History of WWI Primer 120: Romanian Revolver 1915 Documentary

[@Operator8282]

The Romanian Revolver 1915: For when you ask the French to supply you with a wartime side arm, you get sent fewer then you asked for of a Spanish made copy of a Belgian knock-off pistol, cunningly crafted out of iron-fortefied butter. I suppose the plan was to use it long enough to get one of your opponents pistols, then disregard your issued sidearm.

[@briantanner1068]

Fire your 6 shots at an Austrian officer or machine-gunner and take his Steyr-Hahn.

[@catalinbadalan4463]

@@briantanner1068 Granted if you hit him.. :)

[@gunnarhassing5875]

I’d love it if every time Othias went to say something French it would just cut away to Ian saying it

[@ZGryphon]

Or just dub the audio as obviously as possible, like when they used to censor movies for showing on prime-time TV.

[@RaduB.]

I've seen the one from the Central Military Museum in Bucharest. I would have never guessed that it was so bad... Thank you for the interesting story and greetings from Romania!

[@wlewisiii]

In sword circles there are these things that are just horrifically bad ones out there. They are referred to as "Sword Like Objects". This is a "Revolver Like Object"

[@jelkel25]

Yes, in the outdoors community there are knife like objects you would be grateful to have in a survival situation, but not that grateful.

[@Matt_The_Hugenot]

So it's a four pound spadroon made of mild steel from an Indian workshop but at least its kind of sharp and the hilt feels OK?

[@ABrit-bt6ce]

I don't think Mark would let Mae near something likely to go bang in a bad way. Betcha this was fairly close to needing Mae at the end of a length of string.

[@EmyrDerfel]

In cycling, the equivalent is the Bicycle Shaped Object. BSOs are typically sub £200 products sold by supermarkets, toy shops, car parts stores and mail-order-type catalogue retailers. They are often "full-bounce BSOs", which look like they have suspension at both ends, but have no damping and inadequate pivots, so give a rougher ride that if the bike were rigid. Conveniently close to "BSA" who made plenty of good-enough-but-heavy bikes half a century ago.

[@PSUQDPICHQIEIWC]

"product-shaped object" is my term for describing modern products which have had all utility and functional merit painstakingly cost-engineered out of them and replaced with swoosh marks, heavy marketing, and extravagant packaging. I regard the term as the generalized form, though in many of these other forms that people mention, the failings of the item in question were never so deliberate.

[@Mildcat743]

C&Rsenal is how I figure out what day of the week it is anymore.

[@maewinchester2030]

Same here.

[@danschneider9921]

No idea this piece of ordnance existed. Again, a sasquatch and a pleasant but badass woman has educated me.

[@Hybris51129]

Sea Cowboy actually.

[@henryfondle725]

Romanian army: We need more revolvers drunk Spanish gunsmiths: We got you fam

[@vincentbaelde-millar670]

It may be that the hump at the back of the frame is actually necessary; The sharp corners on the inside of the frame will concentrate stress and it's entirely possible that they added material there after testing the guns and having the frames crack right there.

[@HereticalKitsune]

When even a Reichsrevolver and even a Liberator pistol are preferable...

[@DADeathinacan]

Eh, this thing doesent require a stick to reload and can actually hit things. Solong as you get one of these things brand new, and use it like a liberator...

[@DADeathinacan]

@cody sonnet ReichsRevolvers are rather nice, hence why I never mentioned them?

[@classifiedad1]

@@DADeathinacanAt least I know a Reichsrevolver will work and not blow up in my face. Which is a damn low bar to clear, but it does clear it, unlike the Romanian 1915 revolver.

[@611_hornet5]

Monday night. Or as C&Rsenal calls it "Tuesday Morning".

[@richardsveum8452]

and a Saturday night special to boot. The RG, SNS of the first world war.

[@dennisdenuto]

Tuesday arvo in Australia

[@charlesadams1721]

@@richardsveum8452: being around in the 1970s, and actually shot an RG revolver, along with several sheriffs deputies and police officers who were going through the whole mi-named "Saturday Night Special' thing; and these Spanish revolvers were universally loathed and were considered dangerous to shoot. BTW, the RG revolvers were markedly better, at least there were a few straight and intentionally parallel lines.

[@richardsveum8452]

@@charlesadams1721 Not in the one I had. LOL, I wanted to see just how bad it was, lead shaving P.O.S. timing was so far off that it might fire 3 rounds out of a cylinder. And it was like new in the box. Paid $25 for it in 1986.

[@charlesadams1721]

@@richardsveum8452to be fair the Spanish revolvers I've seen didn't seem to be concerned with such advanced things as lead shaving from an inconsistent cylinder. As to the RG's, there was a guy, a fairly advanced shooter with more than an extensive firearm collection who occasionally came to the range with some interesting and expensive guns (he was a very successful businessman), produced an RG revolver, a large frame model chambered in 44 magnum. It was shot in a Ransom rest with special adapters, using a long lanyard. Still, bystanders (including me) went and hung out on the backside of the concrete block range office or kinda congregated behind cars. Wonder of wonders, it didn' blow up. BTW, this gut was not shy about large handguns, he had the first Automag I eve saw, he bought and show a Coonan .357 mag and had a bolt-actioned handgun, I think a Wichita, in.308. (And I thought my XP-100 in .35 Remington was hot.)

[@charlesadams1721]

"Reeks of the sweat of desperation." Wonderful quote.

[@wingsofwrath4647]

Yup, we were THAT desperate for firearms. And then, in 1916, it got worse. Of course, this thing was only ever used by 2nd line troops, artillery, etc. We were desperate, not idiots. That being said, as a long time Romanian Reenactor, I would carry one as a holster filler.

[@catalinbadalan4463]

von Mackensen: (raises an eyebrow).

[@hawksnake3372]

C&Rsenal: uploads me 37 seconds later: nice

[@planescaped]

*BLAM* ....Nice hiss...

[@moosemaimer]

*_DO YOU HAVE ANY 8MM ORDNANCE_*

[@Siegerzkranz]

I NEED .32 FRENCH LONG

[@thetman0068]

_Oh mérde!_

[@GunnerAsch1]

@@Siegerzkranz Steinel and several other suppliers are now making ammo and then there is this.. www.starlinebrass.com/765-french-long/

.32 S&W long will probably work. Check out Bloke on the Range.

[@tarstakars]

@ what's funny is I have a 1943 Nagant Revolver, with the original ammunition it shoots high and to the left with 32 Smith & Wesson long it shoots exactly at the point of aim, I can actually put one bullet through the same hole as the next if I take my time.

[@IRMacGuyver]

I just want to say I really appreciate that you animated the dimple on the fired cases. This is the first time I noticed that.

[@Odin029]

Did I just hear uncircumcised brass? Or is it just really late

[@Cheesytarian]

@thekangarooboxer your comment went over my head, what?

[@donnkelley6823]

@thekangarooboxer You win the internet today...... Epic

[@jonrolfson1686]

Romanian ordnance supply sergeant: "These look vaguely Nagant. Why have these bloody Carcasă cu mânecă din alamă circumscrisă been issued?"

[@logitimate]

@Odin029 Well, it does have a foreskin.

[@logitimate]

@@Cheesytarian They're expressing opposition to non-consensual male genital cutting.

[@SirSaladhead]

Reichsrevolver be like: I'm just the worst! This thing: Hold my Mămăligă

[@michaelrizea3108]

XD corn meal

[@user-fb7or1wt3t]

Hold my paelia. It,s spanish.

[@thegreatwandering]

Hold my Noroc (romanian cheap beer)

[@michaelrizea3108]

@@thegreatwandering also means" cheers"

[@mariateresacappugi5306]

@Based Antimanele Spune umflatului americucci,sa nu ride revolver ROmanesc,ìi fac un cadou un Pistol Americacat,FP 45 Liberator........

[@baird329]

From hard no to hell no. That"s what I consider 5 no's in a row. In the first industrial war the least industrial countries were the most vulnerable.

[@mikeblair2594]

As a Scotsman I love Romanians. They fought like rabid weasels against the central powers until they had no choice but to end it or be wiped off the earth. UP ROMANIA!!!!!

[@michaelrizea3108]

They killed there own communist dictator...... the dictator realized that there was civil unrest and protesters started rioting.... so the dictator decided that he wanted to send the military to suppress them with gunfire..... but the military knocked out their own Commander went against their own communist government and started the Revolution 3 years before the official fall of communism....they won

[@leomarin2205]

@@michaelrizea3108 theat is no revolution.. it whas samthing else , if we showt the comander , thay desevr, all politician deserve a bulet ,sword ,, the time is not pass :)))

[@michaelrizea3108]

@@leomarin2205 ween you destroy your own government normally thats called a Revolution

[@EmyrDerfel]

If the military does it, it's a coup not a revolution.

[@leomarin2205]

@@michaelrizea3108 its called a lie .. to yang to know :)

[@canicheenrage]

The pronunciation is so utterly perfect, expecting Othais to develop a Belgian and french accent at will any time now.

[@Arbiter099]

I think a free French accent comes with every copy of From Chaspot to Famas

[@xgford94]

How... I mean how on god’s green earth did Mae get such a good group with that clustermuck of a trigger. And in NEWS just in Mae shoots 1MOA group @ 1000yards with a house brick

[@YouKnow257]

Oh I now have a lovely video to serenade me to sleep, wonderful work as always to you two and the team we don’t see.

[@romaniacountryball]

Respect,thanks and greetings from Romania

[@mikeblair2594]

I think you just made Ian's day. Anyone remember that mystery revolver he found recently? I think I just heard Ian smile.

[@ZGryphon]

I was actually taking a drink when Othais busted out "uncircumcised brass" with a completely straight face. The result was right out of a Merrie Melodies cartoon. Cleanup on Aisle 5.

[@phillipsullivan3400]

The first time I can remember seeing Mae smile, not from the pleasure of shooting but out of relief that it's over.

[@quiettime6871]

John Dillinger: "no thanks, I'll carve my own"

[@jsma9999]

Thank you Micheal For Weapon Loan.for Staic and this sound Like Primer 072: Italian Vetterli 1870/87/15 weapon Will Do more Damage to Shooter than Target.Great work on this Eps

[@crankysports]

It’s always entertaining Othias and Mae!

[@keithhollar4380]

One thing I didn't see you talk about was what the intervening 100 years has done to these revolvers.

[@Kumimono]

Those brochures with illustrations, just lovely.

[@allangibson8494]

So the conclusion was this was the WW1 equivalent of the WW2 Liberator pistol. A gun to get a better gun.

[@davidbrennan660]

Worse Revolver of the war, best video of Tuesday.

[@colewilson666]

This doesn't have anything to do with today's episod but since we've heard so much about the Swiss from other episodes, maybe we could have an episode over the Schmidt-Rubin series of rifles?

[@sawyere2496]

Cole Wilson good idea

[@stephenbond1990]

Nice to see the smaller nations getting some attention again, thanks again Othais, Mae and company.

[@OutsideTheTargetDemographic]

"There are no two parallel lines on this gun" Aww, man, that was savage.

[@DeadBaron]

Gotta love all the warnings about how dangerous this can be, then Mae shoots it anyway XD I trust their inspection of this piece, though.

[@McNubbys]

Come for the history...stay for Mae being in mortal danger lol🤣

[@thetman0068]

Are you _really_ a gun researcher if you're not missing at least _one_ digit?

[@McNubbys]

@@thetman0068 Fair point lol🤣

[@niklasaskham4208]

Good luck with the new show. We believe in you!

[@LtCmdrGordon]

When thinking of a master swordsman and a revolver, I always think of Indiana Jones.

[@droidlittle582]

Ouch! This pistol leaves a lot to be desired. Great show as always guys! Cheers and keep doing what your doing. Love it!!

[@waldemar.h6021]

Don't know why but I would love to have one of those Romanian 1915 revolvers....

[@MartinCHorowitz]

A safety on a revolver is important for High Shock situations like rappelling down a Mountain. I know some one who shot himself by accident while rappelling down a mountain, the gun went off in the holster when the trigger bounced.

[@greybayles7955]

Woah, i wouldve never guessed that was possible unless you were carrying a cocked revolver like a maniac. Thats kind of terrifying.

[@MartinCHorowitz]

@@greybayles7955 The shock from rappelling down a mountain caused the hammer to move enough to fire the bullet. Ironically it happened during US forest service training to do a mountain rescue.

[@cgunugc]

@@MartinCHorowitz This safety wouldn't prevent that. You'd need a hammer block safety, like any modern revolver or hammer-fired semiauto; however, this thing's safety only blocks the trigger from moving, letting the hammer roam free.

[@logitimate]

@@cgunugc That's. . . The opposite of true. *The* thing the safety on this gun does is to prevent the hammer from cocking.

[@cgunugc]

@@logitimate Sorry. You're correct; I was wrong. This doesn't have a hammer block safety, but the hammer doesn't "roam free" either. The safety blocks the hammer from coming back, but doesn't stop it going forward and impacting the cartridge if dropped on the hammer.

[@planescaped]

I'd pick a sword over it... but then again, I collect antiquated weapons and I'll take a sward anyday and to my detriment...

[@thetman0068]

_While you fools were meddling in Ibar, I was studying the blade!_

[@Matt_The_Hugenot]

The problem isn't taking the sword, it's paying for yet another one.

[@EmyrDerfel]

You can at least make lunch using a smaller blade. I wouldn't risk using this revolver to crack nuts.

[@virongreene5146]

The reason I don't go to bed at a decent hour. Thanks Othias 🤨

[@AndyAndy-bg7mv]

you both do a grand job thank you all xxx

[@jasonaustin4861]

OK, we need a "War Were Declared" t-shirt.

[@grumples1517]

Uncircumcised Brass... The concept can never be erased from my brain lmao

[@Charstring]

That Antonio Errasti advert at around the 11 minute mark mentions (I think) chamberings for “Vélo-dog, Lebel, Puppy, Browgrand y Browpetit”. So since I googled it now I know that the French had “Velo-dog” revolvers specifically designed for shooting dogs while riding bicycles. The French are weird sometimes.

[@logitimate]

Specifically, for defending yourself against dogs that are trying to attack you while you're riding a bicycle. Worth noting: The Velo-dog cartridge (and original Velo-dog revolver) was introduced by Galand in 1894, only 9 years after the development of the first human rabies vaccine, and *long* before the development of any rabies vaccine for dogs.

[@smgjerald]

I was very curious about this firearm, as a friend of my dad had one (he is gone now) in what he called pristine condition.. But only piece in his collection he never dared fire, was not worth the risk :-)

[@dylanmcgregor6496]

Great vid. I always learn a ton of new stuff from your channel.

[@stephenkissinger4434]

It's outside the scope of this series, but just for sheer amusement value we need to have Mae try out a USFA ZiP .22 and tell us if it's worse than this gun.

[@REALjohnmosesbrowning]

"uncircumcised brass" Thanks, Othais.

[@DavidBurnham]

When is the "Whistletaters and Suzy" channel going to launch?

[@plop55]

I would love to hear Mark's comments on this revolver when he first handled it, something like "wow, what a piece of sh@#"

[@foreskinius5654]

𝔘𝔫𝔠𝔦𝔯𝔠𝔲𝔪𝔠𝔦𝔰𝔢𝔡 𝔟𝔯𝔞𝔰𝔰

[@TheKingOfJordan1]

Your name and comment are gonna give me nightmares

[@logitimate]

I just wanna see video.

[@michaelmorley9363]

All through this episode, I'm hearing Lynyrd Skynyrd playing in my head: "Mister Saturday Night Special....."

[@cannonfodder4376]

Oh boy, I know what I will be watching tomorrow during lunch.

[@Lowlandlord]

St George is a knight (a man on a horse) killing a dragon. Bayard is a smart horse with riders. Similar images just kinda makes sense, and it's just a sorta common image across Europe, and NA to an extent? Just saying the similarity of the images don't necessarily imply much.

[@GoredonTheDestroyer]

So this is what it's like to be early to a Curio and Relic Aresenal video. How long until this is a curio and relic?

[@georgehilty3561]

at the start of the video i'm like "the worst gun ever? really? what about the reichsrevolver?" by the end of the video i'm thinking about the reichsrevolver rather fondly, lol.

[@dmanx500]

Just started the video with that exact though. Now I'm thinking.... Oh no

[@johnd2058]

20:00 = plz don't break the bang-container assembly by screwing it too tightly.

[@dmanx500]

@@johnd2058 jokes on you I headspaced my Martini Greener with headphone wire

[@mikeblair2594]

I would love to have one of those. To be able to take it apart piece by piece, create my own with modern materials! I'm on the lookout now.

[@guidor.4161]

Hope you have a shed and a metal file...you don't need a vise even. On second thought a kitchen table will do perfectly...

It would still suck. The problem is that the build quality was so bad that nobody ever realized that the design was crap.

[@EmyrDerfel]

It would be interesting to do a CAD workup and run Finite Element Analysis on it to see how little change you can make to the design and fabrication to end up with a serviceable weapon. Maybe there is a perfect size for the lump atop the frame, a perfect angle and size for that easily damaged cone, or maybe moving the hammer pivot 1mm gives you the nice weight you're looking for.

[@pilgrimm23]

"Uncircumcised Bras" ROFL

[@pilgrimm23]

By the Pricking of my thumb.....

[@mojavedesert-ul3jo]

Forebrass gives more velocity.

[@Mildcat743]

Fucking uncircumcised brass, you madlad Othais.

[@RonJohn63]

48:56 Honestly, though, how often did people (officers only?) discharge their handguns?

[@GR46404]

I have seen these guns and in fact own one of them, although I doubt is a Romanian one. Most of the people who have one think they are in .32-20. Mine actually has that stamped on it, although I don't know who stamped it, or when. A lot of people who have 8mm French revolvers seem to have bought them thinking they were in .32-20. The only other thing i can say is that the name "Crucero" is associated with quite a few of these guns; I believe mine is stamped with it. Oh yes - I suppose someone else has mentioned it, but there is a modern Romanian postage stamp showing a DAMASCENED revolver of this type. Apparently it was a gift from a Spanish gunmaker to the Romanian king.

[@blairbuskirk5460]

If I have learned one thing throughout this series of videos is how impactful the galand action was to revolver design, almost copied more than Browning designs, almost.

[@josephhowerton8878]

38/200 or 38 smith and wesson with 200 gr LRN is really fun to shoot with. Something like a giant slow moving 600 fps soft point out of my webley mkVI

[@cameronking5231]

So does this mean we are getting an Othias commercial shotgun development love child???

[@xthee_0nly_1x11]

Romanian Revolver Model 1915. Chambered in 8x27mmR French Ordnance. This is 100% the correct answer. Look it up.

[@danielnauta5689]

Romanian Revolver model 1915. Chambered in .45 acp, purchased from Colt during both world wars. 2010% true. Look it up.

[@DeadPollo]

seeing Mae shooting that thing was ore suspanseful than a Hitchcock's movie

[@blindrifleman5307]

Re-watching for the... fourth time because it's just so weirdly interesting. Also, bored as hell in quarantine, which is what spawned *this* little thought. I think this is the first gun I've ever seen that actually looks *diseased*. The POV shot for the "sight picture" made me do a triple-take because it's just that friggin' hideous and malformed. Something about the discoloration on the hammer and just how janky everything is has me thinking "oh, look, it's the firearm equivalent of a sick person".

[@DRNewcomb]

OK, cross that one off my to-buy list.

[@MisterOcclusion]

“Heavy is good. Heavy is reliable. If it does not work you can always hit him with it” - Boris the Blade

[@snowflakemelter1172]

The barrel screw is a threaded key and a perfectly sound engineering practice, the barrel doesn't need to be torque loaded. As for the steel used it may be that they cut back on case hardening and left it soft. You can see the hammer is case hardened.

[@jamesjohnson4159]

Barrels are never case hardened. That’s a terrible idea. A barrel has to flex.

[@MayheM_72]

This was an interesting episode, and kind of a letdown. NOT the sho, as you guys always have great content. The letdown was the fact that a "modern" revolver (single/double action, swing out cylinder) was such a horrible gun. But, as you pointed out, if I was a Romanian soldier, I would likely take it, and care for it as much as possible, because the next option was a sharp stick! Keep up the great work!

[@chooseyouhandle]

Can't wait for the Bergmann episode

[@kornaktanker7633]

this like the sort of gun you use until you have shot someone and taken their gun.

[@jiminmaine4639]

So...you wouldn't recommend using +P ammo it this revolver?

[@adaw2d3222]

Sounds like you upped the volume. Nice!

[@georgegordonbrown9522]

Great background music.

[@kurtb2522]

St George Logo? I have a post WWII Czech 98K Mauser made for Ethiopia with the same little gizmo on the stock. Go figure.

[@charleykeenan6171]

The "Minute of Mae" episode brought me here to see the details..

[@andytpatt]

🎵 Look at my freeench, my french is amazing. Give it a lic...🎵

[@88porpoise]

50:30 Just picture the scene from Raiders...

[@IndianaJoe3]

For those of you that have never watched the movie... kzbin.info/www/bejne/oYKuo6B6gducoNE

[@timblack6422]

While Mae was loading the revolver, my closed caption said (cricket’s rustling in an old coin purse.). Bwahahahahahaha!😂😂😂😂

[@НиколайКокорин-к5я]

I know for sure where i saw this particular emblem before (7:05). Its part of Moscow city emblem.

[@SpacePatrollerLaser]

I'd love to see what would happen if Ian got his hands on this

[@mrking7342]

That gun is terrifying when may shoots it. Terrible trigger pulls too. Hoping she goes into why in another... 20 minutes. XD

[@carlcarlton764]

Ok, on the one hand it is just another Spanish copy but on the other, holy he'll was that entertaining. Keep up the good work. :)

[@jackdina7940]

I know your small arms series is your most popular, but I have seen you do machine guns in the past, and was wondering if you have anything on the parabellum mg14/17 machine gun. This one actually is a WWI gun unlike my last request.

[@АлександрДрагович-ч2г]

Great Thank you for video! Like I understand some revolver which worse than Nagant 1895 is exist?

[@pipss2669]

I don't want to be mean, but my highlight in any gun episode is the last scene of the short "War were declared" clip. Allways something different :) (BTW, the Episodes are great !!! )

[@ahoneyman]

So it's the Eibar version of a Saturday Night Special.

[@nirfz]

This thing is strange. I mean back in engineering school at the age of 14 we had to make a paperweight out of steel. It was just to learn sawing, filing and messuring with hand tools ("metal working unplugged"). And all the measurements, every surface, angle and line was checked on beeing flat and straight for your grade on that workpiece. (filing a flat surface so the paperweight doesn't rock on a flat surface but also doesn't get concave isn't that easy. Or free hand filing a 45° angled phase) None of our workpieces looked as crude as this thing (and i would bet we had less experience and not more time to do it). And yet, it was made by professionals not by tennage students and it was made to fire live rounds, not just to keep paper from beeing blown abway by a breeze... Having to fire one with real ammo would kinf od scare the sh... out of me.

[@Major_Bomber187]

This is off topic, but was the Schmidt-Rubin 1889/1911used in WW1 in any country?

[@megachris1112]

It's a last ditch gun.

[@thurin84]

the last ditch called and it said "fuck no dude"

[@jameswhitaker1324]

Does a revolver with a 39 pound da trigger really need a safety? Also, how do you tell the difference between the safety and the da trigger pull? Also, it looks like they did those offset sites so that you could use them even with the scope mounted.

[@AM-hf9kk]

Wow... watching Mae struggle with the trigger on this thing... People anymore complain about a 10 lb trigger. Was this about 50 lb??

[@worldtraveler930]

So now we know just how the Chinese / Kyber Pass mystery pistol gunsmith learned their craft. 😄