The Butterfield Army Revolver and its Automatic Priming

[@apollo13oxygentank14]

72 years later, an Austrian candy maker stumbles on the patent for the automatic pellet dispensing system, and the PEZ dispenser is born.

[@viktordtz2080]

lol

[@Ugly_German_Truths]

I doubt the PEZ patent has any resemblance to this gun :p

[@bikersoncall]

The Pez Dispenser though, was more complex. :)

[@alx17bloc89]

That pellet feed system was a lot simpler than I expected it would be. Very cool! I also like the idea that you could safely carry all cylinders loaded with no more than a function of the hammer to make it ready to fire.

[@a_shuchu_601]

That magazine is the slickest thing I ever saw on a revolver

[@Ugly_German_Truths]

Does it's screwed plug need exactly 23 rotations to work properly though?

[@dalemoss4684]

Those priming pellet systems are so freaking cool! This one seems a little more controlled than the sharps where the pellet just flies out to be caught by the hammer

[@Greasymarsupial]

Buttery smooth action

[@jenssoderman4093]

cool revolver! Love these cap and ball episodes. Would love to see some more shooting with cap and balls aswell. What we need to see is a deffinitive ballistics-test of these type of revolvers. 44. 36. 31. cal. with conical and round-ball. There has been a couple of half-assed videos about it, but nothing that is conclusive in this subject. Penetration, accuracy, lethal ranges, etc. please make a video of this with Carl:)

[@Dirtyblue929]

As a casual firearms enthusiast, these videos are great fun. As a writer who's been brainstorming a low fantasy / steampunk-style story for years, these are an amazing resource for finding weird, obscure, borderline-fantastical gun designs.

[@DrWhale-uz7bv]

butterfeild is such a pleasant name

[@alissarobertson8840]

That is brilliant

[@quistan2]

The cap and ball equivalent of a pez dispenser.

[@JohnLeePedimore]

Another problem with Colt revolvers jamming with spent caps is that the hammer has a small recess in it that is meant to set the hammer down between the nipples and hold the hammer safely in place so you can carry six rounds without the hammer sitting on a live cap. It works great for it's intended purpose but it has the horrible side effect of grabbing the spent cap and sticking into the recess. However,my understanding is that it wasn't as bad of a problem on original guns as it is with modern re-productions. One of the things you'll see seasoned C&B shooters do is point the muzzle up vertically before they cock the gun.The orientation helps the spent caps fall free from the gun better.

[@RukaSubCh]

That looks very steampunk because of the brass and pellet mechanism.

[@Burningnewt]

It always seemed to me that with such tiny sights on this sort of weapon you would be better off just sighting down the barrel in a combat situation, as apposed to actually trying to line up such a small notch under stress

[@sethrich5998]

burning newt In general it seems the thinking at the time was that you point shoot pistols. Sights were more of an after thought and were generally only used for making longer or precision shots hence them being very small. More something for shooting parlor tricks than actually used in combat. Which obviously today seems very odd.

[@usnlp100]

Hey Ian, just a quick correction on the Civil War units (my apologize, I know a lot about New York Regiments in the Civil War). You got the Name and Numbers right, but they are the 5th and 6th New York Cavalry Regiments. Love your channel, and love the guns, but I just though I would share my knowledge.

[@cargo_vroom9729]

A spring loaded magazine for a non-fixed ammunition component is such a delightful transitional concept.

[@aserta]

Ingenious little devil this revolver is. That's frankly, one of the more innovative delivery designs i've seen in weaponry.

[@pricklydingus8604]

Some people can't believe it's not butter.

[@sergeantbigmac]

And some had a field day when they find out its not!

[@WitchyWagonReal]

spray

[@firebarondm725]

Simple guns, with ingenious design elements. I've heard of auto priming firearms from the Civil War era but I never actually seen them, sure would be fun to fire one although I would think the grip would take some getting use to.

[@randybugger1477]

Never heard of this one but it shows that they were thinking outside the box, given the technology of the day, & that life was a little bit rough & ready, it was brave of him to pursue with manufacturing such a firearm but you are right Ian, its a cool pistol!

[@1989gibbi]

It certainly looks more reliable than the Maynard percussion priming tape

[@SNOUPS4]

Can the pellets detonate all at once in their tube when the spring below them abruptly snaps?

[@pommel47]

Very interesting concept with no patent infringement problems. Now I am going to have to research the wafer primer concept because I seem to remember seeing it incorporated in a Sharp's Carbine at the Smithsonian???

[@ianmacfarlane1241]

Simple, yet ingenious priming system. It looks really cool too IMO.

[@Papperlapappmaul]

That's a really neat design. How many pellets does the tube hold? Judging from the thickness of the pellet tray I'd say they're probably about 2mm in thickness so the tube likely holds quite a few of them. An actual number would be nice, though. Great video as always, Ian!

[@woodedroger2728]

swiss I’m dubious if there are any surviving pellets left. My guess is about bb sized

[@Omnihil777]

What a beautiful gun, seriously,imo one of the best looking ones ever seen on your awesome channel. Plus: supercool priming system. And a very low bore axis! It's a shame that so few were produced, I read something that a maximum of 800, some say only 640 were made.

[@Zajuts149]

The hammer goes THROUGH the primer holder. Damn. That's just beautiful.

[@fdmackey3666]

Thanks for this video! I've seen two or three photos from the period off and on for decades now where one or more of these revolvers was/were visible. However, the captions NEVER identified the revolver stating only that "The Union/Confederate officer/soldier pictured above fairly bristles with weapons." or words to that effect. I often wondered about the who and what of the rather odd, in comparison to Colts and Remingtons for example, looking revolver in those photos. And now I know! Thanks again for educating me with a great video!

[@nindger4270]

Usually I don't even comment on the weird suggestions anymore, but "Easy Unicorn Make Up" is a new high. Or low. Probably low.

[@Barrett67611]

Same here. It probably goes like that: Butterfield > Butterfly> Colourful Butterfly therefore Unicorn and automatic > fast/easy -_-

[@myvids1415]

I only follow Ian for the make up tips. ;)

[@knunyabeasewhacks8744]

Robin Schuhmacher I got the same!

[@therealfranklin]

I . . . I almost feel like I should watch the unicorn makeup one.

[@sergeantbigmac]

Robin Schuhmacher Somebody at KZbin was definitely high when making the recommendation algorithms.

[@ozdavemcgee2079]

I have seen and handled one of these. Very cool

[@Jesses001]

A very neat design indeed. Also a very interesting shape. I would like to fire one of those someday to see how the recoil feels.

[@xmm-cf5eg]

There's my new concealed carry. I should get *two.*

[@AngelSamael]

Perfect handle shape for a cane revolver.

[@EnderLord007]

My first grade teacher was named Butterfield. She didn't show us anything nearly as cool as this though.

[@merlemorrison482]

since the nipple is only primed at the last second before firing doesn't that mean the other nipples could let moisture (etc) into the powder charge?

[@ForgottenWeapons]

In theory, yes.

[@folfielukather8083]

what a beautiful revolver

[@VegasCyclingFreak]

That's a pretty clever design

[@thecanisrebel6306]

Now I got an itch that needs scratched.....time to break out the 357. Magnum and have some fun!

[@StonrMoose69]

This gun needs be ina movie underrated as fuck

[@Hybris51129]

I would love to see a video on iron sights through the ages and maybe you can better explain the reasoning behind such tiny sights on so many guns.

[@jnathannger8654]

are we getting a traditional "forgotten weapons" vodeo on the 2000 rounds per minuite machine pistol in .22 LR?

[@thegoldencaulk2742]

Are you talking about the Trejo?

Possibly the American 180?

[@nigmaster1]

He did one on the american 180 awhile back

[@aries_9130]

I think he's talking about the one he shot while he was in Switzerland. Can't remember what exact gun it was, though. He posted a video of it on Facebook if I remember correctly.

[@eisenkrieg553]

Is that the Zonda?

[@baconatordoom]

That low bore axis probably made it a nice shooter.

[@ap1s2k78]

Ian, you're my favorite person on youtube. I watch a LOT of youtube so that's saying something.

[@mithunnazir6333]

Nice revolver

[@philips.5563]

Coffee and automatic priming? What a morning!

[@DurtyDan]

This is the kind of Pistol that makes me go: Yup... That's a funky lookin' gun. I like it.

[@zippymufo9765]

I wonder how well that primer magazine feed worked?

[@stephenwoods4118]

I wonder if the caps were anything like the pellets for the Sharps rifle/carbine?

[@calvingreene90]

I wonder if the primer pellets could have been coated in varnish or shellac to make them water proof.

[@RIGman0497]

My first thought when hearing this gun's name was Dr. Seuss.

[@zachraess2582]

That's a good term, Proprietary Patented Pellets

[@Kentucky_Caveman]

Imagine combining this revolver with paper cartridges. You could pull of fast reloads for the time.

[@PistolManiac100]

cool design

[@gunner678]

I have a painting depicting a French Currassier Regiment armed with a pattern pistol very similar to this, not sure about the date.

[@troy9477]

Very interesting. The grip positioning might help make the recoil impulse straighter, thus reducing muzzle rise. I'm sure a 41 cal ball or slug at 800-900 fps was decent power in its day. That primer delivery bar sure had to be timed precisely to the hammer. That is craftsmanship there. Too bad they weren't more widely distributed. How about telling us the weight on the guns too, at least a close estimate? I'm sure it's hard to take a scale with you, but if u have a gun of known weight to compare it to, u can estimate by feel. This would give us some perspective as to how it compares with its contemporaries. Great video as always. Thank you

[@christopherdrekr1078]

Would there not be more chance of chain fire with it not having caps on there sealing them up ?

[@steirqwe7956]

Looks like primer pellets have quite a lot of friction while thing is operating, i wonder if there was problems with acidentnal priming inside the tube.

[@gonzalez519]

Ingenious 👍👍

[@henrystutman5636]

cool gun

[@HeavyMettaloid]

Really cool

[@sotijas]

how often can you expect that mechanism to fail?

[@bongobrandy6297]

It can shoot Butter Bullets! The Barrel is Buttered! I'm melting as I write, melting, melting!

[@MarekDohojda]

Wonder how reliable the system was.

[@jamesdowney854]

Can you get percussion caps for that at all and please state if ammo is ready and available for for the weapons or no longer made thank you Ian.....

[@jamesdowney854]

So nobody makes the type of cap used in that pistol , ball caps, i know there are plenty of the other types but was wondering.... A weapon with out ammo even if not used is a pretty paper weight and nothing more, i had a .36 ball an cap that saved my life at one time 40 years ago so thats why im asking..

[@jamesdowney854]

Knew some but was wondering about the wafer primer caps??? A nd haven't use ball an cap since 1983 or so....As for ball cap guns i live in NJ where every thing is illegal now except breathing and they are thinking about taxing that as slingshot and the pellet guns that fire illegal to own without a license and next year you'll need license to have sex with your wife..i only hang around here cause my parents won't leave and their in their 80s...

[@zacharydevan4107]

I bet if you only put one or two priming pellets in it would go kaboom when you inserted the magizine.

[@EcclecticNerd]

What was the reasoning behind making such minuscule sights on guns around this time?

[@bernardfrederic6535]

Is there any relation to the North-Savage revolver known?

[@slthbob]

Interesting... curious as to what you need to do to drop the hammer after you cock it without firing... without firing..

[@douglasabp]

Praise be!!! The Gun Jesus blessed us again with his knowledge and smooth voice !!!

[@coryfice1881]

And the Lord said let there be a new video, and it was so.

[@matthewkriebel7342]

Ian, you have described a number of weapon components lately is being made out of brass. Are these most likely to be in fact gunmetal? Do you feel the distinction is unnecessary, and you were just calling "red brass" "brass"?

[@brandonsimons543]

Ian I'd love to see some sharps guns hopefully you can find some :)

[@chrischiampo8106]

I Remember Having a Toy Version Of this Gun as a Kid Ian Pretty Cool 😎🎃

[@bikersoncall]

Am I the only one that wonders what this sold for at auction? Or the value?

[@markpetela5286]

Beauty

[@PorchPotatoMike]

Hey Ian, when you are browsing the guns looking for something to do a video on, do you ever stop and say “wait, have I done a video on this already?”

[@CarrotofGreatness]

Do anyone of you, know of a cap and ball revolver with a quick change cylinder (a magazine for a revolver)

[@krpajda]

CarrotofGreatness I'd be surprised if they exist. During the cap and ball era making parts sensitive to precise fit, like revolver cylinders, interchangeable, would be a massive undertaking

[@fastmongrel]

The British Kerr Revolver reviewed by Ian recently had a very easily removed cylinder. But as said by Krpajda above I doubt the replacement cylinder would fit and operate perfectly without a Gunsmith fettling both cylinders and the gun. Plus you would need some sort of container to hold the spare cylinder just carrying it in a pocket might mean an empty cylinder and a pocket full of bullets, powder and caps.

[@ant4812]

If memory serves me correctly, Clint Eastwood demonstrates that very thing in 'Pale Rider'.

[@rogervoss4877]

+Smoke That - Good example. Spare cylinders WERE a 'thing' at one time in the cap & ball era, even for the cap & ball Rifles. But metallic cartridges came out before they became truly common - kinda from the same reasons as mentioned here - better manufacturing tolerances made BOTH easier to do.

[@dockmasterted]

I just couldn't keep my eyes off the scoped rifle behind you on your right! my left!..... have you done a video of that long sweet heart?

[@izzfitri6888]

Butterfield gun, for Australian Butterfield.

[@owainrichards4372]

Why did I read this as “the butterfly revolver”

[@RokuroCarisu]

I've seen a butterfly _polearm,_ so why not?

[@ReedPhillips]

Who are the trolls who are thumb downing these videos at 5 minutes after release? The video is longer than that.

Presumably bots set to downvote anything about guns.

[@krpajda]

Reed Phillips youtube offers options to watch at faster speeds

[@AdrenalineJunkieXL]

Is there any other material, besides ivory and wood, ever used for grips before cheap plastic manufacturing was invented?

[@ant4812]

A lot of Scottish pistols had metal grips.

[@Oliie23]

i really like the butterfield video games they do world war won good coooool

[@difficultinterest1582]

Tbh, I find inline-style revolvers odd. Although it does look like a cool idea

[@smithimossigibraltar3666]

Hii I have a revolver which I'm not sure witch it is could you help

[@RukaSubCh]

Yay I'm early to a video.

[@BigTexasRed]

Well I know what im changing my last name to...

[@BigTexasRed]

Eric Automatic Priming, it does have a certain ring to it haha

Perhaps getting yourself a red and blue truck and go for Automus Prime even?

[@legionitalia309]

Seeing as the pellet pushing plate doesn’t seem to be precision fitted, I.e. there is a gap larger than is necessary for the plate to move, wonder what’s the likelihood of the pellet column exploding from firing. Especially if there is a timing problem with the nipples or a damaged hammer. Definitely a novelty and not suited for general issue.

[@SuperOtter13]

Legionitalia I was wondering the same thing. Also what are the chances of the pellet falling out if the gun is held at an angle ( as sometimes happens when a person is suprised and has to access the firearm quickly) . Any one have any thoughts on the likely hood of this happening?

[@BMack37]

I hope Butterfield sued the hell out of PEZ for stealing his automatic priming design.

[@TheLewras]

So the past few days your videos haven't been showing up in my suggestions... Is KZbin screwing with you again?

[@TheLewras]

I should add: I am still subscribed, so KZbin didn't unsubscribe me from Forgotten Weapons a second time.

[@matthewgarza2865]

I want it

[@justinhemboorger1620]

Thank god this was released just now. I was just having the worst time i ever had in the last 7 years and ian releases another great video.thanks ian. Sigh this sounds really weird.

[@coitusergosum2447]

The little softie in me read the title as "Butterfly"

[@three-stripes]

Coitus Ergo Sum aww that's cute.

[@TheRogueWolf]

Would this revolver then be issued alongside a butterfly knife?

[@goneutt]

So, like a little pellet of bare mercury fulminate?

[@DrWhale-uz7bv]

Matthew Trzcinski probably something less reacrive, with mercury filminate as a bare pellet dropping the gun would be dangerous.

[@TheBurg229]

Saw one in a gun show the other day. Nowhere near that good of condition

[@MrHalonoob117]

Capt Char was it 3 times as bad?

[@Yeetboi-oo4xn]

Loads almost like a BB gun lolz

[@derekbrogan4241]

F R A N K L Y

[@immigratoclandestino6259]

Hi guys,thanks for tuning in to another video on forgotten weapons.com I'm GUN JESUS and today we're taking a look at a revolver

[@GhettoCabbage]

gun jesus

[@RemusKingOfRome]

How does this compare to a PVC orange gun ?

[@tig3r_lily]

Got in the first few likes and top 10 comments! Thanks for the videos Ian!