The terminal effectiveness of modern bullets has been the subject of much study, but less well scrutinized have been the projectiles of rifles before 1900, fired by the blackpowder weapons that armed men throughout the age of empires. Fortunately, the Hungarian channel [Read More…]
So, one day you’re working on your ranch in Utah, and you think “you know, when the zombie elk apocalypse comes, I had better be prepared. I’ve got a rifle, and some ammo, but what happens when I run out?” Well, obviously you make your own [Read More…]
Earlier this week, I was asked what my thoughts were on the video below, coming from HEMA instructor Matt Easton, on his YouTube channel Scholagladiatoria. In it, he discusses some of the limitations of early blackpowder (especially muzzleloading) firearms, specifically [Read More…]
In the twilight of the blackpowder era, the British tested many designs in one of the biggest firearms competitions of the era, in an effort to replace their increasingly obsolete Martini-Henry rifle. The winning design was the brainchild of Scottish-American designer [Read More…]
Visitors to Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia, may soon be lining up for a unique attraction: Shooting Revolutionary War-era muskets at a period-correct shooting range. WTKR.com reports: Williamsburg, Va. – Soon you could be able to shoot an 18th Century weapon in the [Read More…]
Today, we tend to take the metallic cartridge and the guns that fire them for granted, but before the invention and perfection of the metallic cartridge case, arms designers faced stiff challenges in realizing the breechloading military rifle. Early attempts, most [Read More…]
SoloDallas sent us a photo of his historical tactical collection. He wrote … Here we have a few of my blackpowder collection. This set includes (to the left) a gorgeous couple of Hawkins replicas made by the US Historical Society for the 1976 bicentenary of the [Read More…]
Now that all the guns of Ian’s educational videos have been auctioned off, it is time for a more traditional Forgotten Weapons post, of the kind he’s been doing for several years now. The subject of his latest is the Mannlicher 1885 self-loading rifle, [Read More…]
The YouTube channel britishmuzzleloaders consistently puts out excellent content in areas of firearms history that rarely receive much attention. Most recently, he took his .577/.450 Martini-Henry out to the range, to shoot at ranges of 100, 200, 300, and 400 yards. [Read More…]
It’s not commonly remembered in today’s world of .22 caliber infantry rifles that once upon a time .30″ was “small caliber”, and with that came all of the doubts an questions about wounding and killing power of such small bullets. [Read More…]
TFB writer James Reeves went to the Burning Man arts festival earlier this year. One of the “art installations” (for lack of a better term) was a Zombie themed desert fortress with a number of gun-related artistic touches such as a gun rack, muzzle loading [Read More…]
Like most of the gun community, here at TFB we are not fans of trigger locks (locks built into a gun, not locks designed to secure a firearm). They are just one more thing that could go wrong and prevent you using your gun at a time when your life depends on it. [Read More…]
This is a bullet shaped mini black powder cannon. I am not quite sure why they call it a mug. I suppose it is somewhat mug sized. Here is a time lapse of the Thunder Cannon being fabricated. Go to The Mans Cave to get one.
This video about a Chinese artist who “paints” with gunpowder (blackpowder) is worth watching. As usual, when linking to a Vice.com video, I have to point out that a lot of what is said in the video is total nonsense. Gunpowder is not natural, unless [Read More…]
This review was written by Dr. Jim and Mary Clary. The CVA Optima V2 was introduced at the 2013 SHOT Show in Las Vegas. Although it has the same name as previous Optima muzzleloaders and the stock and barrel are essentially the same, the new Optima V2 borrows its [Read More…]
I can’t get enough of cannon rings …
Mr. Wulle demonstrates his double barreled ring cannon and blunderbuss.
As I am sure most of you know, back in the late 90s the UK banned all centerfire and rimfire pistol ownership (defined as any firearms under 24″ of length or with a barrel under 12″, excluding muzzle loaders). What I was not aware of is that they allowed [Read More…]
A reader spotted an auction at Gunbroker.com for a vampire hunting kit produced in 1842. The kit contains a crude percussion lock pistol, four silver bullets (engraved with crosses) and a powerhorn along with numerous other quintessential anti-vampire accessories such [Read More…]
This contraption is a Belgian Percussion Eprouvette. Back in the days when blackpowder was of dubious quality, devices like these were used to test the potency of the powder at hand. The barrel plug is attached to a V shaped spring. When fired the spring compresses [Read More…]
Amy Wood, the wife of Idaho State Representative Fred Wood, was injured when a room in their house that was converted to a gun safe exploded! Magicvalley.com reports … Amy Wood, wife of Rep. Fred Wood, R-Burley, was taken by air ambulance to an unspecified Utah [Read More…]
These photos are of a colonial Virginia-style .54 cal flintlock build by a redditor’s father. The wood is beautiful. [ Many thanks to Brian for emailing us the link. ]
[ This post was written by Dr. Jim Clary, Mary Clary and Jon Clary. ] Black MZ was introduced at the 2011 National Association of Sporting Goods Wholesalers (NASGW) in Reno, Nevada in November 2011. As such, it was a bit late for most folks to consider hunting with it [Read More…]
[ This post was written by Dr. Jim and Mary Clary. ] When we first saw this pistol at the 2012 SHOT Show, we decided that we had to have one for testing. Unlike other blackpowder pistols, such as the Traditions Vortek, the Optima does not have a 70 grain maximum load [Read More…]
A NY-based Chinese-national artist recently created an impressive daylight pyrotechnic display using 8,000 anti-missile countermeasure shells. Photos of the display can be seen at the DailyMail. [ Many thanks to Mik for emailing us the link. ]
Thompson/Center Arms (S&W) and TCA (Traditions Sporting Goods) have settled a patent lawsuit. S&W have licensed their muzzleloader rifle patents to TCA and Ardesa Firearms. From the press release … SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (November 29, 2011) — [Read More…]
[ Many thanks to Dr. Jim and Mary Clary for this guest post. ] A lot of ink has been spilled over the past few years by writers praising or slamming the CVA muzzleloaders. The majority of the negative comments refer to the Apollo rifle manufactured in 1995 and 1996. [Read More…]
If, like me, you regularly need to defend your desktop against assaults from nefarious wine glasses and coke bottles, then the Pocket Artillery mini-cannon is for you. These CNC-machined blackpowder cannons have a stainless .177 caliber barrel and colored anodized [Read More…]
While browsing the Tortuga Trading Inc1 website I came across this bizarre knife/mini-cannon/pistol weapon. I can’t even figure out how it is supposed to be held. It is such a terrible idea that in comparison it makes the infamous Apache Pistol look ingenious. The [Read More…]
Chiappa Group is a corporation that includes Armi Sport, Kimar, Chiappa Firearms Ltd. and other companies in the firearms manufacturing world. The following information was compiled by the GunsForSale.com staff after interviewing members of the Chiappa Group at IWA 2011 [Read More…]
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