Video - The Puckle Gun: Repeating Firepower in 1718

[EdinVA]

The Puckle Gun is probably best known as that thing that had round bullets for Christians and square bullets for Turks, but there is much more to it than just that (and in addition, the square bullet version was never actually built). James Puckle designed it in 1718 as a naval defensive weapon to help British vessels fight back against Ottoman pirates using fast and nimble small boats that could not be effectively engaged with large cannon. Puckle's gun was a 9-shot repeater of about 1.25" bore on a flexible swiveling mount which could easily track the fastest marauder.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GPC7KiYDshw

[Free Vulcan]

Very cool. The quality of the metalwork was stunning for that time, as was the thinking behind it.

[Smokin Joe]

Neat. NOt such a bad design but keeping powder dry in any naval application was hard to do in that era.

[EdinVA]

Very cool. The quality of the metalwork was stunning for that time, as was the thinking behind it.

Yes... no idea how they would have done that without a lathe.. I guess time and patience..

[EdinVA]

Neat. NOt such a bad design but keeping powder dry in any naval application was hard to do in that era.

I think he said they only sold one... must be why..

[Smokin Joe]

I think he said they only sold one... must be why..

Sold two, to the same buyer. One more built from extra parts and likely a few custom made ones (that was the one he demonstrated--no idea which parts were new)