What kind of hand guns would have been in use in the early 1800s? Were there any multi-shot guns in existance?

Question

Specifically British guns. Thanks!

Answer 1

1800s British Pepperbox handgun

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The first top-break revolvers were developed by the Webley & Son company (Webley & Scott Co. since 1897) of Great Britain in the 1870s. First Webley revolver had been officially adopted for Royal Army & navy service in 1887, as a Webley Revolver, .455, Mark I. It was a break-top, six shoot, double action revolver, chambered for blackpowder .455 British Service cartridge, officially known as Cartridge .455 revolver, Mark I. This cartridge launched heavy, 18 gramms (265 grains) lead bullet at relatively slow muzzle velocity of 180 meters/second (ca. 600 fps). Later, smokeless version of this cartridge had been adopted, but since it also could be fired in early revolvers, the gain in the velocity or muzzle energy was very minor.



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I hope this is helpful.

Answer 2

There were a few, but they were all multi-barrel types. Twin barrels were not uncommon, there were also trefoil (three barrel) and cloverleaf (four barrel). These were flintlock and later percussion fired. Rather than have a rotating cylinder as in a modern revolver, each barrel would be charged separately. When one barrel was discharged, it was then necessary to manually rotate the next barrel into line with the hammer. Guns of this sort would usually be bespoke and quite expensive.

Answer 3

That depends upon what you refer to multi shot. One barrel that can fire more than one shot? No. But their were several weapons that had more than one barrel. Percussion caps also made their entrance. Many naval officers would purchase multi (2) barreled pistols that used percussion caps rather than a powder bin. At sea it was very easy for the powder bins to get wet and cause a misfire while the percussion caps tended to always fire. Most of these pistols were so expensive that only the wealthy or officers could afford them.



I think the Collier Pistol, or the colt were the first to share a barrel, via a Multi cylinder rotating firing chamber.

Answer 4

One of the first true revolvers was invented by Elisha Haydon Collier of Boston. It was patented in 1818, and produced from 1819 by John Evans & Son of London, and used in quantity by the British forces in India. Over 10,000 were made between 1819 and 1824.