot it...

[Doc Nock]

In a movie that John Wayne stared  in, directed and I believe produced, named simply the Alamo, didn't one of the other key actors carry such a multi-barreled gun?

[Bigsmoke]

Aw gee, David, now you done it.
Now I gotta check Netflix and see if it is there.  If not, then I will have to check the library and see if they have it buried away someplace.
More things to do.  It's been a while since I watched that, need to revisit it again, I guess.  So, why not.
Seems to me that a firearm like this is more for show than for go.  Not very practical for a battle situation.  A 12 gauge smoothbore would be a lot more practical, me thinks.  Powder first, then wadding, then 6 or 8 .30 caliber ball then an overwad and you're good to go, less than a minute.  How long would it take to load 7 barrels to accomplish the same thing?  Shucks, the war would be over by the time you got finished loading all 14 barrels.  Granted the first and second time you pulled a trigger would be pretty impressive, but    then you're out of the fight for a while.

[Ohio Joe]

In a movie that John Wayne stared  in, directed and I believe produced, named simply the Alamo, didn't one of the other key actors carry such a multi-barreled gun?

Yes sir, that would be Jim Bowie (Richard Widmark) 

https://th.bing.com/th/id/OIP.92D7_GyYTsJPjgW-2e7SxwHaJi?pid=Api&rs=1

https://th.bing.com/th/id/OIP.73HCcBn3YojsJhn1uGv0xAHaHa?pid=Api&rs=1

Quite a difference in "bore" size from the two pictures of him with one of these guns...

[Bigsmoke]

No real idea on this, but wouldn't that be one of those Nock Volley Guns?  No where near 14 barrels on this monstrosity.
Still need to get ahold of the movie.  Will check it out later this afternoon.

John (Bigsmoke)

[Ohio Joe]

I would say yes, John...

Here would be an interesting question; was the 14 Barrel based on the Nock Volley Gun, or vice/versa??? Hmmm...

[Bigsmoke]

Probably someone that had more barrels on hand than good sense.
I am wondering if that 14 barrel rifle was ever shot?  Or if it remains pristine and unblemished?
I sure would not want to carry that thing very far.  Would love to shoot it.  I doubt if there is much if any recoil with all the weight holding it down.  Wonder what it weighs?  It would have to be pretty nose heavy.  Hmmmmm...  Let's see, 7 barrels times probably 30 grains Fffg=a total of 210 grains of powder and 7 .290 balls would probably weigh maybe 38 grains each so 7*38=268 grains.  Not bad at all.  Now if you touched off both locks at the same time and all 14 barrels went off, a person would definitely notice it.  Even if the rifle weighs like 35 pounds, those 420 grains of powder going off would be noticeable.  Probably not bad considering the weight of the rifle, but noticeable just the same.  OOFDA !!!

John (Bigsmoke)

[PetahW]

  How long would it take to load 7 barrels to accomplish the same thing?

Check the video closer - the guy that commissioned the gun, besides the extra stock also commissioned a brass tool with 7 powder chambers, a sliding cover on one side and 7 little spouts that fit all the seven .30cal (approx.) bores.

How it's used is in the video (turn on your speakers). 


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[Hank in WV]

That would work pretty fast but you still have to patch. ball, short start and ram home seven barrels twice. Like Bigsmoke said, the war would be over. At least your part of it.

[Uncle Russ]

That would work pretty fast but you still have to patch. ball, short start and ram home seven barrels twice. Like Bigsmoke said, the war would be over. At least your part of it.

This gun has been around the Internet for several years now on various web sites, and most comments on this very interesting piece mirrors, pretty much, the remarks made by Hank and Bigsmoke.
I'm with those that think "Buck & Ball" would be superior at short distances, but even that would not be equal to this "rifle" raining down hexagon bullets at the longer distances.
I also believe it would have to be cariage or swivel mounted.....a true frontrunner to the Gatlin gun IMHO.

[PetahW]

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IMO, the gun fits the times when made, and not today.

Given the timeframe, volley guns of all sorts were more concerned with "clearing the decks" & disbursing street rioters than with ongoing battles that would require fast reloads.

Remember, in those frontstuffer-only days, some folks carried a loaded 2nd (or 3rd) gun ILO reloading the 1st gun - most likely why separate locks for each barrel cluster on the example above was executed.


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[Doc Nock]

First, I'll admist I could not even remember it Was Jim Bowie's Character when I posted nor that it was Richard Widmark playing it and someone has a good eye to see the diameter is different in different views...

The movie was more about interplay of personalities, then guns but they surely played a roll

[Ohio Joe]

One would of thought that if ol' Bowie was gonna carry a 7 barreled gun -  he'd a carried a 7 bladed knife as well... 

Okay, I just had to say it...