Clockwork Basilisk - The Early Revolvers of Elisha Collier and Artemas Wheeler

Available now at:
www.headstamppublishing.com/co...
Clockwork Basilisk: The Early Revolvers of Elisha Collier & Artemas Wheeler reveals the first attempt to put a multi-shot firearm in the hands of the common soldier and sportsman. This novel device-patented in America in 1818 by Artemas Wheeler-was taken to England by his partner, Elisha Collier, to be trialed by the military shortly after the Napoleonic wars. Rejected by both the British and French militaries, the Collier revolver with its clockwork-advanced cylinder eventually found its place as a bespoke self-defense and hunting weapon.
Across two volumes and more than 600 pages, the book’s thirteen chapters trace the life of the design, including:
- 280 years of revolver design from the 1530s to the 1810s;
- Prototype phase of First Model manual- and clockwork-advance Collier designs;
- An explanation of the Patent, supported by digital cutaway drawings created by World of Guns;
- Military versions presented to the American, British, and French armies and navies;
- Bespoke Second Model flintlock Colliers produced for the gentry;
- The transition from hand-building to partial machine production;
- Third Model Collier-the first percussion revolver;
- The decoration of the Collier with symbolic motifs;
- Elisha Collier’s nine engineering patents;
- Collier’s design as exposed in Samuel Colt’s revolver lawsuits.
Seven appendices complement the text. They include a catalogue raisonné, timeline, broadsheets, the case label, the British Patent, parts lists, and key passages from the 1851-1852 Colt trials. An animated digital Collier has been created in cooperation with the digital project World of Guns, revealing its operation and disassembly.
Clockwork Basilisk sets a new standard for an academic firearms publication, combining rigorous original scholarship-supported by facsimile documents-with beautiful presentation and the very latest in digital object interactions. It is equally accessible to all generations of firearm enthusiasts. The book’s meticulous production is an even match for these rare weapons, of which fewer than 250 were made.
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[@Cats-TM]

Fun fact: it is not actually that weird for a firearms researcher to work at the Art Institute. There is actually a small collection on display of historical arms, including some firearms. My favourite being the Walking Stick-Hammer-Sword-Wheellock Pistol, it is just such a weird combination of things.

[@airborneace]

I was quite surprised to see their firearms collection on my visit

[@wreckingpress7080]

I was about to comment something similar but it seems you beat me to it. Chicago at institute has an amazing armory on display, so I can't say I was too surprised. Maybe I'll have to revisit it this summer.

[@tomwinterfishing9065]

Sounds very useful. Should be mandatory.

[@gierhedd75]

The Philadelphia Museum of Art has a nice armory section as well - including a real gunblade (of sorts). Still love the FF series...I'm a nerd.

[@williestyle35]

​@wreckingpress7080 they have shrunk the arms and armour display over the years. Art Institute of Chicago used have about a quarter of the entry hall dedicated to the armory display, still a great timeline on display now.

[@albinoshamrock]

Gotta love the short stop to point at the French Collier lol

[@RadioactiveLobster]

I love that the pictures of the authors/contributers is all face on shots and then there is Jonathan Ferguson, the keeper of firearms and artillery at the Royal Armouries Museum in the UK, which houses a collection of thousands of iconic weapons from throughout history.

[@danielsmullen3223]

Just got mine! For those who are interested, I have good news if you forgot to buy an Ex Libris (bookplate sticker for the inside cover to mark your ownership of the book) through the Kickstarter campaign. I spoke to James Rupley at Headstamp Publishing and he said that they will soon be available on the Headstamp website for purchase. I bought one for Pistols of the Warlords, Chassepot to FAMAS, and a couple others, but forgot to get one for Clockwork Basilisk -- I'm excited to get two, one for each book, when they get added to the Headstamp Publishing store. There will hopefully also be Ex Libris available for Arming the Dragon, Who Invented the Wheelgun, and the others soon too.

[@danielsmullen3223]

P.S. Hi Ian. I still am kicking myself for not being able to meet you back when you were out at the range with the MAC guys in Ontario years ago. I hope one day I'll be able to, I've been a fan of your work for many years.

[@JBNL1972]

Can we take a moment to appreciate Ian's choice of extremely snazzy jacket that so perfectly matches the covers of these books as well ?

[@nickcancro7927]

Fromthe Flashman series of novels, the hero/spy, Harry Flashman had a Collier revolver in the “Mountain of Light”. Thanks for filling in the details

[@tarmaque]

I'd hesitate to call Flashman a hero. Protagonist maybe, but not exactly a hero.

[@malkomalkavian]

@@tarmaque He is famously a decorated war hero. Is it a duel you are after?

[@tarmaque]

@@malkomalkavian He's a rouge and a coward, much like me. I'm a lover not a fighter.

[@SafetyProMalta]

Just got mine delivered!!

[@NRJenzenJones]

Enjoy!

[@peterlundberg5082]

I’m just beginning to digest my copies. Mr Nicholson deserves all appropriate praise for this amazing work. And beautiful presentation from Headstamp Publishing as always. They will certainly prove to be an invaluable asset to our heritage of arms.

[@NRJenzenJones]

Thank you for the kind words. Ben worked incredibly hard on this book, and it shows.

[@SuperSecretSquirell]

Got mine in the other day. Haven't had a chance to sit down and go through them, but just flipping through blew me away with the detail and (as usual) great photography.

[@NRJenzenJones]

Thank you for the kind words.

[@JenniferinIllinois]

Got my book a couple weeks ago. Another outstanding addition to my growing Headstamp library.

[@NRJenzenJones]

Enjoy the book!

[@flavio17021979]

I will strongly recommend that twins for any firearms hobbyst,collector and historian as well!It's great compilation of early firearms clockwork design 👍Many thx to whole team of writers, editors. Its already on mine shelf 👍

[@NRJenzenJones]

Thank you! We are all very proud of Clockwork Basilisk.

[@scottycheesecake]

That is such a cool name for a book

[@NRJenzenJones]

Thanks!

[@Alexandre.Savine]

I got those books. Great piece of gun history.

[@NRJenzenJones]

Thanks for the support!

[@justanothergunnerd8128]

I got my copy a week or two ago - what a fantastic book!

[@NRJenzenJones]

Thanks!

[@jonswanson7766]

The Art Institute of Chicago has a very good collection of arms and armor. They had on display the Zischargge (helmet) and Cuirass of the Emperor Ferdinand the Second. The steel, gilding, and brass work is fabulous. The pistols are among the finest I have ever seen including wheellock and ivory handled carved flintlocks.

[@gaveintothedarkness]

This is really cool and love how headstamp is able to bring to us books we'd other wise never know about. Really wish that we could have had the book about the ukrainian solder, but everyone bullied Ian to taking down the videos about it. Wonder if the guy is still out there somewhere.

[@storytimedavidcollins2897]

Ian Thank you very much for diving into so many different topics of guns and culture about them in a short video.

[@boingkster]

Nice one! Thanks as always for bringing us the cool bits and pieces from around the world Ian!

[@ErkCarlson]

Perfect timing, just got them in the mail yesterday

[@NRJenzenJones]

Enjoy!

[@marksaxby607]

If I could afford it, I'd buy all your books, the quality is remarkable as is the quality of the research and writing! (Can you send me a free copy for my glowing recommendation?) 😆

[@mikeycoolx]

Ty for going through the book

[@johngrandy51]

I got my copy today, now to determine the most appropriate single malt to pair with it.

[@NRJenzenJones]

Given the Transatlantic connections explored in the book, I would suggest something American *and* something British. There is an appropriate whisk(e)y cocktail in the cocktail list, too.

[@shawnbeckett1370]

Thank you for all of your work, always excellent

[@alanniederlitz8630]

always enjoy your videos

[@tmutant]

I got mine in the mail this weekend!

[@NRJenzenJones]

Enjoy!

[@armadagunshow]

Book review s always a good idea

[@wyattterrell]

Neeeeeeerrrrd!!!

[@Astroman1990]

Already on Chapter Two!

[@NRJenzenJones]

Hope you're loving it!

[@danajorgensen1358]

Are any of these books ever going to be available through a more reliable reseller like Amazon? After what happened with the absurd inability to ship when I had preordered the British bullpup and French service rifle books, I absolutely refuse to order direct from the company again.

[@-Master_Of_Disaster]

Ordered mine right now.

[@NRJenzenJones]

Thank you!

[@Dstev98141]

Ah but Guns and Chicago go together like Grilled cheese and Tomato Soup!

[@magna94us]

Like Italian beef and fresh cut French fries

[@williestyle35]

​@@magna94usPotillo's or Mister Beef?

[@kevinsullivan3448]

I received the "shipped' notice a couple of weeks ago and I'm still waiting with baited breath.

[@DevinMoorhead]

Early gang ready to read

[@jamesallred460]

Reporting for duty!

[@boingkster]

Helldivers Assemble!

[@theduke7539]

dammit ian, I cant be spending all my money on books that I very much need in my library

[@Henbot]

Interesting book you are reviewing or doing introductions . Feel like a lot more interesting history books with weapons especially ones that could have great detail illustrations and blue prints, proper reference books. Have you got a list of books or playlist of books on weapons?

[@jongustavsson5874]

Would definitely say it's less of a review and more of an advert seeing as Ian is one of the people behind Headstamp Publishing.

[@normtrooper4392]

I think I am only going to be able to afford one of these books in my lifetime and it sadly won't be this one.

[@RichardChave-xl9yw]

Can you do a video on dr john dee's revolver? You flashed past a picture of it at the beginning of the book and there's nothing about it on KZbin.

[@m.j.mahoney8905]

Do you mean John Dafte?

[@RichardChave-xl9yw]

@@m.j.mahoney8905 no, john dee the medieval alchemist and spy

[@jonathanferguson1211]

@@RichardChave-xl9yw As co-author of the chapter on pre-Collier revolvers I can assure you that there is no firearm in the book with any claimed link to Dr John Dee. I was fortunate to see his scrying mirror once at the British Library.

[@RichardChave-xl9yw]

@@jonathanferguson1211 my apologies. This is a misremembering on my part. The item I was referring to is the English snaphhaunce patronel of circa 1650. A true flintlock revolver 200 years ahead of Colt. Still well worth a video in its own right.

[@jonathanferguson1211]

@@RichardChave-xl9yw No problem. I'm not aware of an English example that early though - they're all Dutch or Germab. The Wadsworth Atheneum have a Dutch carbine that may be that early. I already covered our ca.1597 German carbine on the Armouries channel. We do have an English auto-rotating revolving pistol ca. 1680, which I've also covered previously..

[@heyheyhey1481]

We can still smell the pickle brine on the Collier guns.

[@jakraziel]

I'm working through my copy.

[@NRJenzenJones]

Enjoy!

[@DanielFrotscher]

I am reminded of my Monterey, CA find of a purple and lavender smoking jacket every time I see Ian wearing his. Unfortunately, the jacket did not get past my biceps. ::SIGH::

[@mikeycoolx]

Sorry, wrong video to comment this on, but what is a “proprietary magazine” im guessing its a magazine designed specifically for a certain gun like the G3, couldnt find much info on google, thank you

[@jonathanferguson1211]

Correct. It's a modern term for any firearm component/assembly that is designed for only one type and that has not since proliferated like the AR-15 or AK magazines have.

[@NRJenzenJones]

Came here to assist, only to find the eminent Mr Ferguson had beat me to it!

[@micuu1]

1:57 👍

[@Antigonus.]

Artemis Wheeler #NominativeDeterminism

[@dude126]

I find the cost of these Headstamp books prohibitive.

[@redcat9436]

Their quality is worth the cost.

[@kevindunwoody8101]

Ian said the last ten years like he wasnt doing videos 14 years ago.

[@pathowgate2544]

Yeah pass on this one as I have no interest in the subject matter. But nonetheless lovely to see another head stamp book

[@ZacLowing]

Did anyone ever make a gun with replaceable chambers? Having 6 or more loaded chambers on a belt instead of a circle in a cylinder kind of thing?

[@JanoTuotanto]

Yes they were quite old and common. The "chamber gun". See Bonaccorso manuscript page 82 for a fancy 1400's one

[@jonathanferguson1211]

King Henry VIII owned two guns with replaceable chambers. Joseph Belton designed a different system in the 1750s-70s with superimposed loads in a single replaceable chamber that was almost certainly designed to be issued to troops with a spare chamber. The only type to see significant use was what we now call the "Wrought Iron Breech Loader", a medieval artillery type with chambers that not only could be replaced, they had to be in order to reload.

[@kenibnanak5554]

Interesting. Surely S. Colt hadn't offered any bribes to the judges involved in the civil suit? LoL

[@VaronPlateando]

those names sound like harry potter notables to me... or maybe ppl. and artefacts to turn up in 'mason & dixon' by t. pynchon.

[@gierhedd75]

Lost in fires, eh? All of my Colliers as well as my other armes à feu were lost in "un horrible accident de bateau"😉....

[@ThisOldChris]

Really nice work. I wish there was a cheaper option like a PDF version. With exchange to CAD plus shipping it's too much for me.

[@ThisOldChris]

Looks like it was a Kickstarter project

[@NRJenzenJones]

It certainly was! Fantastic to see all the support for gun books.

[@johanvanbeek7138]

Money changed hands.

[@nowthenzen]

Skullduggery? How do you dugger a skull?

[@malkomalkavian]

With a skulldugger

[@jeffbetts4254]

Hey Ian you should be in western movies, you would be good.

[@robertunderdunkterwilliger2290]

Well I guess I just need to find a wife and have children, which I will sell to buy this book ...

[@illusory87]

🤌🤌🤌

[@mistergrendel32]

Wow, Ian is putting out the videos like they are going out of style. 🤔

[@korbendallas5318]

"Review"?