Muskets and metallic cartridges

[Oyvind]

Disclaimer: this post contains shameless self-promotion

In a couple of months my new book on black powder shooting and historical firearms will be available. Although I'm Norwegian, the book is published in English by a publisher in the UK. The book spans approximately 500 years and will present the practical history of black powder firearms from the late Middle Ages to about 1900, with focus on American, British, Scandinavian, German and French firearms – from the primitive matchlock musket to metallic cartridge rifles and revolvers. It is illustrated with hundreds of color pictures, historical images and drawings.

If you're interested in this kind of stuff I've made a 2 minute trailer that gives you an impression of what it's all about:

 

[4v50 Gary]

Are they putting you on a tour in America? How about the big NRA range at Whittington, New Mexico? I'll swing by to say hello.

BTW, my own research concentrates between 1750-1914. There is some mention of earlier incidents in it as well as later incidents.

 

[Loyalist Dave]

Well add that to my Christmas list!

LD

 

[Oyvind]

Unfortunately, I haven't heard anything about an American tour. With my current budget I probably would have to row across the Atlantic so it won't be in the immediate future anyway.

 

[splattergun]

Let me know if you do a book signing in Oslo. I will have my son-in-law get it.

 

[Oyvind]

Let me know if you do a book signing in Oslo. I will have my son-in-law get it.

Sure, Oslo is more likely as I attend shoots in that area at least once a year. Does he shoot black powder too? If so, he has probably discovered that the powder prices are a lot higher here than in the US. A pound of Swiss black powder costs approximately $70 here. Beat that :banghead:

 

[Steel Horse Rider]

I will be disappointed if you ignore the Bavarian Podewils-Lindner in your chapter about breech loading percussion rifles. I have one and it is very much fun to shoot. It was used by the Bavarian Army in the Franco-Prussian War but did not have a long life due to the introduction of brass cartridge rifles.

 

[Oyvind]

No, the Podewils-Lindner is not forgotten and neither is the gun it was largely inspired by, the British Calisher and Terry. Neither are unfortunately not described much in detail as I had to limit this particular chapter's main parts to the Norwegian kammerlader, Prussian Dreyse, French Chassepot, British 'monkeytail' and American Sharps. These guns are more accessible to shooters I believe.

 

[Busyhands94]

I'll ask wifey for this on Christmas or my birthday.

 

[Cosmoline]

Looks great! I don't know how comprehensive it us, but here are a few topics I'm hoping to find more info on:

--The early Jaeger military rifles and their evolution. I've seen these ranging from very early ones to 19th century ones refitted for caplocks. Very interesting stuff, as it's part of the heritage imported to the US that inspired our own rifle makers and military sharpshooters.

--Russian arms, esp. the ones used in their American colonies. I've found several references to a very unusual small bore flintlock rifle they used in their colonies which was alleged by some to have inspired the small bore Kentucky rifles. Their name escapes me, and I've never been able to locate an example in the flesh. Russian flintlocks in general are interesting. They had trouble keeping pace as I understand it but did have factories in Tula (PTG arsenal) and in the 19th century founded a big one in Ishvesk. Yet I've seen few actual examples of Russian made flintlocks and no detailed study of the variations.

--English and continental civilian arms. There appears to have been a booming trade in pistols and blunderbuss for use by civilians traveling outside the cities. Most nations prior to the late 18th cnt. had no police forces as such, and little control over the sprawling forests that still covered the continent. So you were pretty much on your own. The English makers even had blunderbuss with a spring-powered bayonet to add extra persuasive force against highwaymen.

--In general, the role of small arms in the tactical shift between the shot-and-pike formations and the line of battle bayonet/musket formations that came later. And in particular the role that improvements in powder and chemistry may have helped.

 

[Oyvind]

1. Early Jaeger military rifles: Yes, with focus on German and Norwegian rifles – with main focus on the practical and tactical use such as loading procedures and use in battle.

2. Russian arms: Very little, I'm afraid. Russian arms are interesting though, but I know too little about them. One of the late Norwegian jaeger rifles was made in Tula. I can't remember whether it is pictured or not.

3. English and continental civilian arms: Yes, most of the mention of civilian firearms is English, German, Scandinavian and South African. The blunderbuss is of course covered.

4. Yes, a separate chapter discusses the role of firearms in warfare and the tactical use and shifts are covered in many of the other chapters as well.

3 out 4 can't be that bad.

Here are some pictures showing the layout:

 

[Cosmoline]

Well that's excellent! That must have been a huge amount of work.

I'm not surprised re. the Russians. There seems to be a general lack of info about those arms prior to the 1850's perhaps because so few seem to be in the west. Our museum has a few allegedly from the Russian territorial days, but I'm not sure the provenance is accurate. Someone would need to speak Russian and do a detailed tour of Russian museums I suspect.

 

[Oyvind]

The book is now published, at least in Europe. The US and Canada will have to wait for the hardcover edition until 1 March 2014, but you can of course get it from a European bookstore.

It's also available as an ebook and Amazon let you preview the first chapter for free: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Musket-Metallic-Cartridge-Oyvind-Flatnes/dp/1847975933

I hope you like it!

 

[4v50 Gary]

Russia probably issued more flintlock rifles than any other nation during the Napoleonic Wars. There were over 20,000. The trouble is what sort of training or selection did the Russians have for their riflemen? From what I can find, they were not consistent.

 

[Oyvind]

As far I have understood, most of the Russian rifles were pulled out of service in mid-1808 and only non-commissioned officers and twelve selected sharpshooters in each eger (jaeger) company continued carrying them. The fact that they were withdrawn from service could indicate that their success was limited prior to 1808.

 

[4v50 Gary]

Thanks for your insight into the Russians. I know L'Empereur also withdrew rifles from French service.

Santa Ana's Army at the Alamo had Baker armed soldiers. As specialists (meaning not regular infantry), they were issued only four bullets for the assault. On top of that, instead of serving as sharp shooters, they were told to carry the ladders. Pretty good, huh? It shows that Santa Ana modeled his army after that of the Europeans, but did not understand how to use them.

You don't have any American vendors, yet? I don't want to pay $25 for postage.

 

[Oyvind]

No, I don't think the book is released to any American vendor before 1 March. I'm not sure why, but it probably has something to do with logistics and rights.

However, Amazon in the UK will ship to American addresses for about $6.50.

 

[4v50 Gary]

Oyvind - I enjoyed your book very much. History wise it is very much like a combination of my own and practical wise, it is very much like Joe Bilby's Civil War Firearms. It has everything from the use of the rifle or musket, the loading and use of blackpowder revolvers (both cap 'n ball & cartridge), making of paper cartridges, reloading, shot casting. The photography was excellent and in color too. I think it deserves a place on every muzzle loader's bookshelf.

 

[Oyvind]

The hardcover edition of From Musket to Metallic Cartridge is now finally available in America! You can get it from amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/Musket-Metallic-Cartridge-Oyvind-Flatnes/dp/1847975933/