The Civil War Smith carbine - development, history, impact, modern time shooting

[@hosedragger-204]

Please keep these US Civil War related videos coming. Two of my ancestors served in the Union Army during the War, and I love learning about the Arms and Ammunition used by both sides at the time.

[@Orzorn]

I absolutely love how your channel makes black powder into a science. The kind of effort you put into your hands on research is laudable. I think you've brought many people into black powder shooting that otherwise would not have done so!

[@terrytownsend8462]

You are 100% correct. I was 64 when I started watching. I now have 3 rifles, a pistol and 2 revolvers. make my own black powder, bullets and Round balls. Going to start making my own caps and making my flints for my flint locks. I'm 66 now...lol

[@zeppelin8521]

what a underrated channel, you look so charismatic

[@HerrGesetz]

Your Hunglish language skills are good enough man.

[@wolfwind9658]

Due to the ammo shortage me and my buddies have started more black powder arms. Far more time to talk when reloading.

[@populustremula7496]

Most excellent presentation and perhaps your most complete examination to date. I had never heard of the Smith carbine so the whole topic was fascinating to me, thanks. Loved the close-ups of the action and other details especially. You are an excellent shot. I wouldn't want to stand down range of you no matter the projectile you were about to launch. I tell ya, if the current primer shortage in the US goes on much longer I might have to get back into black powder firearms as I love to handload almost as much as I do the actual shooting. Thanks again.

[@jeremysiegel10]

I got into black powder because of the ammo shortage and I have not regretted it one bit

[@docsavage101]

I have an Italian reproduction love it! Thanks for the in depth demonstration 🙏Happy New Year 🥳

[@tberkoff]

I'm very glad you appreciate this ingenious and effective little rifle. It has always been one of my favorite US military rifles. Where did you find yours?

[@capandball]

i bought it on an auction by Holts

[@marinabrennecke5495]

I had the same rifle in top condition. It shots very well.

[@gaelwinchester3936]

I love to see your videos they relax me and they make me feel rustic

[@gaelwinchester3936]

wow, I'm finally the best comment on a video

[@USAACbrat]

I like how you mention using it on Horseback

[@luelee6168]

How did I only JUST discover your channel? This is amazing, I love black powder arms as well as the science and history behind the technologies, tactics, and the units that used them. An absolute gem.

[@earlyriser8998]

excellent job of showing a historic gun

[@richardthomashaydon]

Excellnet review, as per normal. I needed this info when I bought a reproduction smiths Carbine. I searched high and low at the time for info and in your review I gleamed a lot more info than 20 other sites. I have one of a few Smiths here in South Africa.

[@Rumblestrip]

Thank you for all the data. Very interesting arm. I had my hands on one last year at a small gun shop, kickin myself for passing it up. It appeared to be a very well worn original. Passed it up over worn out rifling. Was nearly a smooth bore. Lol

[@herblangston9871]

Three of my wife's ancestors served in the 7th Illinois and 11th Illinois Cavalry Regiments, both of which were issued Smith Carbines. One of those carbines came home after the war and stayed in the family until my wife inherited it. It hung over our fireplace for a decade before I discovered that plastic cases and lead bullets were being produced for this old gun. With the right powder and some beeswax, I made twenty cartridges. I located the proper caps and headed off to the range to bring this old gun back to life. It delivered a big bang, a stout kick, lots of white smoke, and acceptable accuracy. It was a delight to shoot. I am honored to own this historic gun. Well, it's my wife's gun, actually.

[@eloyrodriguez6460]

Outstanding👍👍

[@pricklydingus8604]

I have a reproduction Smith, and it's really neat. I always get questions at the range as to what it is.

[@carlosconsuelos8074]

Your videos are always so complete and straightforward, congrats.

[@Mis-AdventureCH]

Excellent video. I'm hunting around for either a Smith or a Burnside for both the collection and the shooting bench. Regards mounted operation. In a "Collision" of horsemen (ie: a mounted charge), you're realistically going to bang the carbine once, let it drop on the sling and transition to pistol. In a dismounted skirmish line (as tactics evolved away from mounted charges) single handed operation is not an issue. But a very valid point and may tip my buying decision.

[@capandball]

Well, to be honest... if you have money, buy both. :)

[@Mis-AdventureCH]

@@capandball Sooner or later. I just came into a wonderful Custer range 45-70 trapdoor (212xx). If I flip it I may have enough for a more shootable Trapdoor, a Burnside and a Smith. That will complete the civil war and Indian Wars collection. :-)

[@1sysel]

Glad to see you enjoy an excelent brand of beer. :D Using the can for cartridge construction is a great way of recycling or even upcycling I guess? Greetings from Czech Republic.

[@apemnr]

So cool.

[@josephdriesenga2730]

This and the Burnside are my two favorite Civil War cavalry carbines

[@jensfritz63]

Thanks for another great video. Greetings from Germany

[@KaitenKenbu]

This channel is super dope. I def want to start collecting antique firearms but maybe I'll start out with working replicas first. I love my ultra modern guns but there is something extra special about black powder pew pews in my eyes. Think I'll start with a flintlock.

[@jeremysiegel10]

I got into black powder because of the ammo shortage and let me tell you, you can shoot *all* day with black powder and still have enough for the next few sessions, but its way more satisfying per shot when you have to put all the work into each one

[@spencerquimby4726]

Egészségére! Great video, love your version of these rounds and I had never heard of this rifle before. Other Civil War carbines I was familiar with but for how prolific this one was I was shocked I didn't know about it.

[@Fangman762]

Great video. I've seen very little on the Smith and its cartridge. Your video was excellent.

[@seppelson3856]

Very good presentation! I enjoyed it a lot!

[@pablomeza7287]

Excellent video Balázs as always or more !!! Very good job of investigation, search and conclusions, besides being a good shooter ! Congratulations from Argentine

[@MrHuggaga]

Ahaha, I had to laugh when you actually drank the beer first ;D "Erstmal 'n schönes Bier!" as I would say in german!

[@maximilianfranz2158]

n kühles Helles :)

[@casualobserver3145]

Dude, I always look forward to your vids!

[@marksmallman4572]

Your Hunglish is perfect its almost the only reason I watch your chanel.....

[@christopherreed4723]

"Hunglish" might be a pretty good caption for a capandball t-shirt or ball cap...🤔

[@MisterApol]

Did you know, a young man named Henry Wheeler used a Smith carbine with great effect against the James-Younger gang when they tried to rob a bank in Northfield, Minnesota, in 1876?

[@VRAS4570]

My favourite civil war carbine. Waited quite a while for this video ;o) Thanks.

[@jamessulzer5105]

Another great video with some useful information and some nice shooting from a fine marksman! Also some good information on another way to recycle beer cans. Thank you!

[@janrobertbos]

Very nice and informative video about one of my favourite carbines!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@montanamountainmen6104]

Being a Civil War buff , I know about the Spencer, Sharps and Burnside but somehow the Smith eluded my knowledge.....

[@popojoeexplode]

I love my Pietta Smith Carbine. I use a smith .52cal Lee Mold. Iv made cardboard paper cartrages and use the black vinal ones as well. But i will say I had to make a new taller brass front sight post to get it to shoot point of aim at 50yds.

[@2Gold_Dubloons]

Amazing video as always!! 🙌🏼

[@woodsmanforlife1677]

Excellent information! Thank you for sharing!

[@duaneho555]

Great video. Thanks for the information. 👍🏻

[@pablomeza7287]

I was pleasantly surprised with the very good information about the Argentine army cavalry. These carbines were used when the weapons weren't standarized, together with the Sharps, Spencer, Merrill, Remington R.B. and Starr. In addition to some old muzzleloader rifles and a variety of breech-loading rifles convertion or not, as : Werndl-Holub, french Schneider, Albini-Brändlin, Berdan nro. 1, Martini-Henry, Chassepot, Gras, Vetterli, Mauser, Winchester 66, Remington 66-67-71-74 and your Wänzl model 1867 in 14,5 x 32,5 mm R ringfire caliber. If you are interested in more details, it will be a pleasure and I will be at your disposal

[@capandball]

Indeed! Especially the Austrian rifles!

[@leadshark9461]

Love me some acw carbines and rifles. Pedersoli 1859 Berdan Sharps review when? :P

[@capandball]

Good question.

[@dougdukes1039]

I really like all your videos. I also appreciate it when you put your book references in the Video's. Thanks. I loved the Smith Carbine ammo boxes you made. I know about your labels, but can you do a tutorial on actually making the boxes and how you do it from determining the size to what material you use to making the box it self. Thanks for all you do.

[@КонстантинКостадинов-в3ь]

👍👍👍👍👍👍👍 Hello from Bulgaria

[@justinji8634]

Hello capandball, can you do a review on the brown bess musket from pedersoli? I haven't see an English smoothbore gun on your channel. Thanks :D

[@txdocprich_8404]

Try keeping your trigger hand thumb straight, relaxed, firm grip with the three bottom fingers. Helps with fliers.

[@cosmicatrophy4648]

Your videos are much like hickok45's. I always fall asleep half way through hahaha. Not an insult either

[@capandball]

:D :D we are the asmr of black powder shooters

[@diehard2705]

@@capandball absolutely! Both very educational and incredibly relaxing!

[@luissantiago5163]

Oh awesome. Cheers

[@chrisgabbert658]

Who knew that beer cans were so useful 👍

[@kidhammer2567]

What a truly informative and educational Smith cavalry carbine video. For folks brand-new to this carbine, and for us old-timers, this presentation is first-rate knowledge and information, presented in a manner easy to understand to replicate. A question? In video frame-time 37:44, the target shows a bullet hole in the 5-ring at approximately five o'clock that appears to be partially or potential an early key-holed paper-projectile strike. Yes, the accuracy of your Smith is every bit as fine as mine. I find that in using Goex 2Ffg or 3Fffg, to keep my accuracy consistent, I must apply a bore brush every 3-5 shots with both my original and especially my Pietta Smith carbine. What of yours, sir? From experience, I totally agree with you about the ergonomics of Smith over Burnside, Maynard, Starr, and Sharps. I love my Burnside, I adore my Smiths. I have Mike S's book on the Smith as well. Thank you so very much once more for your video on the Smith. I've been waiting patiently for this video.

[@capandball]

Hi, it is actually a keyhole. Happens when the bullet is not perfectly in line with the bore.

[@shijongeorge7260]

Brother please upload your gun collection video

[@holgerlabenski7585]

Always a good job💪💪

[@jayfelsberg1931]

Excellent video, great taste in beer

[@kenibnanak5554]

I would gingerly file that screw down so it does not protrude into the barrel bit is instead flush.

[@kenibnanak5554]

Another alternative is use very small shim washers between the screw head and the forestock to back the screw out necessary amount needed so the screw does not protrude.

[@johnmcdonald587]

Excellent video. I'm a Smith shooter too. I have the Pietta. Bought it at the 135th Gettysburg reenactment. Your reverse-engineering of the Crispin cartridge. What is the thickness of the aluminum? I have located soft brass foil online in .005", .010", and .015" thicknesses. Also, what is the thickness of the perforated card base disc? I too have been wanting to construct my own paper and foil cases.

[@kowalski363]

Great video

[@jason60chev]

Can see a lot of smoke exiting the breech area, when using the brass cases.

[@jameshagerman7681]

These look like they would be excellent little stalking rifles. The energy numbers look similar to many handguns that have been used to great success and the pietta reproductions are quite beautiful as are many of the originals.

[@user-im6fy4qp6m]

whats the going rate on these? in average worn condition is $2,500 too much?

[@paraplegichistoricalsports5700]

Would this be a good deer hunting rifle, say from 100 yards and less? Do you believe a peep sight could be mounted, if so, which would you recommend?

[@gordonfox8967]

What is real capacity of that pietta made brass case ? I read somewhere that it can hold around 38 grains of powder.

[@tim31415]

Perhaps a commercially available brass tube could be used. The diameter could be adjusted slightly by swaging.

[@louregietalboresvillaruz9281]

Wow Make a Paper Cartridge for Carbine

[@BlackPowderTherapist]

I love my Smith, I hold multiple national championships with mine in America

[@brendonbewersdorf986]

Your able to shoot so many of these old black powder guns I'd love to see if you could ever get your hands on a Krnka 1867 rifle there is so little information on them I'd love to know more and see how they shoot

[@nickdavis5420]

What a neat gun

[@miketyper]

Need cartridges? Time to crack open a cold one. I you really want to get hardcore. Brass foil is avilable in several thicknesses from Online Metals and other suppliers.

[@Legitpenguins99]

I praise your devotion to gaining the aluminium to make your cartridges. It must have been hard drinking all that beer :-:7

[@capandball]

I would do everything for science :)

[@drmachinewerke1]

Question for those in Europe. I was on a website ( I was having a few shots of Bourbon) when I ran across a French or ? Website. It was selling little gizmos to hold caps on for a revolver. I figure that would be nice.

[@whistlepign]

I wonder if annealing the aluminum can sheet on the crispin cartridges would help with reducing the cracking issue. Aluminum cans are drawn over a series of mandrels, which work hardens the blank and they need to be annealed through out the manufacturing process.

[@capandball]

I think that the cracking issue is only caused by the improper case length.

[@whistlepign]

@@capandball i agree with you that proper case sizing, as you described in your excellent presentation, seems to be the most important factor as the paper and aluminum can only deform so much before it fails.

[@franj1983]

I like your jacket and your beer.

[@stefankonig2426]

Danke!

[@michaelg4931]

Thank you for a very informative video, especially the Crispin cartridge creation process. There is a forth option for Smith Carbine cartridges. Yore Supply Company of Houghton, Michigan USA makes a reproduction reusable urethane rubber cartridge with a brass insert in the touch-hole. It holds 39 grains of 2F or 37 grains of 3F. I have never used them as I haven't the spare money to buy a Smith Carbine. Speaking of 3F, is there a reason you didn't shoot with that as well? You stated in the video that the granulation of the original charges were similar to modern day 3F.

[@edwardswanzey7595]

It would be a big help many of us if you would use an equalizer to eliminate "echo" when you are talking in a "live" sound room. The echo of the bass frequencies bounces off the those brick (or any solid surfaces), which make understanding you difficult. You will notice, if you ever record in a studio (which I have done) that the walls and ceilings are covered with anti-refletion material.

[@capandball]

This was the first time I used a shotgun mic instead of the lavalier mic. I will improve with it.

[@douglasmaccullagh1267]

Great video and very helpful to a new Smith owner. Do you think cola cans would work as well as beer cans? Thank you!

[@chasetower6773]

Thanks again

[@escoladotirocleber5076]

Muito bom meu amigo!

[@finlayfraser9952]

Totally absorbing. But, the question remains about loose, and firmly packed black powder when loading cartridges. "Bloke on the Range" utube channel reloaded an 18mm brass cartridge for a Milbank Armsler with a Minnie bullet and no wadding, so with the bullet seated the powder was loose like beans in a maraca! Is there a definitive answer?

[@krzysiekmrzygod7896]

Are you planning to make a film about your Bristlen Morges rifle?

[@deercreeksociety]

Awesome 👏

[@spottydog4477]

You're a rising star...(just work on dampening the indoor acoustics)

[@capandball]

I have my plans to improve the sound. This was the first time use of the shotgun mic.

[@spottydog4477]

@@capandball Great stuff!! - Love you work!!

[@zb687]

i wonder if those cartages made of cans and thick paper can be used in a sharps 1859, to prevent gas leackage.

[@hoosierdaddy2308]

I've seen these at the gun shows with beautiful patena here in America.

[@kamnglnd.5030]

Nice....

[@douglasmaccullagh7865]

Do you have any plans to make and sell your mandrel for making the Crispin cartridges, or the cartridge boxes you showed?

[@capandball]

Yes, working on it! Will be sold in a kit with the box.

[@douglasmaccullagh7865]

@@capandball Wonderful! Thank you. I look forward to the chance to buy one.

[@DonDon-zm3vz]

this is a fun rifle to shoot

[@rgbgamingfridge]

cool rifle but i didnt see a big iron on your hip 👀

[@bendiksbendiks1859]

The mister do perfect with this Smith carbine

[@kurzhaarguy]

I came across your channel for the first time today. I've acquired an Armi-Sport (Chiappa) 1857 Springfield. It is my first black powder rifle. You mentioned in an earlier video that you have/had one of these? Would you share how you loaded it? Bist du Deutscher?

[@Szlejer]

Kettőt kéne összebindzsózni egymás mellé dáktéppel vagy nagyongyorskötözővel (+1 lazer is jó vóna) és remek kis lapátcsövű lenne belűle!!!+!

[@ericcraig-j5b]

I wonder why weren't more weapons built using this cartridge design?

[@zoran69ser]

i dont anderstend, why they dont make vith integrated caps in the cartridge ?!

[@panrandom2127]

Can i use flash powfer in musket

[@Theonederboy]

Wonder how hard it would be to convert it

[@timothyruggles7396]

Can it be had as a preproduction??

[@Polymath9000]

What is the effectice range of this rifle?

[@sidekickbob7227]

Great video! i like the style and enjoy the content, but please throw away those dark sunshaded shooting glasses you use in the start. I find it hard to grab the information you deliver, when I can't watch the eyes.

[@capandball]

Yes, you are right, I usually use clear lenses, but i broke my shooting glasses...

[@BcFuTw9jt]

How is the market in your country for ammunition components? Any shortages like we are seeing in the US?

[@PraetzelProjects]

Probably not quite as prevalent in such a niche obsolete arm.

[@BcFuTw9jt]

@@PraetzelProjects Wonderful to be able to shoot. The shortages here have even hit the obsolete and blackpowder markets. Percussion caps are all done and powder has been gone for months. Luckily i have plenty of both and love my flint locks

[@jeffreygraf3358]

Can you and will you be able to hunt with it?

[@capandball]

Not really. Two reasons: 1st even is muzzle loaders are allowed, percussion breech loaders are not. 2nd the energy is too low for most of our big game. We need 2500 J at the muzzle. Only exception is roe deer where 1000 is enough.