Early Automatic Pistol Cartridges - What, When & Why?
Forgotten Weapons
•
30m
In discussion with a friend recently, the topic of early automatic pistol cartridges came up. Specifically, looking at the context of which cartridges were actually available at which times, and how this might provide helpful context for understanding why particular cartridges were adopted (or commercially successful) or were not.
I decided to see if I could put together a useful video on the subject, and this is the result. We will look at the cartridges available prior to 1900, the ones developed or introduced between 1900 and 1904, and then a few followups which appeared between 1905 and 1910.
Some cartridges became popular because of their ballistic characteristics - like the 7.63mm Mauser and the C96 "Broomhandle" - while others became popular because of the handgun much more than the cartridge itself - like the Browning 1900 and the .32ACP / 7.65mm Browning.
Up Next in Forgotten Weapons
-
M1C Sniper Garand
The M1C was an M1 Garand with a telescopic sight, using a mounting system developed by the Griffin & Howe company of New York. It utilized a rail pinned and screwed to the left side of the receiver, coupled with a quick-release scope on top. The rails had to be installed prior to heat treating th...
-
From Bolt Action Lee to LMG: The Char...
The Charlton automatic rifle is one of very, very few examples of a conversion from bolt action to self-loading rifle actually working reasonably well. Typically this sort of project founders in expense and unreliability. Charlton, however, was able to take his vision for providing the New Zealan...
-
Beautiful 1625 Breechloading Wheellock
Breechloading firearms did not become commonplace until the 1800s, but talented gunsmiths were experimenting with the concept and building custom breechloaders since virtually the very invention of firearms in the West. This is a magnificent example of an advanced German gun commissioned by a buy...
