Firelocks: The Pirate's Favorite Arm | Pirate Weaponry

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  • čas přidán 5. 07. 2024
  • "They name the musket their arm," Exquemelin said of the buccaneer's weaponry, not the cannon or cutlass. With a neverending volley of muskets, pistols and blunderbusses they could surpress or murder the enemy, destroy the rigging, or just terrify them into submission. Firelocks were cheap and reliable, but they were much more colorful and complex than the stock Brown Bess seen in movies. There were subtypes like Arquebus, Espingole and criminally underrated Fusil Boucanier - a 6 foot long musket favored by the buccaneers. Additionally there were different maintenance methods and ammunition types for improving performance - all of which we'll discover in this video.
    Join our discord: / discord
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    Sources:
    The Buccaneer's Realm - Benerson Little
    The Sea Rover's Practice - Benerson Little
    Pirates In Their Own Words - E.T Fox
    A Relation of the Great Sufferings and Strange Accounts of Henry Pitman
    Supplemented by notes from various different books like Dampier or Wafer's works.
    Video Sources:
    Tap Loading: • Brown Bess At 35 Yards...
    Using bushes as wad: • Blunderbuss - Buckshot...
    Slugs, etc: • 17th century wheel loc...
    Loading with leaves: • Unscientific but Effec...
    0:00 Introduction
    2:07 Loading a Firelock
    4:01 A Look into Locks
    5:34 The Musket
    9:44 Pistols
    11:23 Blunderbuss
    12:35 Firelock Maintenance
    13:53 Ammunition
    17:44 Conclusion
    #pirates #history #weaponry

Komentáře • 349

  • @GoldandGunpowder
    @GoldandGunpowder  Před 2 lety +77

    Whilst there are documentations of buccaneers utilizing the tap loading technique(known to them as "Chargée a la Boucanier) it is rather dangerous to attempt yourself. Spitting a bullet down the muzzle is hard in a stressful situation, and if you've primed the pan and poured down powder, the cock might go off and burn your face off! It's best to keep any flesh as far away from the gun as possible .)

  • @funnelvortex7722
    @funnelvortex7722 Před 2 lety +346

    The inaccuracy of muskets is often greatly exaggerated, they were plenty accurate enough for engaging within 100 yards and you could still hit an animal-sized target (like a human) within that range with a degree of reliability, and combat of the time mostly took place within a hundred so the accuracy of muskets was not that big of a drawback, rifling became more of a necessity as combat started to take place at longer and longer range. Firing in volleys was more of a way to keep steady gunfire going to ensure a hit on the enemy due to the slower rate of fire of muskets compared to modern firearms and this practice carried on into the era of bolt action firearms until after WWI when the role of delivering steady fire was given over to the designated machine gun (WWI changed combat entirely, we were still using parts of the 1700s model up until then). The Machine Gun is still the deliverer of steady fire today and combat rifles today are moreso for picking off targets and personal defense or covering the machine gunner, even these days Machine Guns are not the most accurate (barrel heats up and expands throwing off bullets and it's built to looser tolerances than rifles) but like in the olden days of muskets they don't need to be.

    • @phredphlintstone6455
      @phredphlintstone6455 Před rokem +6

      .....no sights.

    • @rm5902
      @rm5902 Před rokem +6

      Very, very accurate analysis

    • @jjs8426
      @jjs8426 Před rokem +6

      @@rm5902 As accurate as a musket I'd reckon

    • @ostrowulf
      @ostrowulf Před rokem +20

      Just a note, while I agree with everything here, and I feel with the other info the original poster put here, they likely know this. But for anyone less familiar with firearms reading this, modern machineguns are intentially less accurate. One of the weaknesses of the Brengun was being too acurate, thus not having as large of a beating zone. Machine guns are area affect weapons, which, to a degree a formation of muskets were too, though individual muskets were used for hunting, and did need to be more accurate than often described, for at the very least that reason. Muskets were quite inacurate compared to the precision weapons of today, but a number did in fact have a front sight (though I am not sure when that started, I know they did in the Napoleonic era, but not 100% about the buccaneer era), which you could line up with, not unlike my shotgun, which I can aim slugs with just fine. A dove tail rear sight would have been helpful, but not having them did not mean they had no sights.

    • @jacobapgar5167
      @jacobapgar5167 Před rokem +2

      @@jjs8426 as accurate as a M405 i'd reckon

  • @probablylarsulrich5654
    @probablylarsulrich5654 Před rokem +64

    Treasure Island 1990 might be the only pirate movie to show pirates (not soldiers fighting pirates) actually fire a volley.

  • @les3449
    @les3449 Před 11 měsíci +20

    Being a reenactor I once owned a Brown Bess reproduction in .75 caliber. I fired live rounds at a man sized target to see the accuracy. I could consistently hit the target at 50 yards. Beyond that it progressively got harder. I would say it was probably a 50-50 chance at 100 yards. This would be compounded by powder fouling after 6 or 7 rounds and reloading time increased. Rogers Rangers of the American French and Indian war would drill their musket touch holes out so powder would get into the pan from the barrel with the frizzen closed and drop the ball down the barrel with no patch. These tactics greatly increased their firing speed and some of this may have been done at sea. As a side note to your excellent video, the longer the barrel, the better the powder burn, no unburned powder blowing out of the muzzle. THAT would contribute to bullet energy and accuracy. Just some practical info for you.

    • @dolsopolar
      @dolsopolar Před 3 měsíci

      was it really the smoothbore's fault or 100 yard was just naturally hard to shoot...? especially with gun that long and delay lock time with no sights, I don't think a rifling would help much

    • @les3449
      @les3449 Před 3 měsíci +1

      @@dolsopolar actually, rifling helps greatly. I also own a flintlock rifle made as they were in the 18th century. Its lock is also made like the originals and is as fast as a percussion lock. Rifling stabilizes the ball, making a flinter accurate up to even 300 yards. For that the sights are very necessary but a tight seal is necessary for accuracy on either a smooth bore or rifle. What I said about Rogers Rangers was true because they used the ball w/o patch at close in woods fighting.

  • @MugRoohBeerh5812
    @MugRoohBeerh5812 Před 2 lety +44

    Yo this channel deserves attention

  • @Rickestrela
    @Rickestrela Před rokem +16

    Fun enough , most of the modern Portuguese words for weapons are still the names from the flint lock era , a fusil is a single shot carabine , a carabina is a automatic , a escopeta , although less used it's a shotgun. Says a lot about our country weapons wise.

  • @kalavi-knightlygaming
    @kalavi-knightlygaming Před 2 lety +66

    As a fan of Flintlocks and Pistols I appreciate this video very much and in terms of history

  • @merafirewing6591
    @merafirewing6591 Před rokem +12

    My favourite is the blunderbuss. Because who wouldn't love a predecessor to the Shotgun.

  • @TheRiverPirate13
    @TheRiverPirate13 Před 2 lety +34

    Our krewe held a fund raising event at the local gun range about 3 years ago or so. Several of our pirates are certified with blackpowder weapons. I got a chance to fire a flintlock musket. I can say this for sure it was so much fun! A totally different experience than firing modern firearms! There is an element of danger firing them too! Lol! The re-enactors fire flintlocks and cannons for the Pirate Seale's Invasion of St Augustine (I did a video of it a few years ago). I only have replica flintlock pistols in my Pirate Armory! Very informative video mate!

    • @GoldandGunpowder
      @GoldandGunpowder  Před 2 lety +11

      Where I live you dont' need license for weapons produced before like 1890, so I'm looking into acquiring some shooties when funds allow .)

    • @TheRiverPirate13
      @TheRiverPirate13 Před 2 lety +1

      @@GoldandGunpowder Sounds similar to here with the gun laws. I’ll eventually invest in a firing flint lock. A couple months ago I bought my 1st fully forged sword that is period correct for 1660-1720.

    • @joeerickson516
      @joeerickson516 Před rokem +3

      "Arrgh!" 🏴‍☠️ ☠️ 🦜

    • @scumbaggo
      @scumbaggo Před 11 měsíci

      @@GoldandGunpowder In the US they sell a flintlock kit, including powder, shot, and wadding, for $150 at Walmart! No licenses required for muzzle loaders here. Can you buy a modern reproduction without license? Or does your piece have to actually be manufactured before that date?

  • @JohnSmith-nh2te
    @JohnSmith-nh2te Před 2 lety +36

    Love this channel, I wonder if any pirates ever wore some sort of armor?

    • @GoldandGunpowder
      @GoldandGunpowder  Před 2 lety +36

      Good question. Armor wasn't popular amongst them since they primarily fought enemies with guns that could easily penetrate the armor they had available. Captains during the period did however wear breastplates as an extra measure, so it's possible that some sea rovers or their commanders wore armor. I will cover armor more in upcoming videos.

    • @AlexanderWernerJr
      @AlexanderWernerJr Před rokem +5

      My take on this question would be: It depends on the time period. I assume that the further you go back, say the 16th century with guys like Francis Drake, soldiers on ships would still try to wear as much armor as possible (like helmets, cuirasses, chainmail, maybe even almost full plate) because early firearms would still be used alongside with bows and crossbows. At least if I was the captain of a 16th century ship, I would be happy to have lots of armored fighters to defend against boarding actions from other ships.

    • @harrisonlewis6853
      @harrisonlewis6853 Před rokem +4

      Think about it. As a pirate, you'll trying to board another's ship and wearing armor, one slip or miscalculation about distance from railing to railing meant a quicker sinking to Davies Jones Locker.

    • @seanfoltz7645
      @seanfoltz7645 Před 11 měsíci +1

      Problem with armor is the fact that you're surrounded by water and it only takes ten to twelve pounds worth of weight to neutralize the buoyancy of the average human. Wool was the common cloth back then and it soaks up water really nicely, meaning that falling into the water wearing wool clothing and a sturdy pair of leather boots - never mind weapons and any other gear strapped to you - means that you've already used up your ten to twelve pounds and are probably in the negatives while adding a steel breastplate or chainmail shirt means that you're going to sink like a stone.

  • @davidwong9230
    @davidwong9230 Před 2 lety +10

    At 1:23, that inside view of a rifled barrel reminds me of part of the opening sequence to the 007 movies. The name’s Sparrow. Jack Sparrow. Licensed to take all you can, and give nothing back 🏴‍☠️

    • @GoldandGunpowder
      @GoldandGunpowder  Před 2 lety +4

      There was a pirate called James Bonny, most known for being Anne Bonny's husband, and being cuckolded on several occasions

  • @oldgysgt
    @oldgysgt Před rokem +5

    Good job! It's refreshing to hear someone talk intelligently about early firearms. I'm a collector of firearms, both early and modern, and most self proclaimed "experts" know little about the true nature of early back powder firearms.

  • @thepoorhistorian2325
    @thepoorhistorian2325 Před rokem +5

    If I remember right, the wooden gunpowder holders on the bandolier were not called apostles until long after they went out of fashion, and were called so retroactively. I believe the period appropriate term is "charges"

  • @carbon4454
    @carbon4454 Před 9 měsíci +4

    In terms of the accuracy and range of a musket, most armies of the time period could engage targets up to 300 yards, but the commonly accepted best combat range was 100-150 yards

    • @les3449
      @les3449 Před 3 měsíci

      That's not entirely true. If you are speaking of rifled muskets, yes. Smooth bore muskets, no. In the 18th century the standing armies of the world had smooth bore muskets. I commented on my own experience with a Brown Bess reproduction about 8 months ago in this comment section. I encourage you to read it.

  • @HazmatUnit
    @HazmatUnit Před rokem +4

    I've heard from Brandon F that reloading via the pounding method could be quite dangerous and spitting the musket balls into a musket would be unwise after firing multipe shots.

  • @paddyret7968
    @paddyret7968 Před 2 lety +4

    loved the glowie joke

  • @fixervibii
    @fixervibii Před 2 lety +10

    just found this channel, this is definitely top tier content

  • @RabidPancakeDisorder
    @RabidPancakeDisorder Před 2 lety +17

    One of my favorite pirate weapons was actually a dagger or knife, perfect for dealing with friend or foe... we are pirates after all.

    • @GoldandGunpowder
      @GoldandGunpowder  Před 2 lety +11

      mostly useful as a tool, but yeah i like knives

    • @jonathanwells223
      @jonathanwells223 Před rokem +6

      If a gun isn’t drawn and you can reach your target within 6 seconds, you win if you have a knife and the other guy doesn’t know how to grapple

  • @Sinn0100
    @Sinn0100 Před rokem +22

    I am so happy we do not have to use these types of weapons any longer. I can't even imagine having to load one of these things just to fire one round and aiming them must have been a nightmare.
    Addendum- modern pistols might be typically used in close quarters but their effective range is 100 to 150 feet. Further, using the Weaver Stance with both hands and controlled breathing you can hold a pistol grip very steady.

    • @Sinn0100
      @Sinn0100 Před rokem +3

      What the Hell is wrong with me?! I forgot to mention...this was a fantastic video that taught me so much I did not know about weapons from the true era of piracy. Black Beard would look at these new so called pirates today with disgust and then he would keelhaul them. "Arrr you be stealing your last password matey. Now, over the ship ye go and be sure to watch fer the barnacles on yer way down..." subscribed.

    • @Sniper_XPEHOB
      @Sniper_XPEHOB Před rokem +1

      I think the very concept of firearms is just ridiculous. Imagine two opponents firing their pistols, missing and then just awkwardly staring at each other

    • @Sinn0100
      @Sinn0100 Před rokem +1

      @@Sniper_XPEHOB
      The concept of old percussion cap/ball and powder guns was ridiculous. Even when militaries and civilians moved to Manet Balls they were still very problematic. Thankfully, with the invention of the Lefaucheux Model 1854 Revolver that fired self-contained metallic cartridges firearms became very, very reliable and a fantastic tool everyday use. No more did one have to worry about rain soaking your powder and man did they become incredibly accurate.
      Now, handguns are very accurate making dueling a dangerous proposition. It's likely that both shooters would easily hit each other ending in a -Double Kill. I guess it could help by weeding the morons from our gene pool.

    • @seanfoltz7645
      @seanfoltz7645 Před 11 měsíci +2

      That's why you had a bayonet on the end of your musket or a brace of pistols so that you could fire several times.
      But since everyone suffered from the same limitation - it's not like you had a single shot musket while the other guy had an AR15 with a thirty round magazine - so you ducked down behind something solid, reloaded it and then fired again - rinse and repeat until it came down to melee combat or one side surrendered.

    • @les3449
      @les3449 Před 11 měsíci +1

      @@seanfoltz7645 correct! That is why the sword was still the primary weapon until the mid to late 19th century for soldiers and sailors. Even when the 6 shot cartridge revolver came out the sword was still in use by the military in Europe and the U.S.

  • @forsety2
    @forsety2 Před 9 měsíci +1

    3:55 the quality of that shot, the video shot, was incredible

  • @dalecarr5445
    @dalecarr5445 Před 2 lety +5

    Very well done!

  • @mrpyrate2662
    @mrpyrate2662 Před 2 lety +6

    Love your videos! Beautiful work!

  • @supremeflagship8965
    @supremeflagship8965 Před 2 lety +5

    Arrrrr! This content really shiver me timbers! You have earned a subscriber matey. Are there any plans making a video about pirate ship weapons (cannons, swivel guns etc)?

    • @GoldandGunpowder
      @GoldandGunpowder  Před 2 lety +2

      Thanks for the sub .) The artillery weapon is coming in the future and it will have a lot of juicy content like this one!

  • @vintagecapgunsatyourmomshouse

    I am noticing British rifleman and buccaneers both are tap loading of the muskets and working in pairs of shooting. I know the pirates are not having rifles, but tactics similar seeming.

  • @susannowak5544
    @susannowak5544 Před 10 měsíci

    I am sooo enjoying these videos, thank you!

  • @Alex-cw3rz
    @Alex-cw3rz Před rokem +1

    0:59 one other thing is cannon were normally double shotted and sometimes triple shotted meaning they had 2 or 3 cannon balls being fired at once making them more expensive

  • @stevebrownrocks6376
    @stevebrownrocks6376 Před rokem +1

    Another great informative & interesting video. I’m subbing right now! ✨👏🏼😎✨

  • @donaldwohlberg6043
    @donaldwohlberg6043 Před rokem

    Great video! Thanks for the information

  • @MGB-learning
    @MGB-learning Před 2 lety +1

    Another outstanding video.

  • @Arariel3
    @Arariel3 Před rokem

    love the information!

  • @bwk1124868
    @bwk1124868 Před měsícem

    Great info!

  • @googleuser9009
    @googleuser9009 Před 5 měsíci

    Nice video as usual

  • @ryanbekkers3423
    @ryanbekkers3423 Před 6 měsíci

    great video!

  • @setituptoblowitup
    @setituptoblowitup Před rokem +1

    Stay strapped PPL.

  • @ScythianGryphon
    @ScythianGryphon Před rokem +3

    Bows and crossbows are not often associated with pirates, but they were probably also used. Could be an interesting topic.

    • @killerzedboss
      @killerzedboss Před 11 měsíci +2

      Bows and crossbows were used by pirates but eventually fell out of favor during the golden age of piracy for a variety of reasons.

    • @lanequick7451
      @lanequick7451 Před 11 měsíci +4

      Francis Drake’s sailors carried a massive number of bows. However, the advantage in rate of fire is offset by, among other advantages of the musket, 1) the greater “stopping” force of being hit by a musket ball vs an arrow, 2) the inability of an arrow to penetrate light wooden structures such as the upper works of a ship, and 3) to be easily discharged at very close, crowded range such as in combat on deck or below deck.

  • @brookingsbeachcomber
    @brookingsbeachcomber Před 2 lety +3

    Golden Info my Pirate friend

  • @vertigq5126
    @vertigq5126 Před 11 měsíci

    Great vid

  • @heretoserve5023
    @heretoserve5023 Před rokem +2

    Please refer to the comments I made in your first video allowing me to convey my appreciation and gratitude for your videos!
    I am impressed by how comprehensive and well-presented what I have seen is so far! Even presenting some very obscure yet interesting points.
    Like I mentioned previously, I will not be able to comment on each video but thank you for each video I look forward to the series and applaud you for your efforts and meticulous attention to detail!
    0
    Your series is on auto-play and I am not going to be able to comment after each video, so again let me convey my appreciation and gratitude for your whole series!

  • @M29WeaselDriver
    @M29WeaselDriver Před 2 lety +1

    Interesting video!

  • @radraider8852
    @radraider8852 Před 2 lety +4

    OMG!!!!! Willem can you do in the future a video about a pirate by the name of Roberto Cofresí. He was a puertorican pirate that operated from 1791 to 1825. This really means a lot to me because I am from Puerto Rico. Also would love to know more of Puerto Rico’s role during, or around the period of the pirates and privateers.

    • @GoldandGunpowder
      @GoldandGunpowder  Před 2 lety

      At the moment I'm not going to cover Sea Roving outside the 1630-1730 period sadly

    • @radraider8852
      @radraider8852 Před 2 lety

      Of course, of course, I understand. I was just thinking of a suggestion for the later future on your next season. If it has to wait until next year I’m willing to wait.

    • @tyronedavis6209
      @tyronedavis6209 Před 2 lety

      You ever heard of Charles Gibbs

  • @rumpleforeskin5064
    @rumpleforeskin5064 Před 2 lety +1

    Great video, excellent thanks for the education/ entertainment

  • @stephenlarson9422
    @stephenlarson9422 Před rokem +2

    on square shot: this was common=ish in the Balkans. Austrian musketeers would poor extra lead into a trough to make a square bar and then coil that to make it easy to carry. if they ended up in a fight were they lacked round balls they'd cut of pieces of the bar and use that.

  • @jackrice2770
    @jackrice2770 Před rokem +2

    You're correct about impact not setting off gunpowder, but since the guns of the day spit a lot of flame, you could ignite powder by firing a flintlock gun close enough so the flame would ignite the powder. Of course, you would have to be fairly close, thus doing so would kill you. If you made a trail of powder and then ignited it, that would work. As long as you ran like hell! Note that fire arrows were used on more than one occasion to ignite a powder storage room, destroying the fortification and anyone nearby.

    • @GoldandGunpowder
      @GoldandGunpowder  Před rokem

      it is true, it's an effective way of igniting a powder train, likely happened a lot as an accident(sparks from a lock spilling into a magazine etc)

    • @jackrice2770
      @jackrice2770 Před rokem

      @@GoldandGunpowder Some Articles specified "No snapping of locks in the hold." I assume just for this reason. Makes you wonder if that rule came about after Morgan's disaster.

  • @rachdarastrix5251
    @rachdarastrix5251 Před 2 lety +6

    During the age of muskets a lot of people had with them a bayonet but were much more comfortable using a sword. So when out of ammo, they would fix bayonets, and throw the musket like a javelin before drawing their sword and charging.

  • @michaelthomas3209
    @michaelthomas3209 Před 2 lety +1

    👍 thank you

  • @erikthepirate8068
    @erikthepirate8068 Před 2 lety +1

    Cool! I love it!

  • @peterkemp8633
    @peterkemp8633 Před 5 měsíci

    Nice one

  • @arcadecaptainYT
    @arcadecaptainYT Před 8 měsíci

    11:57 nice lose yourself reference

  • @thatsnotoneofmeatsmanyuses1970

    Lots of modern idioms from these old firearms. "Half-cocked" for unprepared, and "flash in the pan" for a showy event with no lasting effect.

  • @Harry-bc2dn
    @Harry-bc2dn Před 4 měsíci

    Awesome video! I would love to know more about their relationship with arms dealers of the period

  • @scumbaggo
    @scumbaggo Před 11 měsíci

    What are a few of your favorite pirate movies? Im looking for realism, and not sure where to start. Figured id ask here. Great vid as always man, keep it up.

  • @FirelockGames
    @FirelockGames Před 2 lety +1

    Great weapon!

  • @derekdreke4990
    @derekdreke4990 Před 2 měsíci

    I managed to pick up a black powder pistol a long time ago and it was really quite a ride to play with I didn't have any ammo for it at first and I ended up wanting to shoot it so bad that I just use a grease fitting it's pretty hilarious! Actually a great weapon the fact that you can kind of make anything be your projectile is pretty handy ! Even the item that I was shooting was pretty accurate and trust me you would not want to be hit with it

  • @elhectos
    @elhectos Před 11 měsíci

    Good videos

  • @sharonrigs7999
    @sharonrigs7999 Před 11 měsíci

    ' Thump Loading ' a musket can be very dangerous after a couple shots if the ball gets stuck on fouling and not firmly compressed onto the powder like it's supposed to be.
    This will allow the build up of hot gas behind the ball and can blow up the musket

  • @PoDaBo
    @PoDaBo Před 8 měsíci

    Lol I love pirates so much! Just would want to get scurvy. That's my one and only dream in life

  • @gunsforevery1
    @gunsforevery1 Před 10 měsíci

    I cannot unsee the rooster.

  • @pirategamer9127
    @pirategamer9127 Před 2 lety +2

    May love pirates

  • @hyrulianhero9004
    @hyrulianhero9004 Před rokem +1

    Nice video!
    Did they ever use weapons, besides flintlocks and cutlasses? Like axes, or bows/arrows?

    • @GoldandGunpowder
      @GoldandGunpowder  Před rokem

      axes yes, bows/arrows no

    • @hyrulianhero9004
      @hyrulianhero9004 Před rokem +1

      ​@@GoldandGunpowder Really? Hmm...wonder why they never used the bow and arrow. In the right hands, they can be just as deadly as a musket or pistol. And it had some advantages over a flintlock pistol or musket.

    • @matthewwyman1581
      @matthewwyman1581 Před 6 měsíci

      @@hyrulianhero9004Took way too much training to use compared to a musket, which is why they were abandoned by warfare in the first place.

  • @nameynamename3758
    @nameynamename3758 Před 2 lety +5

    i feel like reloading would be frustrating, especially in the heat of battle. you're being blasted yet you have to do this slowish process only for it to miss.

    • @GoldandGunpowder
      @GoldandGunpowder  Před 2 lety +1

      combat is rarely pleasant. equipment is often clunky and annoying to deal with

    • @phredphlintstone6455
      @phredphlintstone6455 Před 2 lety

      Depending on the time and access, there is always the new York reload

    • @jonathanwells223
      @jonathanwells223 Před rokem

      Slow is smooth, smooth is fast. Or just carry a second pistol

    • @seanfoltz7645
      @seanfoltz7645 Před 11 měsíci

      I own a couple of muzzle loaders and the paper cartridges are a must if you're doing anything other than hunting or target shooting and even then, trying to pour a proper measure directly from the horn is a PITA.

  • @jeice13
    @jeice13 Před 6 měsíci

    Smoothbore bullets dont "bounce around the barrel" when firing, they just arent spin stabilized after they exit. Anything small enough to do that would be wasting powder because most of the expanding gas would go around the bullet instead of accelerating it

  • @seanfoltz7645
    @seanfoltz7645 Před 11 měsíci

    The hammer does not cause steel sparks, instead, it is the flint which is sparking since the steel is harder than flint.
    Trivia - the term "running off half-cocked" comes from folks forgetting to fully cock their guns before attacking and thus running into combat and being unable to fire until they realize they need to fully cock the weapon. This could be fatal since if you're depending on your firearm to discharge at the person rushing at you with a weapon or aiming their own gun at you and it doesn't fire because it's only at half-cock, they could hurt or kill you in the time it takes you to realize and then fully cock the weapon.
    The wheel-lock was never in favor because it was an expensive gun to manufacture, with it typically only being used by nobles and other wealthy individuals and normally just as a hunting rather than a combat weapon. In addition to being expensive, wheel-locks required a lot of maintenance and upkeep and could easily fail if they got dirty, something which would be inevitable on the battlefield or on a ship, never mind the risk of rust from the salt water and moist air.
    Three shots a minute for a flintlock was considered expert level shooting as that was the qualifying requirement for the Minutemen during the American Revolution.
    The six shot a minute trick was done by using smaller balls than normal, hence the reason they didn't need to be rammed home.
    Muskets were realistically accurate out to around 50 yards for individual targets while firing volleys - a bunch of people all firing together - into a crowd made them feasible out to a hundred yards or so but beyond that, it required a skilled shooter. It wasn't until the invention of rifling and the Minie Ball - a bullet which resembles our modern bullets - that aiming at an individual target at ranges of 100+ yards started to become realistic, with the Pennsylvania Long Rifles of the American Revolution regularly killing individual targets at 250 yards.
    Black powder smells like sulfur when fired, not charcoal, due to sulfur being one of the three components, the other two being charcoal and potassium nitrate, or salt peter as it was known back in the day.
    The bullets didn't burst due to imperfect metallurgy as there's nothing fancy about making lead bullets, especially round balls, while lead itself is extremely easy to process and purify thanks to its low melting point - you can melt lead on your stove top or any small fire which is capable of boiling water, heck, put a small piece of lead on a spoon and hold it over a candle long enough and it will melt. Instead, bullets would easily deform upon impact due to them being made of pure lead, which is extremely soft and thus far more likely to deform upon impact.
    Square bullets were unique to the Puckle gun, which was a muzzle loading version of the modern Gattling guns. The thought was that the square bullets made nastier wounds, so nasty in fact that it was declared they could not be fired at Christians and the Puckle gun was to be used exclusively against savages and Muslims.
    Nothing mythical about firing arrows from a musket - or more likely, a blunderbuss - as that was one of the first things people fired in addition to rocks when firearms first started being invented - whether or not wrapping cloth around it and causing it to set stuff on fire worked out is another matter.

  • @csj9619
    @csj9619 Před 6 měsíci

    Another hazard of being shot with a musket ball was fabric from clothing getting pushed into the wound channel causing infection if not extracted (usually with bare fingers).

  • @shadown5757
    @shadown5757 Před 6 měsíci

    The tactical flintlock might have been a rave back then with its tactical sights and laser 🤣🤣

  • @MaitreMark
    @MaitreMark Před 10 měsíci

    18:00 I have fired an arrow out of a musket. Worked well.

  • @sneakysimian
    @sneakysimian Před rokem +1

    I'd love to know more on Golden/Silver Age sharpshooters who fired from the rigging. The Buccaneering ages and the Buccaneer/Flibustiers had their go-to marksmen of the old Boucaniers, though I can never find any information on 18th century, Golden/Silver Era pirates who sniped from the fighting tops, aside from in your (great) videos. Did those who fought in the rigging/tops use Buccanner Guns/fowling pieces as the previous Buccaneers or did they just use typical muskets? Did they just designate any (well, capable) crewman as sharpshooter and send them up in the rigging or was it a specific role?

    • @GoldandGunpowder
      @GoldandGunpowder  Před rokem +2

      Fowling pieces were typically too low caliber to be good against anything other than birds. Buccaneer Guns were the go-to Sea Service musket until like 1730 or 1750, I think I said it in the video, so they would have been used in the 1710s/20s aswell. As for who was selected for the role, there are no written records of it, so it's highly unlikely that there were pirates specifically employed as snipers and given special pay or a sniper's badge or anything. Either they owned a musket and had a reputation for proficiency and were deployed based on that, or they volunteered based on their own desires - this is usually how roles are assigned in modern and vaguely similar organizations, based on my own experience. I will release a YT short on mast fighting and snipers in the future, featuring some 18th century paintings that depict this fighting style

    • @sneakysimian
      @sneakysimian Před rokem +1

      ​@@GoldandGunpowder Thanks for the reply. Wow, I didn't realise that Buccaneer Guns were so long-lived - they truly were legendary firearms!
      Yeah, I had a feeling that was the case for the role/job thing.
      I look forward to that YT Short :)

  • @jimsullender3435
    @jimsullender3435 Před rokem

    A patch was put around the lead ball to make them fit tight and shoot straighter. At close range 1/4 inch shot was used they called pea shot .

  • @waynemcauliffe2362
    @waynemcauliffe2362 Před 2 lety +3

    I`d love to fire one

  • @vintagecapgunsatyourmomshouse

    Some observe:
    -Sash carry progenitor of appendix carry.
    -Marty from POTC is carry mortar / granate launcher not blunderbuss. (Lego POTC epic!)
    -Some square bullet artillery and musket advert "for using against infidels"

  • @terranceaddison4599
    @terranceaddison4599 Před 9 měsíci

    12:26 That looks like a sawed off shotgun bazooka
    😨🤔

  • @itsgamz3693
    @itsgamz3693 Před měsícem

    "I’d never even held a blunderbuss afore. I’m like… “Well, I be needin’… I be needin’ some shot, too.” And the ol’ salt reached under the counter, put two boxes of shot on the counter. He said, “All right, matey. Which box do ye want?” I didn’t know. One box had a picture of some seagulls on it. The other box had a picture of some stags. I said, “Well, what’s that box with them seagulls?” He said, “Oh, that there’s swanshot.” And then he goes just like this, I’m not exaggerating, he goes, “That won’t kill a man.” He said, “It’ll just pepper him up nicely.” I said, “What the blazes? Pepper?” Ye know what it means to pepper a scallywag up? It means that when the shell explodes, hot BBs will shoot out of the barrel of the blunderbuss, not killing a scallywag, but penetrating their skin and shallow flesh. Boy, that’s gotta hurt. Hot BBs? “Aah! Aaaah!” Remember when Dick Cheney shot a scallywag in the face and he lived? That was swanshot. I said, “Well, what’s that box with the stag on it?” He goes, “Oh, that there is buckshot. That’ll put a hole in a goddamn galleon if ye wanted to. So, which box do ye want?” And he picked the one with the stag up and shook it. I thought he was trying to trick me. I was like, “Do ye have a box, uh, with a picture of a white landlubber trespassing on it? 'Cause… …that’s exactly the strength I’m looking for. But I didn’t know that if ye’re defending yer home with a blunderbuss, the formula dictates that ye’re supposed to buy both boxes. This was not a formula that I was familiar with. It goes like this: there’s six shots in a 12-gauge blunderbuss. So when ye load the gun, ye load it like this. First shot, swanshot. Next shot, buckshot. Swanshot, and then after that, gun’s Jamaican. Buckshot, buckshot, buckshot.”

  • @barruch777
    @barruch777 Před rokem

    love your videos! Did buccaneers use paper cartridges?

  • @shadowwaffle3329
    @shadowwaffle3329 Před 2 lety +1

    Pirates favorite arms are actually their right ones

    • @GoldandGunpowder
      @GoldandGunpowder  Před 2 lety +2

      no the left one, the right one they blew away in a gunpowder accident

  • @aniquinstark4347
    @aniquinstark4347 Před rokem

    That Terry Davis reference totally caught me off guard 😂

  • @Zlorthishen
    @Zlorthishen Před 11 měsíci

    sparky go boom!

  • @balazsvarga1823
    @balazsvarga1823 Před rokem

    Cia land lubbers glow and thus are easier to keelhaul on your ship, arrrgh. You can also be keepin one up the navigator's nest as a dasdardly spotlight, but they need a lot of strange white nose sugar to work!

  • @CmonDudes
    @CmonDudes Před rokem

    What movie footage did you use? that film looks good.

  • @clevermcgenericname891
    @clevermcgenericname891 Před 2 lety +2

    Maintaining a black powder gun is no joke. I destroyed the barrel of my hawken rifle by cleaning it improperly.

  • @MacLeodRoy
    @MacLeodRoy Před rokem

    What movie or show was playing in the background of this video @7:13 and numerous other times throughout?

  • @tacticalmanatee
    @tacticalmanatee Před 2 lety

    What is the pirate/naval movie whose clips are used in many of your videos? Looks like it's from the 1960s or 70s by the film quality. I want to check it out!
    I worked at a gun shop for a time and we had a collector sell a few of his older items through us. Among the guns we got from him was a blunderbuss with hilariously-flimsy spring-loaded spike bayonet (was made in the early 1800s), a Queen Anne pistol from 1810 or so in great shape, and a mystery muzzle-loading flintlock pistol from the late 1700's. All were well worn from use over their centuries of life, but they all still worked well and I've no doubt they'd have fired if we put new flints on them. I still kick myself for not buying the Queen Anne pistol for myself.

    • @GoldandGunpowder
      @GoldandGunpowder  Před 2 lety

      Treasure Island from 1990, featuring Charles Heston. Also called the Devil's Treasure
      en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treasure_Island_(1990_film)

  • @DAEDRICDUKE1
    @DAEDRICDUKE1 Před 2 lety +2

    You're a big guy

  • @tipsthepizzagirl6739
    @tipsthepizzagirl6739 Před rokem +1

    Just a casual terry davis joke

  • @toxictransgender5920
    @toxictransgender5920 Před 2 lety

    Idk about the evolution of the word, but the word “fusil” which originally referred to a musket, now generally means gun or firearm, so that’s kind of interesting

  • @Minorsurgeryhurt
    @Minorsurgeryhurt Před rokem

    There is only a single historical example of wooden cartouches, cartridge's or flasks being referred to as "Apostles" and it was done so in quoting a Spanish monk who was drunk and raving. There are no other examples of these flasks being called such and bandoleers could have between 10 to 24 flasks. 12 was common only because it matched the number of musket balls commonly produced from a 1 pound bar of lead. "Apostle" is a common modern contrivance among reenactors taken from a source that was actively mocking the man who used that term by pure chance.

  • @Bulecast12
    @Bulecast12 Před 2 lety +1

    I liked the vid before it even started

    • @GoldandGunpowder
      @GoldandGunpowder  Před 2 lety

      when I see guns, I like

    • @thedictationofallah
      @thedictationofallah Před 2 lety

      @@GoldandGunpowder you can add memes and funny stuff in your videos like oversimplified, bill wurtz, thebearwhisperer, sam onella academy and sciencephile the AI do. your channel will blow up in like 8 months.

  • @derpanzerjager9899
    @derpanzerjager9899 Před rokem

    what kind of melee weapon's did pirates use in some pictures i see axe's and stuff

  • @kimruchel3538
    @kimruchel3538 Před rokem

    I was so happy when I heard that the Spanish got the short end of the stick for once, instead of the Dutch.

  • @Jack-ff2zs
    @Jack-ff2zs Před 11 měsíci

    what is that film or series playing in the background

  • @chaoctic7278
    @chaoctic7278 Před rokem +1

    They glow in the dark at night I hit them with my car

  • @richardcormier4561
    @richardcormier4561 Před rokem

    I'm a black powder gun nut too

  • @jillatherton4660
    @jillatherton4660 Před 6 měsíci

    👍

  • @middleagedwhitebloke
    @middleagedwhitebloke Před 10 měsíci

    👍🏻

  • @vielplaysdagames2298
    @vielplaysdagames2298 Před rokem

    what is the show or movie that some of the clips are from

  • @MeatyCandy
    @MeatyCandy Před 11 měsíci

    i don't think that muskets often been used as bats, because of the thin wood of the buttstock, much likely they just used it as a spear more often. But hey in dire circumstances anithing goes i guess

  • @thedictationofallah
    @thedictationofallah Před rokem +1

    6:40 Spit-loading? That happened in Sharpe, but it is very criticised for that, because it was not historically accurate and was pointless too. Did it really happen with buccaneers?

    • @GoldandGunpowder
      @GoldandGunpowder  Před rokem

      speed-loading techniques described by buccaneer eyewitnesses never mentioned spitting, as the ball in its cartridge would fall down on its own

  • @velazquezarmouries
    @velazquezarmouries Před rokem

    The arrow story isn't that implausible

  • @nealmaxwell790
    @nealmaxwell790 Před rokem

    Any way to know what the movies those clips came from are?

    • @GoldandGunpowder
      @GoldandGunpowder  Před rokem

      Treasure Island 1990

    • @nealmaxwell790
      @nealmaxwell790 Před rokem

      @@GoldandGunpowder thank you! Ngl, the only 90s Treasure Island movie I was aware of was the Muppet version

  • @nathanieljohnston9102
    @nathanieljohnston9102 Před 2 lety

    What film was used as footage at 1:05?

  • @nelsonbushcraft964
    @nelsonbushcraft964 Před rokem +1

    What is that movie that keeps showing up in the video

  • @fatcontrollerproductions9910

    Just asking how did ships use mortars during the age of sail?

    • @GoldandGunpowder
      @GoldandGunpowder  Před 2 lety

      i'm not exactly sure, i've only read one account of a privateer using them, and thats when it blew up