Howdah Pistol

Gonzalo G · 7th October 2008, 09:31 AM

Hi Bill, VERY interesting and unusual pistol, I congratulate you for this acquisition! It seems you have been busy making a very good collection of antique firearms. This thread is giving very good information and analysis on the subject of the straight rifled barrels.

Fernando, I don´t think bullet rotation helps in giving less air resistance, as the friction is incremented. Neverthless, it gives a more flat trayectory, more penetration and less dispersion. Not needed by the use assigned to Bill´s gun, I think. I mean, not to shoot at short distance. This kind of rifling poses some interesting questions.
My best regards

Gonzalo

Jim McDougall · 8th October 2008, 08:53 PM

Bill,
I was just the other evening entranced in TV, and watched one of the documentaries on actual animal behavior footage with some pretty incredible shots, I cant recall now the program. In some of the coverage on lions and tigers, there was one hunt involving three elephants, each carrying a howdah with several people. It was really interesting to actually see these carraiges in perspective, and they seemed pretty cramped.

Next what was completely shocking, was the tiger emerged suddenly out of a thicket and leaped toward one of the howdahs! It was unbelievable to see this huge beast completely airborne, paws and claws outspread and mouth gaping teeth bared! The howdah inhabitants apparantly survived, but at least one was terribly mauled.

In seeing this action in actual film footage, it was terrifying to even watch on film........I can well understand these huge guage guns! I think I would mount a howitzer!!!

Just thought this was interesting,
All the best,
Jim

7th October 2008, 09:31 AM	#1
Gonzalo G Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Nothern Mexico Posts: 458	Hi Bill, VERY interesting and unusual pistol, I congratulate you for this acquisition! It seems you have been busy making a very good collection of antique firearms. This thread is giving very good information and analysis on the subject of the straight rifled barrels. Fernando, I don´t think bullet rotation helps in giving less air resistance, as the friction is incremented. Neverthless, it gives a more flat trayectory, more penetration and less dispersion. Not needed by the use assigned to Bill´s gun, I think. I mean, not to shoot at short distance. This kind of rifling poses some interesting questions. My best regards Gonzalo

8th October 2008, 08:53 PM	#2
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,190	Bill, I was just the other evening entranced in TV, and watched one of the documentaries on actual animal behavior footage with some pretty incredible shots, I cant recall now the program. In some of the coverage on lions and tigers, there was one hunt involving three elephants, each carrying a howdah with several people. It was really interesting to actually see these carraiges in perspective, and they seemed pretty cramped. Next what was completely shocking, was the tiger emerged suddenly out of a thicket and leaped toward one of the howdahs! It was unbelievable to see this huge beast completely airborne, paws and claws outspread and mouth gaping teeth bared! The howdah inhabitants apparantly survived, but at least one was terribly mauled. In seeing this action in actual film footage, it was terrifying to even watch on film........I can well understand these huge guage guns! I think I would mount a howitzer!!! Just thought this was interesting, All the best, Jim