History Primer 165: Belgian Nagant 1877 Documentary

[@Frank-bc8gg]

Going from this to the FN1900 is hands down the wildest leap I've seen thus far.

[@prjndigo]

it'd be roughly equivalent to the shift from the Brown Bess to the Pattern 1839... Imagine for the moment the ease of handling the percussion cap had over having to not only keep the Bess out-of-the-weather but have your pan load always at hand. The change down to a single powder, single measure and being able to use a spent cap to keep your fresh load ready-to-go for hours on end without worrying about condensation is the incredible advance that percussion brings. Think about the difference in how precise you needed to be in grip from this pistol to the 1900 tho. Its from a drunk holding a mug almost to hand-carving levels of care.

[@the_major]

The Germans jumping from the Reichsrevolver M1879 to the Lugar P08 comes to mind.

[@brittakriep2938]

@@the_major: From M 83 to Parabellum/ Luger pistol. In 1892 ( 1893?) highest real policeman of Kingdom Prussia hold a speech in prussian Parlament. ( Prussia was largest german state then). Like Great Brittain, most german policemen had no firearm ( only a short saber/ hanger) , so fighting criminals with firearms was difficult. The result: Up to 1912 every german policeman got a Pistole/ Revolver. Civilians now needed a ,Waffenschein' ( ccw licence) and in 1900s pepper cartridges blankguns appeared. Since 2008 you need a licence fpr blankguns. As far as, i know, up to 1919 some rural bavarian policemen still cyrfied 1869 singleshot pistol

[@Frank-bc8gg]

@@brittakriep2938 Fascinating, were revolvers and semi autos a separate category or did they just get it handed down and were fine with a single shot pistol because they didn't see themselves using it? Were rifles in the same boat?

[@Edax_Royeaux]

The Japanese jumped from the Arquebus to the bolt action Chassepot after Commodore Perry opened up Japan.

[@deepbludreams]

the fact the single action army is 4 years OLDER than this is insane.

[@MandoWookie]

They would have been better served by cartridge converted surplus percussion revolvers.

[@morriganmhor5078]

Colt SAA was and is obscure. Any time I´ll go for a nice SW American or Schofield.

[@Adam31778]

The s&w no. 3 dates back to 1870 and ejects all 6 rounds simultaneously.

[@genericpersonx333]

@@MandoWookie Mind, these things are virtually indestructible, almost impossible to use incorrectly, and don't have chain-fires to speak of. For gendarmes, whose main weapon was a modern carbine, the pistols were really not that important beyond an emergency personal defense weapon at close range, which could be served fine by these things. Two certain shots, rifled barrels, no more complicated to load than the muzzle-loaded weapons it replaced, and very durable seems adequate for a second-line paramilitary force to me.

[@akatripclaymore.9679]

@@Adam31778 The S&W # 1 & 2 ejected all 7 in The #1 in .22 short rimfire or 5?? In the # 2 31 rimfire produced in 1863. The barrel & cylinder flipped upside down like the Remington 2 shot o/u Derringer. What is amazing is the .22 short rimfire is still in use today.

[@crackshot4797]

That bore axis is.... impressive.

[@dmg4415]

Good for a 1st crotch shot and the second quick follow up sjot to the bigger head.

[@jono3952]

And why is it set 45 degrees diagonally up from the grip?

[@mikepette4422]

the very definition of bore axis

[@tjfritts9013]

I think everyone's wrists and thumbs were glad it was chambered in a mousefart cartridge (Mousefartridge?) That'd be a handful if it were chambered in .45 Colt pushing a 250 grainer ahead of 40 grains of holy black. She'd be a bit of a torquey darlin' and heaven help you if the recoil caused some trigger bounce so you send one then soon after another. Somebody does something you want to show approval for with a "thumb's up"? Well, take your thumb out of your pocket and hold it up.

[@Tunkkis]

@@jono3952 Lockwork, I'd guess.

[@jessebraughler8594]

Othias putting the gun on a table and just laughing for a solid minute is the greatest amount of joy I've experienced all week.

[@nebiyuesayas5600]

11:23 A year later and watching this for the first time, yes it is.

[@larry648]

Mae’s hand was shaking with that heavy trigger pull. Between the trigger and the bore axis, I’m impressed she hit as well as she did, nice shooting.

[@ZGryphon]

"Émile, this is a disaster. The gendarmes are complaining that the spring in our new pistol is so stiff, they cannot hit anything. What shall we do?" "Simple, Léon. We'll add a second barrel. The tension on the second hammer will be much less, so they'll hit with their follow-up shot." "You're a genius, my brother."

[@larry648]

@@ZGryphon genius is a strong word. I’m more like firearms competent 😅

[@wookie_wagen]

I lost it when Othais said "then you yell ATF"

[@nobodyyouknow1065]

We have Howdah pistol at home.

[@geetskeet5411]

Anything can be Howdah pistol if you're smart enough.

[@Herintruththelies]

Do you go and shoot your Howdah after eating clam chowdah?

[@guaporeturns9472]

@@geetskeet5411 not really but whatever

[@CooperHudgins]

The Howdah pistol at home:

[@underthunder529]

This literally is a Howdah pistol?

[@enriquekahn9405]

Can I just say this is one of the most interesting guns you've done. I really only joined for the WW1 stuff but this kind of weirdness has rapidly become my favorite content from you guys.

[@brittakriep2938]

Some rural bavarian policemen used until 1919 a ,Werder' single shot pistol.

[@danielkorladis7869]

yeah, I love seeing these really odd designs

[@rmod42]

Looking back on the past figuring out "How to Gun" is one of my favourite things about this show. Sure it looks stupid now but you always show how it made sense in context

[@chadkhl1690]

Perk of living in Yurop: don't need to sacrifice sleep to catch the latest C&Rsenal release

[@mikepette4422]

well we can see it on the west coast at a reasonable hour too

[@Nejiranu]

I'm in the Midwest and I'm fine... I also work second shift...

[@xboxnube]

41:11 love the subtlety of the jab there Othias 🤣

[@rush8531]

I love the choose your own adeventure Belgian D&D roleplay at the end there. Really weird boomerang gun, thanks for the wacky episode!

[@KoroWerks]

The gun is extra long handled so you can wrap the reins while you hunt your wolves. The saber same deal, leather wrist strap around the left hand and you use the momentum of your horse charge to behead both drunks.

[@TheB3e3]

Around the 20:00 mark, I think Mae's right. (Other than the fact it isn't a revolver) this thing was purpose-built for mounted cavalry: some guy bouncing along on a horse, wearing heavy riding gloves, trying to draw it from a full-flap holster. So, there's a long but skinny grip ending in a big chonky lanyard loop.

[@brittakriep2938]

The pistol was intended for belgian paramilitary Police, in Frech part called Gendarmerie, in flemmish part Rikswacht then.

[@inactiveaccount8851]

Best part of being a patron is being able to watch these twice as they come up

[@CeltKnight]

After a long career in law enforcement (albeit in the southern USA), I can pretty much gurantee you the overruling reason for chosing ANYTHING came down to budget. The cheapest option that will work (and new enough to maybe not destroy morale and garner some buy-in) gets the contract. Great video, as always.

[@dscrappygolani7981]

The best episode ever! 🤣🤣🤣 And full marks to May for shooting a random dog when confronted with a wolf ... like, what happened there ...🤣

[@vicarus2728]

"Ah, the new C&Rsenal video. And on the Belgian Nagant. Strange, i thought that they alrea- HOLY SMOKE! WHAT THE HELL IS THA-" And that's my full reaction on the thumbnail finally loading and showing us this... let's just say, beauty.

[@robertrobert7924]

As a kid in the 1950s, I remember toy cap guns that resembled this double barreled gun as well as the over under gun you mentioned. They were both in muzzle loading percussion styles.

[@r2crowseye]

Mae's reaction to 'horsey play' gets me every time. 🤣🤣🤣

[@miguelangeldelangelbarrios1410]

Sin duda este canal ha presentado las armas de fuego más raras e inusuales

[@CooperHudgins]

Them and Forgotten Weapons

[@boingkster]

The 'giraffe horn' style hammers remind me a lot of the Liege-manufactured 410 shotguns from pre-WWI, often known as 'poachers guns'. Really cool stuff, love your efforts on this one!

[@mahobgood30]

That bore axis is insane

[@Cheesytarian]

It's a double barrel version of count Dooku lightsaber.

[@Dunkopf]

Oh good one

[@lamnaa]

Imagine someone with one of these getting in a gunfight with someone with a Reichsrevolver.

[@iangreenhalgh9280]

Bah, you can keep the Reichsrevolver, it's a .577 Tranter you want...

[@eric21881]

They may both die from laughter

[@brittakriep2938]

In time between 1871 and 1883 Bavarian Army used single shot Werder pistol. Some rural bavarian policemen until 1919.

[@florianakuznetova]

Yes! More strange guns that I end up really liking :) I think I will start supporting you as I appreciate your work and you have access in US to much I don't have access to and you cover it in a formal, documentary style rather than just shooting at junk for a few minutes

[@leslieballinger9625]

Thanks!

[@wangl601]

Wonderful, just wonderful!!!

[@davitdavid7165]

It looks so wierd! If I tried drawing a double barrel and it looked like that from the side, I would try again.

[@theminnesotan592]

Dad can I get a double barrel shotgun? No we have double barrel at home. Double barrel at home:

[@tjfritts9013]

The guy who asked for a sawed-off Side by Side for up-close work on the battlefield is not pleased with the military humor.

[@desertdude540]

More like "Dad, can we get a howdah pistol?"

[@taitonaito]

Now I know what ATF back in 1877 used. An Albini-Braendlin carbine.

[@keithzontini2643]

this is what I would want to use in a duel

[@andrewromig9753]

A LOTTA people would get shot in the foot. 😄

[@ltqltq]

When I saw the thumbnail I thought this episode was about a shotgun. Instead we got the weirdest pistol with a stupid bore axis. It's great!

[@charlesashworth6805]

This is a wonderfully absurd handgun, I love it

[@stephenwoods4118]

Saber in right hand, pistol in left. Your sabre is your primary weapon because it never runs out of Ammo.

[@stephenbond1990]

While I was watching May shot this thing, all I could think was that it looked like a sawn off break action shotgun that was open. This is so weird, even knowing that rolling block pistols were a thing in other countries at this point. I think I'd rather have the Mauser single shot pistol of the same year though.

[@morriganmhor5078]

And that at the time of 2-4 shot houdah pistols...

[@sawyere2496]

Other rolling block pistols aren’t as weirdly shaped, I have no idea what’s up with the Belgians.

[@mustafaabdelwahab1478]

This is going to be my new concealed carry

[@charlesperry1051]

That pistol is beautifully impractical. Love it.

[@Gojiro7]

good god, did the man who invented this gun have a mangled wrist?!? the flip up from firing that thing must be insane with that high a bore axis

[@_snaiio5492]

Gorgeously odd! Thanks guys, great video :) Love it!

[@alexanderstordeur9434]

Looks like a side by side version of one of those 6mm single shot Flowbert pistols.

[@PLAYINGAROUND]

Another bi-weekly giggle video. Great stuff as usual! Giggle & Learn With Othais & Mae.

[@jamarti3]

I think someone was impressed by seeing a banana for the first time and thought it would make a great weapon shape! 😂

[@jameskazd9951]

good lord the barrels are like 4 inches above the hand. good thing it was chambered in something pretty light. imagine this in a magnum, absolute wrist breaker

[@Zap_R0sdower]

This was the best Mae discussion yet

[@imissyoujimmy]

Cool gun. I havent watched in a while and I gotta say I love Mae's gray streak

[@lafeelabriel]

That'd be that odd ball double barrelled pistol version of the Remington Rolling Block you referred to before I take it. What a..odd gun. Absolute epitome of steampunk glory, but odd.

[@davidkohler7454]

You guys have my dream job. I've been collecting for 25 years and have had a pretty nice selection. I do have a couple really nice 1878 Nagant Revolvers. Wich I do like to shoot a lot. But the 1877 I've never had the pleasure. You guys Rock.

[@michaelmorley7719]

This thing is completely steampunk. "Jules Verne: the Early Years."

[@jonrolfson1686]

The Belgian Double-Tap!

[@stevenwestswanson9263]

Amazing Video!

[@wabbitslay3r]

Get it to Ian, I would love to see it in a BUG/ 2 gun match.

[@samuelsim7457]

Is there any relation between the 9.4mm cartridge fired by this pistol and the Dutch 9.4mm revolver cartridge?

[@ianumeric]

I like the way you've changed the post-credits sequence.

[@davidbrennan660]

When Mae needs that “additional” barrel.

[@OntarioBearHunter]

Saw one at auction a few years ago. Wish I'd had the extra bucks to buy it at the time.

[@kevlarandchrome]

I love that ridiculous thing. I really want one of the 12 franc refinished ones to display in a fine glass box underneath my framed Kevin poster, I think it would complement it nicely.

[@kanisornist]

nice came when the video is realeased some seconds ago

[@SonOfTheDawn515]

Revolver tech has existed for decades and they build a double barrel pistol. Man, they were so fucking smart.

[@johngray3860]

Ah! The standard sidearm for the Elbonian Defense Forces!

[@erroneous6947]

That seems likely. A brace of two pistols for the elbonian cavalry.

[@L.Pondera]

"Yell ATF and close the range". Noted.

[@chpet1655]

My fav episode in ages

[@peten6691]

I feel like we need a Nagant 1877/banana tshirt next year.

[@scottmaddow7879]

I have a copy of a Remington Rolling Block pistol. It is a very accurate and versatile single shot. I can see the attraction and simplicity of a double gun -- for sporting use. But as a military arm. Prison guards, support troops, etc. Only. Even at it's time. But the US Navy had some single shot Remington pistols well into revolver time.

[@PajamaPantsStudios]

“This gun is crap, I love it” - Mae Winchester

[@timewave02012]

10.4"? I'm impressed.

[@litgeek6391]

I think this is the wildest Maeversation I've ever seen

[@tjfritts9013]

When I watch these presentations my base thought is same; how would this weapon work in the hands of the basic "not really bright enough to think of one lie to avoid conscription" recruit. It's always an interesting thought experiment about firearm safety in design. I seriously wonder how many, when trying to let the hammers down easy to holster loaded, forgot or didn't recognize on day one which hammer was "tied to the trigger". Holding firmly the left hammer to ease it down, and taking up the trigger...thus firing right barrel without intending to because right hammer is the one tied to the trigger for the first yeehaw. Paired with iffy "city boy never really handled a gun" muzzle control, bad day for somebody's legs. It's a clever "novel for novelty sake" design, but man oh man, I can see how it's cutesy enough to be problematic for the kid who has minimal handling experience and was handed the piece, or the old wealthy guy who was given one and a rank as thanks for financial contributions. "Rabbit Ears" designs, universally, have this problem. Gotta be smarter than the gun you're holding, and oftentimes a recruit might not fit the bill.

[@onkelmicke9670]

A double Rolling Block, awesome. Have you done the. 50 cal navy Rolling Block pistol?

[@kittycatpilot]

Thank you, Othias. That was the dumbest, most enjoyable hypothetical. My condolences to Mae who had to go along with it.

[@maewinchester2030]

He loves springing those on me too.

[@ema_rem]

For taking care of very small cacodemons.

[@paleoph6168]

The Nagant brothers' first successful gun.

[@peten6691]

That grip angle is crazy. Very interesting.

[@xgford94]

22:34 serial number on the gun is 1100, literally halfway

[@Dominic1962]

Looks like a Howdah pistol for taking out particularly feisty tomcats.

[@steambub]

I would like to see a modern reproduction of this pistol, but with 410/45 ammo.

[@abohachuk4765]

Derringers sort of fill that role

[@Tunkkis]

@@abohachuk4765 Sure, but it's not as ridiculous and funny.

[@mattjohnson7775]

Yall need a table for Mae's shooting segments, that way she doesn't have to fish the rounds out of her pocket. I'd be happy to send yall one!

[@XaleManix]

Giving new meaning to the phrase 'Shoot twice and go home'

[@jasonz7788]

Awesome thanks 👍

[@keithplymale2374]

This looks so cool I would like to have a modern one in .38 spl. Made with modern materials it should be able to handle the pressures. You can definitely imagine the reaction when you pulled this thing out at a range.

[@williamcampbell6750]

Fun Fact: Remington made a rolling block pistol prior to the Nagant’s version. Designated the 1871 Army model, it was intended to be issued in pairs to cavalry troopers. Amazingly, the Army decided to go with the Colt SAA instead.

[@alun7006]

What a glorious, ludicrous piece. I feel like this would make more sense as a Hunter's backup gun, chambered for a monster ~.50 or bigger cartridge. A couple of rapid shots for dispatching a dangerous wounded animal or similar.

[@tenofprime]

So we found a pistol the Reichsrevolver beats in confidence, but would a stick win in this contest?

[@Bacteriophagebs]

Spoiler: Mae says: Gun Othais says: Stick (well, saber)

[@Frank-bc8gg]

It is the stick

[@jimvandemoter6961]

I just found this video 11 days after you posted it. YT didn't notify me of it. Come on, You Tube.

[@colbunkmust]

Mae, you wouldn't be able to use the saber in the left hand, it's carried on the left side, with the intention of being drawn with the right hand as the saber is too long to be drawn from the same side; and the type of sabers used by gendarmes were based off of a French 3-bar hilt that weren't designed to offer ambidextrous hand protection so your hand won't be as well protected if you use it in the left. Plus, if you were right handed you'd have trained to fight right handed with your sword, at least most of the time, thereby fighting with the left would put you at a distinct disadvantage. In answering Othais's "ridiculous scenario", I'd agree with using the carbine on the wolf, but I'd keep the pistol in its holster draw my saber and body-check the drunks with the horse. 800+ lbs of horse flesh + the rider moving at speed shouldn't be underestimated.

[@schmit6576]

I’m gonna be real, I did not expect the double rolling block handgun/boomerang.

[@spookyspenders88]

I love this goofy thing.

[@romgl4513]

The Swiss gendarmerie called, they want you to train the recruits for exactly that situation.

[@chrissouthgate4554]

Carbine then Saber. The Saber is more intimidating so you might not have to actually hit anyone.

[@Lomi311]

The high bore axis and weird angle from breach to grip in the thumbnail had me thinking break-open shotgun for a second.

[@philipdepalma4672]

Are you going to do an episode on the British 4 barrel Lancaster pistol?

[@alexhemsath6235]

Before this episode, if I'd seen this in a video game, I would have assumed it was the result of a game designer's fever dream.

[@dennisshank2715]

If I was a officer and they told me " Here is your sidearm ", I would reply " Here is my resignation ".

[@tomhenry897]

Your old sidearm only had one barrel

[@Paulnikon]

Pretty sure they used to sell these at Pirates of the Caribbean at Disney World.

[@0BAAC0]

"And then you yell ATF..." Gold.

[@ifga16]

Several possible reasons for the large grip: The location and design of the saddle holster could make pulling the arm easier. The grip feels more familiar to the man used to the muzzle loading pistol it replaced. Or, two shots, grab the barrel/s and have a nasty club to crack the skull of man two after shooting the wolf and number one.

[@larrynason8716]

This handgun is just too cool!

[@rocksandoil2241]

The way Mae is shooting that, it must have 20# trigger pull on that first trigger - but it is an amazingly clever design. Some engineer mechanic must have had his thinking cap on.

[@Dreska_]

This whole time I was thinking what if it was rotated so it was over/under and then you mention the other pistol...

[@jazzman5598]

You two are nuts :-) Thanks 👐😜🤪