Pepperbox Pistol
Billll finished off a working replica of a .36 cal. pepperbox pistol and has review it over at Billlls Idle Mind. The Pepperbox is a repeating firearm design that was the forerunner to the true revolver. The design was mainly used for pistols but it was also used for repeating rifles.
Billls blackpowder pepperbox replica.
Mark Twain wrote about a pepperbox:
“If she didn’t get what she went after, she would fetch something else.” And so she did. She went after a deuce of spades nailed against a tree, once, and fetched a mule standing about thirty yards to the left of it. Bemis did not want the mule; but the owner came out with a double-barreled shotgun and persuaded him to buy it, anyhow. It was a cheerful weapon–the “Allen.” Sometimes all its six barrels would go off at once, and then there was no safe place in all the region round about, but behind it.”
Billl’s is not much more accurate! Seems more like a gun to scare off your enemies than to do them damage.
Read his review here.
Does anyone know where I can find specs etc on a Pecare & Smith revolver? Smith was my GGGrandfather.
How much are these pistols worth?
a great addition to guns that will make you go “yeah…”
and oh, I like the Mark Twain bit.
Thanks for the heads up. Fascinating bit of history.
James
Any ‘research types’ want to stand in front of the pepperbox when its fired… just to see if it functions correctly?
Thought not.