My theory: this was made for a disabled person, hence the pivoting stock and ball vertical grip. The pivoting stock may have been used for tucking the stock in the armpit rather than shouldering it, which was sometimes done from horseback, particularly when firing one-handed. And since there's a piece of black wood on the receiver, and an odd empty space just behind the rear sight, maybe the internals weren't originally exposed and the gun is missing some wooden or metal parts that covered the internals.
Yeah... come to think of it, it really does look like it is missing side plates, there is definitely the shape and spacing that there could be a covering.
@@budgiefriend This is a hard hypothetical, but maybe the wood was fitted to the gun through being form-fitted to the frame, maybe with there being two pieces screwed to each other only. Again, hard hypothetical.
I would take this and that Volcanic rifle with the scope attached on it, from another video on this channel ... And one or two cool pistols, and falchion sword.
@@Bird_Dog00 Yes. Four times. Thats literally so rare thing you dont need to recognize if it was one, or two, or four times. Ian saing "I dont know" is less than 0.5% sort of "rare".
@@calvingreene90 Yes I think this is cobbled together somehow. Looks like an attempt at perhaps recreating a Dreilling. The maker might have seen one, wanted one and the dreilling was too expensive and had other firearms lying around. The thing that sticks out though is if the maker used pieces of other firearms such as the barrels. Where are the barrel proofing marks from the original manufacture?
@@edwalmsley1401 I been thinking. You might have seen the smoke. This work looks really nice not crude. What if our maker was or worked for a gun manufacture? Some sort of prototype. Or he stole the parts one piece at a time. Might account for this mismatched barrels. And since they had never been attached to gun they were not proofed.
All of these mystery guns of unknown provenance that Ian keeps showing to us while pretending not to known anything about are actually his own creations that he secretly flaunts to us.
"Are you tired of having to reload two slugs on your old reliable double barrel shotgun? Well say no more!, with this beatifull fragile looking shotgun you get 3, yes, 3 shots! before reloading and its just as simple as this!" (Struggles to reload the gun for 2 minutes straight)
2 minutes? Ha. Slowpoke. Its a smoothbore. Powder, wad, shot, shotcard. And repeat. 3 times. It's smoothbore, not a rifle, so ramming everything home should be fairly straightforward and simple. No rifling to overcome, let alone fouling in the rifling
A gentleman at the gun store showed me the ease of disassembly and reassembly of an ak-47. He struggled with it for two minutes then called over back up to help put it together.
I would say that the folding stock is used so that you can actually squeeze the bottom trigger while holding the stock. The way it is setup, the lower trigger would be nearly impossible to reach with the stock in the "up" position. When you are ready to fire the lower barrel you pivot the stock down which puts the lower trigger within reach of your hand.
3:44 that is a recoil pivot point. Some shotguns have that however they are RARE to find with that mechanism, whenever this was a design on this or not. I can tell that it is a recoil pivot, you have it flat : fire a round : you hold the barrel down (because recoil) and it bends down then you pivot it up and fire again. Some say this is a safty feature so you don't fire on people with it in a rapid motion. (hehe good luck with that)
I was gonna guess custom fit for a disabled person but your explanation is persuasive. I was thinking "Ian, shoulder the darn thing and see what happens".
I’m a student of history and I love learning about historical firearms from your channel, but man, these mystery guns are my absolute favorite. I’m a bit of a backyard machinist myself who makes some zaney stuff and it’s comforting to know that I’m part of a long historical tradition.
That reminds me of Popular Science about 1969. New Ideas From The Inventors column. A German guy thought it would be a good idea to have a cold area in the vicinity of the glove compartment for cold drinks by spraying gasoline and using the evaporative/refrigerant effect. Inside the firewall inside the passengers compartment. And somehow passing the gasoline/air fog on to the engine. It took me a few moments back then,even as a kid,to process the concept. And then ask the reasonable question,what happens when something goes wrong ? Why the magazine even published the concept by a picture,with all seriousness,I shall never know. I rail against the safety nannies,but even for me that was a bit much. So happy backyard shadetree inventing,but I seriously hope you come up with a genuinely bright idea that people like. Not a bomb that enriches lawyers. Titanium hula hoop,perhaps ? Best I can think of. Good luck.
Me: Oh, I guess it is a pretty odd gun Ian: "The Butt Stock Pivots... it pivots that much" Me: *Busts out laughing* That genuinely made my day. It was a combination of a wacky freakin' gun, and your deadpan response to this silliness. You're great man, keep up the great work!
@@JohnSmith-bf1sq *BREAKING NEWS: big pharma makes bad looking gun to scare old people! Number 3 will litterally kill you!* Thats how nonesense the fake news is nowadays, so i wouldnt be surprised if they tried to make a scare story about this unique rifle.
Looks to me like someone had a double barrelled shotgun and a random barrel and decided to stick the two together: hence why the top barrel, hammers and triggers are so different from the lower trigger which is so much cruder and lacking a return spring. Compare the notches in the upper hammers and lower trigger; the upper hammer notches are clearly deeper, sharper and more precisely cut. Similarly, compare the cocking handles on both hammers. Also, note the clearly different finish on the lower barrel, possibly different quality/finish of brass on the new parts. There has also clearly been a piece of metal added at the muzzle to hold the lower barrel on while there is no visible separation between the top two barrels. The stock is probably original, and the gun would have had wooden side panels/fore-end which wouldn't fit over the new lower barrel and triggers, prompting the new front grip. The wooden block above the action was possibly necessary to hold it all together so was made new from scrap wood. Hence why the three wooden parts are clearly different woods. Best muzzle view at 0:46 Best action view at 3:20
That was my thought when Ian pointed out that it has one round barrel and two octagonal barrels. The single barrel's hammer would have been where all that weirdness currently is. But what's the deal with the folding stock? I really wish he had disassembled it. I suspect there's some internal mechanism that it activates. In other words it's a lever of some kind, but to do what?
the lower trigger looks like it did have a return spring at one time there was a broken bit of something screwed to the bottom and pointing at the general direction of a notch on it...
@@ketchman8299 When the guy who knows way too much about every kind of firearm goes "why does this exist?????" you know you've got something special. Good? Who knows. Special? Absolutely.
Did you attempt to try any of the triggers with the stock in it's bent configuration? There's some manner of mechanism visible in the upper hinge, and to bend the gun and lock all the hammers as a safety would be... weird, but handy and fast to deploy. Also noticed at 3:08 or so there's a fairly beefy looking leaf spring to tension the lower trigger that's been broken off.
I was thinking something along those lines too: that hinge and trigger bar is some kind of cocking lever or safety feature, maybe? This would have been a fun one to bid on (it probably didn't go for a lot), and then take it to a master gunsmith to do some experimental restoration work.
The reason the stock pivots? Simple. Man from 1800s: "It isn't fair. People in the future get to know so much more than we do." 1800s Shotgun Inventor: "I'll fix them." *Makes confusing pivoting stock*
@c ball That would make sense if it was adjustable, but it isn't, unless of course some pieces broke off and where lost to time, however it looks to me like this was pretty well preserved
I think this gun is awesome. At least look-wise. It has that steampunk-makeshift look, yet has very good style. That clutch on the bottom is actually the trigger for the third barrel. This is the strangest gun I've seen you review but definitely the coolest of the strange guns.
Ian! 10/10! Not only true to the channel name, but something that truly stumps my favorite gun historian. Please bring us more of this way-out-of-left-field firearm esoterica.
Perhaps the person that made it had a few dead guns and then cobble this "damnation alley" shotgun together from parts. It could explain the nice stock if it were from a nice gun.
Just what I was thinking. Other than the different barrels (and the way they are held together), look no further than the relative crudeness of the third trigger mechanism, like it was slapped onto something pre-existing
As always when I see an interesting old gun video I'm like "Oh, this one it looks interesting let's hear the word of Gun Jesus and see what it's this, how it works and the reason behind their existence" and at the "And and... I... I don't know" something died in me, but then my curiosity and somewhat of fascination raise out of nowhere
How did I miss this video for an entire year? I protostars thought I watched THEM ALL. And this thing is so easily top-ten in what-the-heck factor. I love this gun
A little late to the party but I was thinking the same thing, two shotgun loads In the upper barrels and a rifle load for other hunting purposes. The 3rd barrel underneath would be the most in line for recoil control and possibly accuracy if you were paranoid your left barrel made your bullets land left of your sights. I have never shot a multi-barreled firearm so that might be just my own paranoia speaking. Saw a great comment about the stock being used from inside a boat and how the stock movement was a good Idea.
That stock pivot, definitely reminds me of people "shouldering" (hanging their hunting gun/rifle under their arm pit and over their forearm (You'll see it a lot in old hunting photos)) their gun, either for horseback, or simply while standing (just like in many photos). But it specifically reminds me of people shouldering their guns/rifles while the breach is open, and so the stock is in a similar position.
With the funky configuration, it seems pretty clear that this started out life as a regular double-barrel percussion shotgun. The third barrel is a different shape, with weird mechanisms. It's clear that it was added later, with all the oddness being necessary to work around the extant ones.
I frankly enjoy these mystery one-off guns most, as watching Ian shrug his shoulders and hazard a hazy guess as to something's origin makes for an unpredictable video.
Because videos are uploaded far in advance to test the system. When it is marked as public (from unlisted) todays date gets shown Usually ya can still see that its an "old" video if it has comments posted earlier than the video itself. This one, for some reason remains unlisted and atleast I could only find it due to forgotten weapons website. If Ian makes it fully public the uploaded date will change.
Gun builder - "Hehehe! I'll put a pivot on the stock." Gun builder's wife - "Why, dear?" Gun builder - "No reason, but whoever finds this gun, in the future, will go crazy trying to figure it out."
But it's so clearly made to easily use three fingers to touch all three triggers. It's perfectly positioned in fact. Creating something that requires you to change grip for 1/3 shots seems ridiculous
Bird shot in top two barrels, ball or buckshot in the bottom one. The owner would have been able to go out hunting for the day and shoot at different types of game, as they presented themselves, without having to reload or carry a second gun. Shooting posture could be different if the hunter was shooting birds up above his head or animals on the ground, so it sort of makes sense he might have asked the gunsmith to make it so that he could grip the weapon differently, depending on what he was shooting.
a modern 3 barrel shotgun is called a 'drilling' and the bottom barrel is actually for a rifle cartridge (hence the dual sights) - I am not sure if that one takes a cartridge (not enough info) but it is possible that it is an early forerunner of a drilling where the top barrels fire shot and the bottom barrel fires a ball...
The pivoting stock is likely to somewhat customize the relationship between the shooters eye and the bead much like a comb height on an OU/SxS shotgun. The trigger mechanism on the bottom barrel seems extremely dangerous, as a stiff breeze could pop that trigger loose since it has no spring. Very peculiar shotgun and as always, an awesome video.
stock pivots to reset the bottom "hammer". keep it shouldered, pull down or towards yourself on the fore grip which will push the bottom trigger forward or down, and with your firing hand pull down on the hammer lever thingy to re-engage them.
Gotta be a sales display gun. Some gunsmith made this thing to show every possible option to customers. Hex barrel, round barrel, weird folding stock, under barrel, checkering, the works. Even explains the external mechanics. Notice how nice all those springs are?
"folding" the stock looks like it would activate or do "something" with the lower hammer though when the hammer is down it looks like it doesn't move at all when pivoting. I guess maybe it does something when the lower hammer is cocked. Could also be a flubbed measurement or a piece that broke and was polished down but me thinks its some weird idea the creator had like pivoting the stock would range the gun for a distance.
I think the pivoting stock functions as a safety. It looks like it blocks the bottom trigger and possibly moves a slide internally to block the other two hammers somehow.
Early Squad is here! For another interesting video. Looks like something a very experienced gunsmith Frankensteined together out of bits & bobs in his shop.
Maybe , when using the lower barrel, by lowering the stock it makes griping the the stock and having your finger on that lower trigger an easier and more comfortable reach.
As an engineer, I'd say the round barrel, is because of the 90° gap between the two top barrels. A third octagon would force the under barrel to be further away, enlarging the over all profile of the gun. Admittedly that's a small distance, but at the rear by the mechanisms, that could be a pretty big problem maker.
maybe the stock pivits to redirect some of the recoil out of ones shoulder.... especially if that someone is insane enough to try to fire its 3 barrels ate once... maybe it's missing a piece that locks the stock on the preferred position probably the guy who knows the answer is dead from 100 years
But it would redirect the recoil in the worst possible way by making it un-usable for rapid fire. For a gun with three barrels you'd assume the idea was to get more usable shots, this would only add difficulty in that regard
The pivoting stock was used to bring the lower trigger into alignment when the lower hammer is fully cocked. In the video Ian does not fully cock the lower hammer. When pivoted the stock becomes more of a pistol grip. I am wondering if the top barrels are choked and the lower barrel is cylinder bored. That would allow the lower barrel to be loaded with a patched ball, making the gun into something resembling a drilling and make it suitable for use on boar and other similar sized game.
I saw a pivoting stock gun once out of a family's estate for a shooter who was handicapped. The seller had some info including who the gunsmith was that did the custom work. Don't know if this has any concept relationship, just presenting an earlier observation.
Two possibilities, the bending stock combined with the vertical front grip was so you could mount the gun under your arm pit to hold the firearm while having your trigger hand free enough to actually use all three triggers.. Or the stock simply bends down so you can quickly get your trigger finger onto the third trigger without having to change your grip, leading to a quicker follow up shot
I've got it. The "folding" stock is meant to function like a pistol grip, in case you wanted/needed to fire it without shouldering it first. The angle of a fixed stock is hell on the wrist when shooting from the hip, but with the stock folded down, you can get your forearm in line behind the weapon and absorb the recoil better.
Gunsmith: Do you want a folding stock on this?
Customer: I'm not sure.
Eeeeeh... sort of? But make sure future generations will have no clue what its purpose is
Probably why the gunsmith didn't put his name on it
It could be so the shooter could access the 3rd trigger easier
PvtMartin78 maybe they just love the vibe of walking around with a break action shotgun open over one arm
You want a folding stock? Yeah, but just a bit.
"Temporarily take possession of my ale, and witness my actions."
This is the best thing since sliced bread. And also the best comment I've ever seen.
@@rogerramiussergeialexander5541 Makes sense. After all ale is sliced bread in liquid form.
ROFLMAO... BRILLIANT!
I'm truly amazed that a google search reveals that this is a brand new sentence...
Im your 1k likes and im satisfied being that person
How to make sure no gunk gets into the internals of your gun:
Don't have internals.
Well played, good sir!
Black powder is the gunk in this case
@@avocadotoast6369 Dirty shit indeed
That's fine Bethesda reasoning!
That is literally a doorknob. This shotgun has an underbarrel doorknob.
For reminding your midnight visitors that its polite to knock.....
Adding to my conviction that this is an experiment, cobbling together two pre-existing guns
"Ah, those rascally rabbits thought they could stop me by closing the door and removing the doorknob. Good thing I came prepared!"
A tactical doorknob for when you come across a door that needs opening lmao
Looks like a steering knob
My theory: this was made for a disabled person, hence the pivoting stock and ball vertical grip. The pivoting stock may have been used for tucking the stock in the armpit rather than shouldering it, which was sometimes done from horseback, particularly when firing one-handed. And since there's a piece of black wood on the receiver, and an odd empty space just behind the rear sight, maybe the internals weren't originally exposed and the gun is missing some wooden or metal parts that covered the internals.
Yeah... come to think of it, it really does look like it is missing side plates, there is definitely the shape and spacing that there could be a covering.
I thought the same thing.
Agreed but there doesn't seem to be any screw holes.
@@budgiefriend This is a hard hypothetical, but maybe the wood was fitted to the gun through being form-fitted to the frame, maybe with there being two pieces screwed to each other only. Again, hard hypothetical.
when I'm journeying to the centre of the earth on dinosaur safari, weirdie three-barrelled art deco shotguns are my weapon of choice.
Steampunk safari for sure
You never know, you might meet a scantily clad Caroline Munro...
@@jamesharmer9293 That just might make it all worthwhile. 🤓🍻
I would take this and that Volcanic rifle with the scope attached on it, from another video on this channel ... And one or two cool pistols, and falchion sword.
somewhere, a Star Wars prop department guy just found the next hero gun
Or a weapon for a random background character.
Mando has found his next hero gun to spend his Beskar on. :D
A Tusken Raider chieftain's weapon?
Slug thrower of some kind
Imagine an Ewok pulling all 3 triggers.. Oops...
Gun Jesus: "I have no idea, I got nothing"
That's it everyone. Go home. The impossible has happened. TH-cam is over. Shut it down.
That actually happens more often than you'd think. Allthough, it usually involves some swiss prototype...
Divide by zero. 8)
Interesting
@@Bird_Dog00 Those damned Swiss prototypes
@@Bird_Dog00 Yes. Four times. Thats literally so rare thing you dont need to recognize if it was one, or two, or four times. Ian saing "I dont know" is less than 0.5% sort of "rare".
The stock pivot is probably for “shouldering” while riding a horse, meaning that you tuck the stock into the armpit for stability.
I like your thinking.
Although still do not see the reasoning.
I think it is a solution looking for a problem.
@@shawnr771
Which is rather common in one off guns made by amateurs.
@@calvingreene90 Yes I think this is cobbled together somehow.
Looks like an attempt at perhaps recreating a Dreilling.
The maker might have seen one, wanted one and the dreilling was too expensive and had other firearms lying around.
The thing that sticks out though is if the maker used pieces of other firearms such as the barrels.
Where are the barrel proofing marks from the original manufacture?
@@shawnr771 that's a good point
@@edwalmsley1401 I been thinking. You might have seen the smoke.
This work looks really nice not crude.
What if our maker was or worked for a gun manufacture?
Some sort of prototype.
Or he stole the parts one piece at a time.
Might account for this mismatched barrels.
And since they had never been attached to gun they were not proofed.
The original "Three Musket-eer".
This is gold.
Nice
Perfect for firing nougat loads
I see what you did there
The pivoting stock and the big trigger looks to me as an aid while horse riding and using gloves
@airborneleaf well the angle while holding the gun on a horse not shouldered would be somewhat comfy i guess.
I agree; pivoting stock makes me think maybe it's for handling one-handed tucked under your armpit while holding reins in the other hand.
i wondered the same
oooh! Maybe it is for hunting on horseback. Foxes maybe?
The armpit thing makes a lot of sense to me.
Cheap inventor: *declines to put wood over locks*
Also cheap inventor: *spends 43 hours checkering beautiful stock*
Maybe he was bored and just need a project?
You’re presuming the stock was made for this gun and not taken from a different one
Maybe it's for maintainance
All of these mystery guns of unknown provenance that Ian keeps showing to us while pretending not to known anything about are actually his own creations that he secretly flaunts to us.
If so, I would imagine Ian like a cave man just seeing things and not understanding them at all, but recreating them with his own additions
"Kettle of wax"? Well, I think that's a whole other ball of fish.
Piece of pie.
A new Gun Jesus idiom has been spoken!! Carry it far & wide to all the bang stick believers!
“Ball of fish”? That’s a horse of an entirely different kettle.
@@b1ff yes, a dead horse, and your barking up it
Id say it's definitely rocket surgery
It was cobbled together by an RIA employee who now snickering about how he put one over on Ian. Maybe?
Hahaha it would be a good one tho
Ian: Why?
Some chap from awhile back: Yes
By Jove! I think he's got it!
"Are you tired of having to reload two slugs on your old reliable double barrel shotgun?
Well say no more!, with this beatifull fragile looking shotgun you get 3, yes, 3 shots! before reloading and its just as simple as this!"
(Struggles to reload the gun for 2 minutes straight)
Nailed it, man
Two minutes seems optimistic lol
2 minutes? Ha. Slowpoke. Its a smoothbore. Powder, wad, shot, shotcard. And repeat. 3 times. It's smoothbore, not a rifle, so ramming everything home should be fairly straightforward and simple. No rifling to overcome, let alone fouling in the rifling
A gentleman at the gun store showed me the ease of disassembly and reassembly of an ak-47. He struggled with it for two minutes then called over back up to help put it together.
I would say that the folding stock is used so that you can actually squeeze the bottom trigger while holding the stock. The way it is setup, the lower trigger would be nearly impossible to reach with the stock in the "up" position. When you are ready to fire the lower barrel you pivot the stock down which puts the lower trigger within reach of your hand.
That's the conclusion I came to. Occam's razor and all that, the simplest answer is often the best.
Triple threat: granddaddy?
Man, I’ve never seen Ian looking so tired. Get that man a well deserved scotch!
Even better, get him a French 75.
Nah after he has finished gun Jesus just pops out and turns water into wine. He's got the booze covered😳
Please wipe off the spider webs lol
The Black Prince or two!
@@TheLoxxxton He's not Jesus, he's gun Jesus. He can only turn sand into smokeless powder/black powder (depending on the sand)
Start a firearms x-files cabinet. Inexplicable unsolved cases of firearms development.
I'd love that
That's brilliant!
Ian, if you read this, please make an odd gun section for your show.
Starting host the Gun Jesus....Now protruding to the ancient misteries of the Quest of the Hellrigel....
3:44 that is a recoil pivot point.
Some shotguns have that however they are RARE to find with that mechanism, whenever this was a design on this or not.
I can tell that it is a recoil pivot, you have it flat : fire a round : you hold the barrel down (because recoil) and it bends down then you pivot it up and fire again.
Some say this is a safty feature so you don't fire on people with it in a rapid motion. (hehe good luck with that)
Just gonna comment so this gets up higher as it deserves to be.
Yeah I was gonna say, that looks like some kind of recoil absorbing mechanism
This is exactly it
My first thought was also recoil absorbing feature. But I have been known to be wrong.
I was gonna guess custom fit for a disabled person but your explanation is persuasive. I was thinking "Ian, shoulder the darn thing and see what happens".
I’m a student of history and I love learning about historical firearms from your channel, but man, these mystery guns are my absolute favorite.
I’m a bit of a backyard machinist myself who makes some zaney stuff and it’s comforting to know that I’m part of a long historical tradition.
That reminds me of Popular Science about 1969. New Ideas From The Inventors column. A German guy thought it would be a good idea to have a cold area in the vicinity of the glove compartment for cold drinks by spraying gasoline and using the evaporative/refrigerant effect. Inside the firewall inside the passengers compartment. And somehow passing the gasoline/air fog on to the engine. It took me a few moments back then,even as a kid,to process the concept. And then ask the reasonable question,what happens when something goes wrong ? Why the magazine even published the concept by a picture,with all seriousness,I shall never know. I rail against the safety nannies,but even for me that was a bit much.
So happy backyard shadetree inventing,but I seriously hope you come up with a genuinely bright idea that people like. Not a bomb that enriches lawyers. Titanium hula hoop,perhaps ? Best I can think of. Good luck.
"it's the end of what been a fairly long...." hearing this scared me.
Y tho
He can't stop. He's gun Jesus, and those merchants won't drive themselves out of the temple.
Alex Carrara And he drove out the ATF agents with dry humor and knowledge
@@Metalbringer92 LMAO
i very nearly shit myself hearing that phrase
Me: Oh, I guess it is a pretty odd gun
Ian: "The Butt Stock Pivots... it pivots that much"
Me: *Busts out laughing*
That genuinely made my day. It was a combination of a wacky freakin' gun, and your deadpan response to this silliness. You're great man, keep up the great work!
If Ian doesn't know, then it should not legally even be allowed to be considered a firearm
Happy Haunter Well it’s a muzzleloader so in the US at least it legally isn’t.
Is this gun Fake news?
This “gun” was provided by Big Media.
@@JohnSmith-bf1sq *BREAKING NEWS: big pharma makes bad looking gun to scare old people! Number 3 will litterally kill you!*
Thats how nonesense the fake news is nowadays, so i wouldnt be surprised if they tried to make a scare story about this unique rifle.
This truly is a forgotten weapon.
Looks to me like someone had a double barrelled shotgun and a random barrel and decided to stick the two together:
hence why the top barrel, hammers and triggers are so different from the lower trigger which is so much cruder and lacking a return spring. Compare the notches in the upper hammers and lower trigger; the upper hammer notches are clearly deeper, sharper and more precisely cut. Similarly, compare the cocking handles on both hammers.
Also, note the clearly different finish on the lower barrel, possibly different quality/finish of brass on the new parts. There has also clearly been a piece of metal added at the muzzle to hold the lower barrel on while there is no visible separation between the top two barrels.
The stock is probably original, and the gun would have had wooden side panels/fore-end which wouldn't fit over the new lower barrel and triggers, prompting the new front grip. The wooden block above the action was possibly necessary to hold it all together so was made new from scrap wood. Hence why the three wooden parts are clearly different woods.
Best muzzle view at 0:46
Best action view at 3:20
Aidan H
That would be my guess as well
That was my thought when Ian pointed out that it has one round barrel and two octagonal barrels. The single barrel's hammer would have been where all that weirdness currently is.
But what's the deal with the folding stock?
I really wish he had disassembled it. I suspect there's some internal mechanism that it activates. In other words it's a lever of some kind, but to do what?
He decided after making one round barrel "this is a pain in the ass" and made two octagonal ones after.
@@markfergerson2145 I wonder if the hinge wasn't "recycled" from something else
the lower trigger looks like it did have a return spring at one time there was a broken bit of something screwed to the bottom and pointing at the general direction of a notch on it...
Is it just me or are these mystery firearms some of the most interesting?
Why yes, yes they are. And the most fun videos are when Ian has that look of "WTF?" on his face.
Not just you :D
@@ketchman8299 When the guy who knows way too much about every kind of firearm goes "why does this exist?????" you know you've got something special. Good? Who knows. Special? Absolutely.
@@benjaminmiddaugh2729 And when that happens Sir, it is a video I most want to watch.
Mystery revolver, rifles, and pistols
Did you attempt to try any of the triggers with the stock in it's bent configuration? There's some manner of mechanism visible in the upper hinge, and to bend the gun and lock all the hammers as a safety would be... weird, but handy and fast to deploy.
Also noticed at 3:08 or so there's a fairly beefy looking leaf spring to tension the lower trigger that's been broken off.
I was thinking something along those lines too: that hinge and trigger bar is some kind of cocking lever or safety feature, maybe? This would have been a fun one to bid on (it probably didn't go for a lot), and then take it to a master gunsmith to do some experimental restoration work.
The reason the stock pivots? Simple.
Man from 1800s: "It isn't fair. People in the future get to know so much more than we do."
1800s Shotgun Inventor: "I'll fix them." *Makes confusing pivoting stock*
AmronFortis i full heartedly endorse this comment as true because there is some joker out there that more than likely had the idea!
@c ball That would make sense if it was adjustable, but it isn't, unless of course some pieces broke off and where lost to time, however it looks to me like this was pretty well preserved
@c ball What I meant is, you can't lock it in place. That's hardly an adjustment in my book.
@@ajeje1996 its for use on horseback
I think this gun is awesome. At least look-wise. It has that steampunk-makeshift look, yet has very good style. That clutch on the bottom is actually the trigger for the third barrel. This is the strangest gun I've seen you review but definitely the coolest of the strange guns.
Tactical grip, folding stock 1845 edition ;)
And a voice from on high spake sayin “lo Thou shalt not bamboozle Gun Jesus “
For when there's three burglars and you're hiding behind your couch.
Bee H. Dont miss
I hope you aren't using slugs or you are a really good shot without any real sights
Ian! 10/10!
Not only true to the channel name, but something that truly stumps my favorite gun historian. Please bring us more of this way-out-of-left-field firearm esoterica.
Perhaps the person that made it had a few dead guns and then cobble this "damnation alley" shotgun together from parts. It could explain the nice stock if it were from a nice gun.
This would also explain the fact that the third barrel is a different style from the top two
It's"Frankengun"
Just what I was thinking. Other than the different barrels (and the way they are held together), look no further than the relative crudeness of the third trigger mechanism, like it was slapped onto something pre-existing
I thought the same about the mismatched barrels, definitely a franken-gun.
And in this lot, we have examples of "wtf" and "put your damn name on your creations"
As always when I see an interesting old gun video I'm like "Oh, this one it looks interesting let's hear the word of Gun Jesus and see what it's this, how it works and the reason behind their existence" and at the "And and... I... I don't know" something died in me, but then my curiosity and somewhat of fascination raise out of nowhere
How did I miss this video for an entire year? I protostars thought I watched THEM ALL. And this thing is so easily top-ten in what-the-heck factor. I love this gun
Maybe the bottom barrel was meant for use with a rifle load instead of shot and the stock pivots so you can use the sights such as they are.
A little late to the party but I was thinking the same thing, two shotgun loads In the upper barrels and a rifle load for other hunting purposes. The 3rd barrel underneath would be the most in line for recoil control and possibly accuracy if you were paranoid your left barrel made your bullets land left of your sights. I have never shot a multi-barreled firearm so that might be just my own paranoia speaking. Saw a great comment about the stock being used from inside a boat and how the stock movement was a good Idea.
That stock pivot, definitely reminds me of people "shouldering" (hanging their hunting gun/rifle under their arm pit and over their forearm (You'll see it a lot in old hunting photos)) their gun, either for horseback, or simply while standing (just like in many photos). But it specifically reminds me of people shouldering their guns/rifles while the breach is open, and so the stock is in a similar position.
With the funky configuration, it seems pretty clear that this started out life as a regular double-barrel percussion shotgun. The third barrel is a different shape, with weird mechanisms. It's clear that it was added later, with all the oddness being necessary to work around the extant ones.
I have enjoyed your videos for years now, and this is the first gun you've showed us that i actually, deeply, and sincerely, WANT.
That's not a forgotten weapon, that's an unknown weapon! Love it!
Please make as many videos on these absolute mystery guns as possible. They are my absolute favorite
With all those triggers, I was surprised there wasn't one for firing all three barrels at once.
The more I see of this, the more I like it. Beautifully crafted.
Gunsmith: Do you want a single or double barrel shotgun?
Customer: Yes.
The answer of a true expert is I don't know. Cuz nobody knows everything but true experts admit it. Kudos Ian.
“Pray, momentarily relieve me of my lager, whilst you observe my maneuvers.”
I frankly enjoy these mystery one-off guns most, as watching Ian shrug his shoulders and hazard a hazy guess as to something's origin makes for an unpredictable video.
Odd. This is dated October 17, 2019, and I just got it November 25, 2019. Not enough postage on the e-mail?
Because videos are uploaded far in advance to test the system. When it is marked as public (from unlisted) todays date gets shown
Usually ya can still see that its an "old" video if it has comments posted earlier than the video itself.
This one, for some reason remains unlisted and atleast I could only find it due to forgotten weapons website. If Ian makes it fully public the uploaded date will change.
It gets posted privately first, then released to the public on a schedule. Patrions get links to the early private release.
time paradox
One of my favorite guns on this channel now. So simple but so cool. Looks like who ever built it loved this thing more than their child
Gun builder - "Hehehe! I'll put a pivot on the stock."
Gun builder's wife - "Why, dear?"
Gun builder - "No reason, but whoever finds this gun, in the future, will go crazy trying to figure it out."
That knob reminds me of the steering wheel knob on my old 1974 International Harvester Lo-Boy 154
The front grip looks like the speed knob from the steering wheel of a tractor.
throttle. thats called a throttle.
Effective or not, it's great to see creativity and learn from people with similar interests.
Maybe the stock in the bent position is meant to be like a pistol grip, when using the bottom-barrel trigger?
But it's so clearly made to easily use three fingers to touch all three triggers. It's perfectly positioned in fact. Creating something that requires you to change grip for 1/3 shots seems ridiculous
Bird shot in top two barrels, ball or buckshot in the bottom one. The owner would have been able to go out hunting for the day and shoot at different types of game, as they presented themselves, without having to reload or carry a second gun. Shooting posture could be different if the hunter was shooting birds up above his head or animals on the ground, so it sort of makes sense he might have asked the gunsmith to make it so that he could grip the weapon differently, depending on what he was shooting.
sounds odd but it could explain why the stock starts off so weirdly thin
a modern 3 barrel shotgun is called a 'drilling' and the bottom barrel is actually for a rifle cartridge (hence the dual sights) - I am not sure if that one takes a cartridge (not enough info) but it is possible that it is an early forerunner of a drilling where the top barrels fire shot and the bottom barrel fires a ball...
You're posting a range video shooting this one tomorrow, right?
I don't think so since it's a collector's item than a shotgun someone is allowed to use, but it would be neat
Well of all the guns you have shown over the years, this is the only one I need two of!!!
maybe it bends so you can carry it over the shoulder balanced, like an O/U shotgun
I amas stunned about this funky piece as you are but gotta say, something in that steampunkness tickles me, it's pretty even
I bet the "folding" stock is some form of safety for the bottom barrel. Looks like it would disconnect the hammer from the trigger.
This gun is absolutely mesmerizing! Is it practical? Probably not. But totally gorgeous and one of a kind. Thanks for sharing!
These last few Shotguns you've done have felt to me like an engineer had a couple of busted guns and way to much time on their hands.
Idle hands are where the fun begins
The pivoting stock is likely to somewhat customize the relationship between the shooters eye and the bead much like a comb height on an OU/SxS shotgun. The trigger mechanism on the bottom barrel seems extremely dangerous, as a stiff breeze could pop that trigger loose since it has no spring. Very peculiar shotgun and as always, an awesome video.
If that shotgun doesn't scream, "Steampunk!" I don't know what does.
More diesel punk imo crude dirtier more.functional first design
This is a beautiful gun and I love how different it is
Armourer: No one has a stranger gun than the one I just invented!
Engineer: Hold my beveling planisher!
stock pivots to reset the bottom "hammer". keep it shouldered, pull down or towards yourself on the fore grip which will push the bottom trigger forward or down, and with your firing hand pull down on the hammer lever thingy to re-engage them.
I can't be the only one who lost his shit at the way he says "I got no idea, I got nothing"
Gotta be a sales display gun. Some gunsmith made this thing to show every possible option to customers. Hex barrel, round barrel, weird folding stock, under barrel, checkering, the works. Even explains the external mechanics. Notice how nice all those springs are?
"folding" the stock looks like it would activate or do "something" with the lower hammer though when the hammer is down it looks like it doesn't move at all when pivoting. I guess maybe it does something when the lower hammer is cocked.
Could also be a flubbed measurement or a piece that broke and was polished down but me thinks its some weird idea the creator had like pivoting the stock would range the gun for a distance.
I think the pivoting stock functions as a safety. It looks like it blocks the bottom trigger and possibly moves a slide internally to block the other two hammers somehow.
This is Exactly why we need Forgetting Weapons. Com
beautiful percussion shotgun and I like the open system
Early Squad is here! For another interesting video.
Looks like something a very experienced gunsmith Frankensteined together out of bits & bobs in his shop.
Agreed. Bottom barrel seams to have also different colour than those two upper ones.
The spring to provide tension on the bottom trigger is broke or missing. You can see where it mounts center underneath the action.
Mystery Shotgun Week returns!
seeing how tired you look makes me appreciate even more that you make these videos.
thanks Ian
Maybe , when using the lower barrel, by lowering the stock it makes griping the the stock and having your finger on that lower trigger an easier and more comfortable reach.
You know what, I think that's the most plausible answer here.
I love videos where you're stumped. Always truly strange weapons.
Proof that the "tweeker" existed well before our modern variants.
As an engineer, I'd say the round barrel, is because of the 90° gap between the two top barrels. A third octagon would force the under barrel to be further away, enlarging the over all profile of the gun. Admittedly that's a small distance, but at the rear by the mechanisms, that could be a pretty big problem maker.
maybe the stock pivits to redirect some of the recoil out of ones shoulder.... especially if that someone is insane enough to try to fire its 3 barrels ate once... maybe it's missing a piece that locks the stock on the preferred position probably the guy who knows the answer is dead from 100 years
But it would redirect the recoil in the worst possible way by making it un-usable for rapid fire. For a gun with three barrels you'd assume the idea was to get more usable shots, this would only add difficulty in that regard
The one time Ian has no clue. Haha! Cool gun and review as always!
"I'm going to go back to guns that are a little bit more normal" lol
The pivoting stock was used to bring the lower trigger into alignment when the lower hammer is fully cocked. In the video Ian does not fully cock the lower hammer. When pivoted the stock becomes more of a pistol grip. I am wondering if the top barrels are choked and the lower barrel is cylinder bored. That would allow the lower barrel to be loaded with a patched ball, making the gun into something resembling a drilling and make it suitable for use on boar and other similar sized game.
The bending stock could be an early horrible attempt at recoil dampening
Nathan Wantola lets just guess
Dampened recoil at shoulder, increased punch to the cheekbone by like 100x. Talk about rattling your fillings.
Very interesting Percussion cap Shotgun !!!!!!! Thanks for showing this peace of history, Ian. Also have a great Thanksgiving Sir !!!!!
I think the stock is like that because the owner was deformed and had the shoulder at his crotch.
Another amazing weapons, so happy to learn something about those particular pieces.
"what should we add - A bayonet? underslung grenade launcher? laser sight?"
"NO! ...
We will add...A doorknob. A tactical doorknob!"
I saw a pivoting stock gun once out of a family's estate for a shooter who was handicapped. The seller had some info including who the gunsmith was that did the custom work. Don't know if this has any concept relationship, just presenting an earlier observation.
Gun Jesus and a Holy Grail steampunk shotgun
Two possibilities, the bending stock combined with the vertical front grip was so you could mount the gun under your arm pit to hold the firearm while having your trigger hand free enough to actually use all three triggers..
Or the stock simply bends down so you can quickly get your trigger finger onto the third trigger without having to change your grip, leading to a quicker follow up shot
Alone In The Dark
I don't like to say that but I really love those unique pieces 😁
Kind of like the odd stuff is just nice 👍
"Kettle of wax" I'm using that just to see the looks I get!
At least you'll have wax to put in your ears before they start asking silly questions.
I've got it. The "folding" stock is meant to function like a pistol grip, in case you wanted/needed to fire it without shouldering it first. The angle of a fixed stock is hell on the wrist when shooting from the hip, but with the stock folded down, you can get your forearm in line behind the weapon and absorb the recoil better.