Dreyse Model 1835 Needlefire Breechloading Pistol 

Yep, they where closer to having a "caseless, rotating bolt firearm" in 1830 than now: " Kraut Steampunk Magic"

Ah! It's a manual G11.

Why does Rock Island need a youtube channel? Ian basically does all of their promo work for them anyway

CapAndBall channel has a good video about the Dreyse rifle if anyone is insterested. He has an original in firing shape and shows not only how it works but how the cartridges were made and how it allowed the Prussians to defeat the larger Austrian army.

With alot of the older firearms I'm amazed w/the level of ingenuity & engineering that went in to them. There is so much we as firearms enthusiasts take for granted w/modern firearms,until you watch one of these videos.

5 in the morning... Still awake but eyes getting heavy... *sees forgotten weapons notification with antique gun* EYES WIDE OPEN SLEEP IS A DISTANT MEMORY

I have one of these in near-relic condition. Amazingly, the springs and threads are all still functional. Thanks for showing my how to get the broken needle out.

You rotate it 90 degrees, not 180 degrees down. This is very cool. Thanks Ian!

We actually still use Zoll for the diameter of TVs and Rims in Germany. Don't ask me why.

What always amazes of me this old guns it's the machining process, how they did what they did with the tools, knowledge and technology of those times; i find it really amazing.

Fascinating! I have an old BSA air rifle that uses the same loading system.

One minor detail that jumped out at me watching Ian manipulate this pistol, it was designed for left-hand use. Probably shouldn't have been as note-worthy given that military pistols in this era were usually wielded by officers or cavalry on horseback opposite swords (in their right hands). But still.

What an ingenious design for the time

There is no inch, there is only Zoll.

This and rifle version I'd love to have back then. Way ahead of it's time. Great video

The firing pin is broken on almost all of theese rotating breech variants because people try to open the lever without cocking the firing pin. They just assume it is a bit stiff to open and shear the pin off.

An elegant weapon, for a more civilized time.

Hey Ian, I will use the opportunity and the somewhat relevant topic of the video to ask a question that has been bugging me for quite a while. In the 19th century the Balkans regions of the Ottoman Empire were in turmoil with revolutions boiling. The Bulgarian minority was in particular anxious for independence and a serious revolutionary movement was created, and as revolutionary movements go it was set on buying weapons for the cause. After the 1850s a huge number of US civil war surplus guns were bought , and used along with newer (then) Winchester rifles and so on. And indeed museums here are full with Confederate Enfields, Springfields, Winchesters and I’ve seen even a Volcanic pistol. However there’s literature that suggest a large number of Chassepot needle guns were purchased as well. There are indeed a couple left in museums in their original needle fire configuration but they are disproportionately few compared to American guns. Considering your knowledge in French firearms do you have any information on a substantial (for a revolution of course) purchase of Chassepot rifles that you are aware of?

I wish he would do an episode on how they manufactured these old weapons from the 1700-1800s. Thats pretty good machining/craftsmanship for mass production before modern tools

Always nice to see examples of historical developments..

Amazing technology for the time. Truly innovative. Many thanks or showing it to us Ian.

Great video! I really enjoy seeing these old weapon reviews. I appreciate what you do.

Zoll is the common German translation for inch.

geez this has such a steampunk feel to it, also not sure but wasn't basic gun with no upgrades from Dishonored based on this?

Nice workmanship. It's the only nice thing I could think to say.

Looking closely at 6.23 minutes you can see what appears to be a repair to the woodwork. Could explain why it obscures the engraving on the action. Good video!

So when you reload the cartridge is pointing at you... That chamber better be cold.

Wonderful work again Ian at this point you should be walking encyclopedia on all firearms lol

I adore the shape of its grip and trigger guard.

When the primer is a significant portion of the propellant charge.

I am a german industrial worker and we call an inch ,Englisches Zoll', because it is the english variation of the former measurement unit ,Zoll'. And i doubt that on a german pistol of this tme had stamped english words, so the stamps surely meant something different than six grains.

Thank you , Ian .

I have no idea how rare it is, but you should do a video on a Samopal ZB 47 Paratrooper. Its such a dope looking gun with an interesting feed system

that is a beautiful piece.

This is a beautiful pistol I would love to own

Now that's a handsome pistol.

Wow, what an advanced weapon for the early 1800's ! You could get probably 10 shots a minute out of those pistols, what a firepower compared to muzzle loaders.

Nice

Yes, rotation in the breach . Thanx

Awesome video as always and a really interesting pistol!

Very good looking gun - it's old but it somehow looks just right.

That's a good looking pistol there.

Elegant.

I can imagine this with a virticle mag over the breech, like a steampunk Villar-Perosa

Huh. Reminds me of the Kammerlader.

Looks really nice

The Firing pin has a removable needle, about the Size of an RCBS decapping pin ( large)...so a small supply of pins could keep the gun running as needles burnt out ( or use stainless needles....longer Life) DocAV

The "Zoll" measures 26.15 mm, so you get 0.34*26.15/25.4 = 0.35 in, exactly like you measured.

Wow I have a old bsa. 22 air gun that works the same way you unlock the leaver crank it and it opens the port for the palet lock the crank then use the same leaver to lock the breach cool

That pistol look surprisingly good to me considering it's time, even it's sights; i've seen early 1900s and 1920s guns with much worst sights than those.

“We can rotate it 180 degs. down”- Ian, while rotating it 90 degs. downward.

G11 on a budget

Great video.

Are you not mentioning that all of these shown firearms are for sale at the end of your videos because of RU-vid's policies, Ian? The usual wording you have seems to have changed.

Looking at the positioning of the lever and latch it looks like its suited for shooting left handed but holstering it seems better on your right hip.

Be on time for the first day of school < IAN UPLOADED

Very Cool Pistol !!!!!!

Striker fired from 1835! Very interesting

Pretty cool

You said it was an anemic powder charge but how anemic exactly? Was it capable of killing small game or inflict significant injury to a human with the bullet that goes with it, or was it purely recreational gun for target shooting?

Six grains of black powder? What was it used for? Hunting mice?

Very complex for the time. Damn, i don't know if i could make that one yet, i will stick to my percussion and quick-match lead accelerators for now.

Just curious the barrel looks in better condition than the rest of the pistol is there a chance that a new barrel might have been fitted some time ago maybe to replace a original barrel I maybe wrong however just looking at the barrel and the other parts look more pitted.

Inventive load design.

It's fascinating to see how far we've come in our weaponry designs. That needle being hollow was rather a surprise, I wonder if it would have held up better if it had been solid through.

you could very easily make a gun like that in .22. just put the cartridge in bullet down and have the lever rotate to the front. you could even put a little extractor on it. would be a great plinking gun for kids

I was really hoping to find a customized Dreyse model 1835 pistol in a web search., sadly no luck. It's a nice looking firearm but some engraving and inlays would really make this gun stand out. Most likely any high end customized examples are in private collections, unlikely to be seen again for decades.

I don't think 6 grains of black powder would even give that enough energy to break the skin.

Hmmmm...I wonder...have you ever thought about stealing Othias's Patented Plastic Pokey Hand?

Thank you ian I love your vidoes could you do one on the savage arms stevens model 20 gauge bolt action I have one but I have never seen another one

Nice video Ian ......... but what's new with that? :-) So a question for clarification. The receiver is marked with the powder charge being 6gr. black powder ............ in 1835 ............ but smokeless didn't exist till 1886 ........ So before 1886 there was gunpowder ....... why mark it as black powder? It just makes no sense to me and I was hoping you could shed some light on it.

Why is the barrel so thick and massive if the cartridge is so wimpy? Is it because the metallurgy of the time wasn't very good ?

Gun Jesus should do a collaboration with the Cap and Ball channel 😀

The perfect single shot rocket ball pistol?

2:57 "180 degrees"

It is somewhat reminiscent of the lorenzoni system if it wasn't for the paper cartridge

In principle, Pushkin might have had one at his last duel. Though afaik that was a flint-lock.

Is 6 grain gunpowder even a vimpy load. I thought you put more in the pan in a flintlockpistol. It´s 0.389 gram or 0.14 Oz for anyone who wounders.

Serial number could be workshop through number, like they produced all guns in a single serial range

The breech markings said '6 Gram Pulv', right? So where does the '6 grain' bit come from? Because 6 grams is about 92,6 grains.

Six grains of BP ? Were these used as Gallery pistols ?

Anyone else look at this and think "Wow this would make a cool bowl to smoke from"

Impressive 1835 metallurgy to rely on a coil spring.

What happens if the percussion cap gets stuck inside I did not see a way to put that thing out or dig it out

@Ian If the Dreyse system was a good step forward AND the system was available by the 1830s (and not just for the Prussian Military), why did no one else adopt/steal/copy it?

I've got plenty on the Dreyse, including battle field effectiveness studies. I'll send it to you... If I figure out a way how 🤔 (I don't mean your E-mail-adress, btw... more like convert it into pdf or something)

I'm just a student and quite busy. But being German I could help you with some translations from time to time.

I enjoyed this. :)

How was it made? It looks like the barrel and receiver are one monolithic block. Was it a hog out of a large block of metal? or was it forged?, or was it welded pieces? (can't see a weld seem on the screen I am looking at)

What happens when the burnt paper builds up in the bottom of the breech? Surely some residue would clog the weapon,and necessitate thorough cleaning?

'The same thing just scaled down a little bit' only if they did this in ww1

Maybe I'm missing something, but wouldn't there be a danger when loading that there were bits of smoldering debris in the chamber/barrel that would cook off the new round?

I feel like this would be somewhat popular if made as a reproduction chambered in .22 long-rifle.

Malcolm Reynolds would be pleased...

kinda like lorenzoni

Hk51B or MC51 or 51K pls

That gun was meant for use as a parlour pistoi, right?

When you have customers making their own cartridges it's probably not a good idea to put the powder charge on there. They can't buy more guns if they blow their arms off.

Would you mind checking up on the C&R folks? They're uploading strange videos with berries and rodent parodies.

do you have any info about bullet weight, velocity, etc?