The gun that wanted to get sued: the German Colt copy with firearms expert Jonathan Ferguson.

[@robviousobviously5757]

the lighting and set color has dramatically improved.. thanks, it makes it easier to see the focused object in the video..

[@jordanoneil8094]

I agree wholeheartedly. The coloured highlight of the cabinets that frame Jonathan's shoulders is a very technical and appealing touch. The key is perhaps a little strong, but overall an improvement on older videos

[@stanislavczebinski994]

As a German, I think Grimm may have been a gun dealer somewhere else and had a (wealthy - this thing wasn't cheap) customer asking for a custom-made, high-quality engraved Colt Navy-style revolver in .44 for target shooting (this wasn't a combat or self-defense gun) - and impressing his (also wealthy) friends at the shooting club. In the days long before the yellow pages (let alone the internet) - you had to know people. Grimm knew Klett, went to him and ordered the gun. As a good salesman - Grimm had his name added on the gun and inlayed with gold - well knowing the other wealthy guys might want one, too. This being a one-off - even Sam Colt would have struggled to find out and sue them.

[@kingkarlito]

braindead fanfic

[@stanislavczebinski994]

@@kingkarlito Just another 13-year-old with an attitude. Why discuss the matter - when you can go hating right away.... If that's the best thing you can do with your life - boy - I feel sorry for you....

[@jordan.ellis.hunter]

As far as I know Gewehrhaendler (rifle dealer) in the Suhl context is more of a wholesaler who purchases production of the many gunsmith freelance shops of Suhl and distributes them to potential buyers (who themselves could be dealers as well). Sometimes they would help the gunsmiths with financing new equipment and developments in exchange to produced rifles or percentage cuts. Maybe that’s how the name got on the gun, or it was a commission because he thought it would sell well. I could look more up and write some emails but that would take some time..

[@brittakriep2938]

Attention! Gewehr doesn' t mean rifle, this would be Büchse. Gewehr in civilian context is an umbrella word for all long guns , Flinte ( shotgun), Büchse ( rifle) , Büchsflinte, Bergstutzen, Drilling, Vierling (combination guns) and Wallbüchse ( wallguns) , Entenkanone (puntgun) and later Panzerbüchse ( antitankgun/ antimaterial rifle). In military context from early 19th century to early 20th century Gewehr was used for a fullsize battlerifle of lineinfantry ( and after 1870s also Jäger) in contrast to Karabiner of cavallry or artillry ( in Austria also Stutzen was sometimes used for shorter military rifles). And, in documents before 1800 Gewehr can also mean sometimes , weapon in general ', a bayonnet can be either Bajonett or Seitengewehr, only for example. Ge- means in german basicly a lot of. So Gesang- a lot of singing, or Geschrei- a lot of singing, and Wehr? Sich wehren/ to defend yourself, die Wehr is dated for weapon, mostly a bladed weapon , see Bauernwehr in HEMA circles. Formerly a pure Gewehr- or Waffenhändler was only a trader/dealer , no producer/maker. This term showed, that the business owner is no Büchsenmacher ( gunmaker/ gunsmith), Klingenschmied (bladesmith) or Schwertfeger ( sword finisher?).

[@621andy]

Gewehr Händler basically means Gun/Rifle Dealer

[@greycatturtle7132]

For me it sound like a guy who take care of the guns from these rich families

[@CooldonkeyB]

Jawohl

[@axeleichendorff679]

Sorry, wrong. It's not the English "to handle", but the German "handeln" = to trade, deal. So 621andy is right: That Grimm was a gun dealer, trader.@@greycatturtle7132

[@Honda-wf6qj]

​@@greycatturtle7132 or in today's terms means German Porn fluffer....😮

[@David-c3s4q]

It also means someone who tames gewehr for exhibition in a circus or on stage.

[@samparkerSAM]

The oversized grip seems appropriate. Also the engraving is a nice personalized addition to the revolver.

[@kingkarlito]

what personality leads to being indistinguishable from a bot comment

[@marmadukewinterbotham2599]

I wonder if we could see John Tunstalls Colt Peacemaker please? He was murdered in February 1878 in New Mexico, triggering the Lincoln County War, in which Billy The Kid played a major role, not least for avenging Tunstall's death earlier by killing some of those involved. Billy had worked on Tunstall's ranch before the latter's cruel assassination. I understand the Colt was ultimately returned to the Tunstall family, and because the changes in firearms law in past years, was later deposited at the Royal Armouries. Loving the videos, thanks!

[@robertwoodroffe123]

Ask an American channel! This is the British Royal armoury !

[@awmperry]

They did say it wound up at the Royal Armouries. There aren't a lot of US Royal Armouries...

[@marmadukewinterbotham2599]

They profile all manner of weapons from their collection in the videos, the criterion being that the item is interesting, such as the German made pistol featured in the latest video.

[@jon9021]

“Chisum” with John Wayne.

[@spacewater7]

Inrrange TV

[@bryannonelee]

It has very much a Bisley style grip, like the ones used in the Camp Bisley matches in England. The same shape is still used by Freedom Arms for their heavy recoiling revolvers, as it doesn't rotate as much in your hand under recoil.

[@daminox]

Great camera work to get all those detailed shots of the engravings!

[@discountdvd]

Very well presented, as usual. Thank you

[@F1ghteR41]

So, it was indeed continental European single action cap-and-ball, but not French or Belgian. What a tricky question! 8:03 Looks JWH for me. I imagine the first two letters mean something like Johann Wilhelm, but the surname is up to the people who really know German or Austrian heraldry. 8:53 It looks like a south German or Austrian folk costume to me. 10:32 Additional support for this date comes from the style of the trigger guard - Lefaucheux revolver is patented with such in 1854, and about the same time both Giles Mariette and Hubert Comblain used it in their patent drawings. Notably, their previous and later patents depict a more conventional design. 11:39 The same term appears in the records pertaining to the history of the Anschütz gunmaking family in the late seventeenth and early eighteenth century, if it helps. 16:35 Is it the same R. L. Wilson that gained some notoriety for his fradulent operations with antique Colts? I personaly would refrain from referencing his work, he was a very shady character.

[@LeapingBlackman]

Joachim Werner H.... German name starting with H, hmmm hoelstein? Henderleighter? OR... That one guy who ruined Charlie chaplain's mustache

[@F1ghteR41]

@@LeapingBlackman My suspition is that with such a decoration and a heraldic shield like that it would be a member of (minor) nobility, I've checked Hohenloe, but it didn't give anything similar.

[@Sableagle]

JWLC, perhaps? With the cursive handwriting we were taught, that could be I not J. IWH or IWLC?

[@ladykkk1480]

Gewehr is Rifle and Heandler is Trader. A dealer in firearms , in this case from / for Klett in Suhl by C. Grimm. Love your program.

[@buddy.boyo88]

congrats on the new pics you posted on the website of the annely gun ! (if you posted them) that stuff was photographic art ! i sat here admiring them.

[@Charliemonsteruk]

It really is a beautiful piece, thank you for sharing it with us.

[@desroin]

I always love it when there's a gun featured that saw the light of day in the same town as I did xD

[@steveallen7400]

Love the video, it's your usual thorough and educational video, so thank you! I looked up "gewehrhandler", minus the umlauts on the a, and it came back as gun dealer. C. Grimm is possibly Carl Grimm, but all I could find was that he may or may not have had a hand in sporting rifles in 1840, in Suhl. There was also a Claus Grimm, but nothing on him. Sorry, not much help.

[@AllAboutSurvival]

It's a shame Colt wasn't around to see this-he might have had a few words about it, but it's a testament to how iconic his work has become.

[@Torque_Mk1]

Maybe the colon means that both Klett and Grimm were named Stefan? It's just a guess though.

[@rodder1950]

This is very intressting. There is a gunmuseum in Suhl and they got a exhibition of sporting guns . Maybe they could have some more information about the makers of the gun or the gun itself. On the website they show a 1850 sporting gun with very similar engraving and the makers name also written in gold on top of the barrel. Greetings from germany

[@Getpojke]

With the crest on it, would it be possible that it was a one-off? Maybe just made for a well off client, who liked the look of the Colt, but wanted something fancier. That way Colt or his lawyers may never hear of it. Nice looking piece though.

[@jonr6680]

2:34 right there, the scene from the matrix where Neo is in the Infinite Gunroom Program!

[@RoyalArmouriesMuseum]

Guns... lot's of guns

[@dustyak79]

I’ve got a Belgium Colt model 1961. Yes 1961 supposedly the Belgiums decided to take Colt 1861 tooling out and make a run for the growing US market .

[@samchapple6363]

Nice. Interesting alternative to Colt , factory engraved

[@tenchuu007]

It definitely has enough unique features that would defeat a patent challenge. Assembly and guard especially.

[@elvispressplay7735]

I've always loved those spurred trigger guards. Like on the LeMatt. That grip is also quite exquisite. Definitely a showpiece in very fine condition.

[@Tom_-]

Nice Winchester Tavern T-shirt!

[@capt.bart.roberts4975]

Love the Roccoco Revival pistol grips!

[@keithbarron3654]

So , is it just revolver, do you have accessory kit for cleaning and casting bullets?

[@robertherman2453]

anote on the cylinder stops. Colt used round stops on the "Baby Dragoon" and used oval stops on the "Walker" and early "Dragoon" models, but seems to have switched to the squared stops in 1850. that may or may not point to the revolver being slightly earlier than 1855.

[@craigpennington1251]

Both guns are very nice and the engraving is super. The German Colt cylinder looks bigger than the Colt but the actual powder charge is smaller it seems. Wild handle grips on the German Colt. Looks to be very expensive pieces/both.

[@peerschulz2029]

a .44 Navy? A beautiful "Big Iron".

[@Chris_Garman]

a .44 Navy is a misnomer.

[@Chiller11]

To the town of Agua Fria rode a stranger one fine day Hardly spoke to folks around him, didn’t have too much to say No one dared to ask his business. No one dared to make a slip. For the stranger there among them had a big iron on his hip.

[@mpetersen6]

Now l can't get the tune out of my head. 🎶 Big Iton, Big Iron 🎶

[@mats7492]

"No, zhis iz totally noht a Kolt kopi!" "Gewehrhändler" just means "long gun merchant" in german, so his involvement checks out!

[@wolfgangornig3556]

Just the translation does not do the job here. Because it is an official name for a type of business, that was well defined and regulated back in the day.

[@mats7492]

@@wolfgangornig3556it is still very well defined and regulated today in Germany.. Probably way more than 200 years ago😂

[@causewaykayak]

Im curious about your wire stand. Is it formed from Brass or other soft metal wire? I wonder because drawn steel wire would surely scratch a bore.

[@craigdavidson4378]

"Gewehrhändler" = "Gun Dealer"

[@LewisSkeeter]

Very cool revolver, though it points up how beautiful and utilitarian the Colt is.

[@57WillysCJ]

That grip reminds of Colt's future Bisley design.

[@Ivanovitch2885]

The amount of engraving is not unusual for the time but the personal nature of it makes this seem more like a commissioned piece that Sam may not have caught wind of. Even with his patent men in Europe at the time. Since it is marked with the Gewehrhändler it may have been commissioned at a gun dealer that was able to procure custom pieces for his patrons because of his relationship with the manufacturer. A wealthy customer requests a Colt style pistol with personal engraving and more European touches around the grip and trigger gaurd. The gun dealer sends that to a local manufacturer they might know and Colt is none the wiser.

[@skyd8726]

Also loving the t-shirt!

[@mikeblair2594]

Interestingly there was an Frederic Klette in Virginia that made at least one American longrifle during the eighteenth century. Possibly before the war of independence, though not much more than five years.

[@UNCLETOEKNEE]

But what if the Klett and Grimm revolver came first and Colt were the ones to " improve " on the design and make it easier to mass produce ?

[@Chris_Garman]

"Known for his notorious litigiousness, Samuel Colt would have likely hit the roof, had he seen this copy of the famous Colt Navy revolver. We don't know if we ever did, but what we do know is that this beautifully crafted weapon was heavily influenced by one of history's most recognisable designs." Don't know if you ever did what?

[@joshh61]

Seen this copy of the Colt

[@ACuriousTanuki]

​@@joshh61 Not sure where the confusion comes from when he's quite literally holding it...

[@joshh61]

@@ACuriousTanuki Ahhh it should be "he" not "we"

[@cphill2012]

Has Jonathan always had that FN pistol lapel pin in these videos?

[@Zakk_Zero]

He wears different lapel pins in each video, I think. This particular one has a secret- it's Jonathan's backup to his ankle backup gun. If called into action, this one distracts an adversary by causing them to laugh until they receive a barrage of three .177 caliber pellets. As expected, that model didn't sell very well.😉 😄

[@RoyalArmouriesMuseum]

This particular one is a new addition to our shop!

[@stephenede-borrett1452]

St: is an historical German (and Germanic) way of writing St. - just using a colon in place of a full stop,

[@pseudomonad]

My guess is that's not an actual coat of arms, but just someone's initials in a frame that is trying to look heraldic. Lettering is very rare in actual arms. The crest (the bit above the helm) is a grapevine, I'm pretty sure - and I can find plenty of people with vines as their crest - but I suspect that in this case it's purely decorative.

[@pseudomonad]

Pedantry: the whole assembly (shield + crest + helm + other stuff like a motto scroll that isn't on this version) is a "coat of arms" (or "heraldic achievement" if you're being super-formal about it) rather than a "crest". Colloquially yeah, you sometimes hear "crest" for the whole lot, which is the same kind of thing as calling an entire cartridge a "bullet" - a common conflation, but potentially confusing.

[@AJediSurvivor]

Does Jonathan work at the Leeds one?

[@ahmadbani1452]

Yes

[@HitokiriRaiden]

beautiful pistol.

[@Matt-md5yt]

I knew it was a copy. looks cool too. this German made one is beautiful

[@markwybierala4936]

Sometimes a copy can simply be an exercise of a craftsman or apprentice. If this gun is a one-off creation it changes the intent of the maker from exploiting a patent to one of developing skills, investigating manufacturing processes, and exploring ideas. Such a creation reflects admiration of the original and the personal journey of the craftsman and should the gunsmith become celebrated at some point later in life, this gun should be valued.

[@kbjerke]

Well, I guessed wrong! Nice example, Jonathan! Thanks for the video!

[@brittakriep2938]

There is no proofmark? No surprise, because in Germany before 1891 there was no duty for an official test ( Beschuß) and proofmark. The guns , being in shops of traders, gunmakers/ gunsmiths ( in german only Büchsenmacher exists) when law was introduced, got a ,V' stamped (Vorrat/stock?) and could be sold as last weapons with old law. And pure traders often ordered unmarked guns as ,no name' products, and stamped/ engraved their name.

[@causewaykayak]

GewehrHandler is Weapons Dealer (literal)

[@martkbanjoboy8853]

The Russian copies have the hammer spur pointing straight up, the stock is like the Colt but angled back more, and look plain. They seemed to have been copying the 1851. Oh well.

[@tommeakin1732]

11:37 After a few google searches, it's "trader", or "dealer". So pretty much "gun dealer"

[@polymathart]

Krag Petersson please!!

[@shovelchop81bikeralex52]

I love the German grip! Reminds me of a Landsknecht Katzbalger hilt, the short sword they would use in battle when they were too close to use their iconic Zweihander. These were German elite soldiers during the Renaissance period.

[@ScottLewislovesyou]

Gewehrhändler translates to Gewehr = Rifel (or firearm or long arm or gun) händler (haendler) = Trader or dealer

[@Schorsch-t1m]

Gewehrhändler means gun traider. Greetings from Germany

[@AlexeyPiet]

Yeah, why "Gewehrhändler" (Rifle Dealer as in: only rifles and no pistols)? Usually they are "Büchsenmacher" (Gunmakers) and therefore the vendor would be a "Büchsenhändler" or "Waffenhändler"... maybe some crazy german legalese stuff. Also i heard that the saxons used to like the black powder colts (i'am saxon and we have the national archives to research). Oh yeah, and Bayonets and other bladed weapons were also called "Gewehr" (like in: "SeitenGEWEHR zum Aufpflanzen für Infanteriewaffensystem Mauser 1898" as an example) and "sich wehren" (to fight back, or against something) as a callback for general combat weaponry but definitely a confusing legal definition...

[@F1ghteR41]

The same term appears in the records pertaining to the history of the Anschütz gunmaking family in the late seventeenth and early eighteenth century, so it must have had some currency back in the day.

[@AlexeyPiet]

@@F1ghteR41 yes, i agree... Those terms (describing jobs, professions, titles, hierachy, etc. / designating them) were carefully constructed and possible legal issues (and in turn avoiding them) were taken very seriously. Maybe in this case it is as simple as describing a specialization into long guns, rather then pistols? In today's german - emphasis on "today" - it definitely would be the case... Unfortunately i don't know that much about central-european gunsmiths and the dealers involved on the local or even communal levels... Definitely something i do have to catch up on, don't i?

[@F1ghteR41]

@@AlexeyPiet I would imagine that back then a lot of old guild rules and local l laws enforcing those were still in place.

[@wolfgangornig3556]

Yes its more regulated, but on your Gwerbeberechtigung and Betriebsstättengenehmigung. The Name not anymore. Back in the day the usage of certain Names was still inkluded

[@keithmoore5306]

gewehrhandler translates to weapons handler which today would be an armor today!!

[@Tomd4850]

13:40 Ergonomics - So much potential for inuendo... Yep, when it's just big and heavy enough for 2 handed cocking 🤣

[@nickdavis5420]

That’s a beautiful one off so unlikely he would of found out about it .

[@demos113]

You will get a M1879 Reichsrevolver and you will LIKE IT!!!! 🙃

[@o80y1]

God, that’s such a pretty gun

[@Book-bz8ns]

Ok I wasn't too far away with my guess. Continental though, I should've got that

[@simebeck101]

Johnathan. You’ve got red on you!

[@willbbwluvr]

That is absolutely beautiful! I'd dearly love to own it, or a reproduction! Even an example that is similar.........

[@Gerald-o1v]

The grip is very Biusley-ish

[@bebo4374]

Samuel Colt spelled backwards is Klett Grimm. There’s your answer.

[@bearkvasnikoff1262]

i think this piece is supposed to be dropped thumb on the hammer like you have a hook for a hand

[@rangerofdisorder]

Looks to me like a pistole for hunting, perhaps for the coup de grace if the game is wounded and not killed by the first shot from a rifle.

[@korblborp]

it's beautiful! love the combination of the european styles with the american mechanism. why are there holes in the cylinders? some sort of "demil" thing? if so, that's criminal...

[@XtalQRP]

They are cylinder stops, they index the cylinder after rotation and ensure that the chamber and bore match up. No deactivation is required for weapons held in the Royal Armoury collection.

[@korblborp]

@@XtalQRP i have seen no other cylinder stop that could be mistaken as a drill hole, and the ones on legitimate colts are a completely different shape (a kind of semicircular divot with a little train to the side), but i can't see anything else that could be, so you are probably right. i have heard of ancient flintlocks and such having to have plugs welded in to be on display, yes specifically in British museums, which is just.... blegh. they may not be required to be deactivated to be in the RA collection, but that doesn't mean they can't be BEFORE the become part of it.

[@jibster84]

The place is worth a visit for the homemade sausage rolls 😂

[@genericpersonx333]

This thing screams personal-purchase service-weapon for an elite cavalryman., a pistol specifically for a wealthier cavalryman to use on campaign while still reminding people he was not just a common trooper. 1.) The caliber being .44'' puts it in the "horse-and-man-killer" category like the original Colt Dragoon models. 2.) The trigger-spur and high hammer are handy for using the thing with big cavalry gloves and a saddle-holster. 3.) There is enough decoration to remind people the user had money to spare, but it remains practical to use as an everyday weapon.

[@tihlsteinig2465]

Nice SteamPunk piece for me.!

[@jorgS94]

The high up spur was most likely for fanning instead of cocking every shot and with the trigger guard spur it would give you the balance to do so much better too.

[@jonr6680]

So the gunsmith does all the metal & partners with or subs out the stock woodworking & maybe has others who do the engraving etc?? Despite the dawn of standardisation it's still handmade by craftspeople. And guessing this is like today's Porsche supersport, has all the esthetics & extras bc the client is utterly minted like an arch-duke etc...

[@chrisball3778]

Klett brought in Grimm to supply the silver bullets that came with it.

[@geiroveeilertsen7112]

8:00 The letters in the cartouche could be from something like Georgian or Iberian script or something similar too. While the gun is most definitely made in Germany, the engravings could have been made for someone who is really proud of their heriatge, and some parts of Europe (especially in the east) had their own writing systems well into the 1900's

[@jonr6680]

Steampunk joy!

[@lvpos3idonvl329]

Nice

[@alantheinquirer7658]

I've always wondered, being an utter novice. Nation X has a big success with a firearm design. Or any weapon (such as a tank). Nation Y decides to copy it. Especially when said nations are in conflict; why didn't the Germans copy the Bren, or the British copy the FG42? They're at war! What international court will tell them "Sorry, but your enemy owns the rights to that design. When you've finished beating paste out of each other, you are going to be very, very sorry!"

[@kanrakucheese]

1: Copying firearms entirely AND having them functional AND getting them produced in quantity to be ready for end of war is rather difficult 2: They did. The Bern is a derivative of the ZB vz. 26, which the Germans *did* employ after seizing the production line for them. The Panzershrek is based on principles of captured Bazookas. There's also a number of weird Japanese Garand clone prototypes floating around out there. 3: The British couldn't copy the FG42 because the German ones barely worked and the British were stuck with a rimmed cartridge.

[@tarmaque]

Well, the US definitely copied the Mauser K98 bolt action, and although the 30.06 is not a direct copy of the 8x57 it's unashamedly based on it. Lots of countries copied various Browning weapons, usually from his work in Belgium. Not so much the United States. Later on there are tons of countries that essentially stole the idea of the AR-18 operating system and slapped their own rifle around it. The AR-18 itself is a simplified and much improved take on the Russian SVT-40 short stroke gas piston adapted to a rotating bolt.

[@Chris_Garman]

@@tarmaque There are really only two bolt action action designs. They are all copies.

[@Chris_Garman]

Everyone and their dog copied the MG42, just not until after WWII.

[@tarmaque]

@@Chris_Garman More like four, but you're not wrong. But nobody copied the SMLE, and there were several versions of the straight pull. They weren't really copies of each other but were all very similar. That said, the most successful automatics can trace their heritage back to the straight pulls.

[@krockpotbroccoli65]

Leave it to the Germans to take a Colt and make it complex and weird.

[@mm9773]

The Colt looks much cooler, but I bet the German one was actually reliable.

[@Chiller11]

“Bam! That Walker Colt blew up in his hand, which was a failing common to that model. You see if old Corky had had two guns instead of just a big dick, he would have been there right to the end to defend himself.”

[@alex7x57]

When you leave your Colt on the dashboard on a hot day.

[@tarmaque]

Not a "petticoat" but a "pinafore."

[@jon9021]

Ahhh, the Germans…making things look nice and overly complicated for a 100 plus years..

[@barnabywild2215]

Better grip than the Colt Navy, which is a tight fit twixt grip and guard for asnyone with hands bigger than Donald Trump.

[@jankusthegreat9233]

Its probably better

[@williampratt1066]

Or not, just because it’s “german” don’t intstantly make it better😉

[@lanepeterson2348]

@@williampratt1066eh….its a pretty solid indicator tho. The Germans have pioneered machining and engineering for a few hundred years, particularly firearms.

[@williampratt1066]

@@lanepeterson2348 at that period they were still behind the curve industrially and arms manufacturer was mainly artisanal (same in most countries), and when Mauser began to get success he had to source steel from Sheffield to guarantee quaility,

[@pickeljarsforhillary102]

Sam Koltmann

[@packersmresandvintage]

Woohoo I'm early

[@samholdsworth420]

High five! ✋🏻

[@adskafjrufhauäšhlklöjlllhhhui]

bonk

[@skiapod6427]

I love the Grimm Gun-Handler of Suhl, he sounds like a Boss! But sadly Händler only means dealer, and there is no rabbit-hole...