Iceland's Domestic Guns: The Drífa and Others
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 21 ก.ย. 2024
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Today I have the very cool opportunity to bring you a history of Icelandic domestic firearms manufacturing, courtesy of the Veiðisafnið - the Hunting Museum of Iceland:
www.hunting.is...
The first documented record of a firearm on Iceland dates to 1482, appearing in a description of a legal dispute between two farmers. The first recording hunting is in 1615, when a polar bear was shot in Hjaltadal (polar bears are not native to Iceland, but occasionally float across on ice form Greenland).
Without any large mammals (reindeer were only introduced in the 1700s form Norway), there has historically been little call for rifles on Iceland. Instead, most of the guns were shotguns, useful for bird hunting. The first known professional gunsmith was Einar Bjarnason, of Skeftafelli in Öræfi. Some time around 1730 or 1740 he worked repairing and maintaining guns. Virtually all were imported from places like Denmark and Norway, but three other gunsmiths did produce guns from scratch over that past few hundred years.
The first was Jósef Jóhannsson in the town of Akureyri. Around 1890, he built a handful of 8 gauge hunting shotguns - but no surviving examples are known.
The second was Jón Þorsteinsson, of Ólafsfjöður. He lived form 1880 until 1968, and was building guns between 1920 and 1956. The total produced is not known exactly, but the best guess is about 30. They were simple break-action shotguns between 12ga and 4ga, with external hammers of cocking levers (the design evolved over time) and no extractor. We have two examples to see in the video.
The third and final Icelandic gun maker was Jón Bjornsson of Dalvik. He was born in 1907 and lived until 1991 - and he did not start making guns until 1977. Bjornsson was a jack of all trades tinkerer, who was know for building everything from hand tools to a washing machine and a violin. Iceland was a poor place during most of the 20th century, and "build it yourself" was the only viable option for many things in the countryside. When Bjornsson did start making guns, he did so with a classic make-do spirit. The barrels were imported axle tube bored out to 12ga, the bolts were made from scrapped boat propeller shaft, and the small metal parts from the runners of common farm sleds.
Bjornsson's design, which he called the "Drífa" was essentially a simplified copy of the Marlin Goose Gun; a single-shot bolt action gun with a 3 inch 12 gauge chamber. A total of 120 were made, two at a time, between 1977 and 1990 (numbered 101 through 220). This did include five magazine fed examples, which used 2-round Savage detachable magazines imported from the US. Today an owners' club exists for the Drífa shotguns and the location of every single one is known.
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My icelandic husband owns a Drífa, Nr. 208 made 1988. He bought it directly from Jón.
NATO, 1980: We need the 5.7 in case of Soviet invasion
Iceland, 1690: We need flintlocks in case of polar bear invasion
Two different types of bear
Australia 1932: We need .303 for when the emus attack
@@Justin-ns5lp 💀
@@jerekalevijarvinen1389 The slightly more hairy bear might be a more formidable enemy at this point…
but 4 bore
Rarely can you pretty completely cover the entire firearms history of any nation in one video. Very interesting.
Well, i certainly wouldnt say he has covered all of it. But hes covered pretty much every aspect of the firearms manifacture history of Iceland.
@@magnismarason3379 "Do Andorra next!"
He and his descendants could do ALL American guns.
I can also mention, that they are all inbreed.
@@yannikoloff7659 Its spelled inbred. Did you know that poor spelling skills increase the more inbred a person is? You should look into that.
Thank you so much for this video, Ian! I am an icelander and have shot one of those unique guns. That was an interesting experience as the guns are very heavy but pattern really well. I can also confirm that Jón was a genuine legend here by the arctic circle :D
what ammo is/was used? homemade or imported?
@@swissbianco I don´t remember - probably some german Hubertus or russian Baikal ammo.
wow I thought Iceland didn't even have weapons, it must be something fun to fight with a bear or very dangerous
@@HugoLopez-vy8cl what a cringy and ignorant thing to say. That's no different than saying you think war is cool and fun.
Having to kill to protect your family's life is never fun.
@@miateller9306 I mean it's obvious that it isn't always fun, but who are you to say that it never is? As long as you're lucky enough to get by, bringing down a large animal with a big gun has to be a rush regardless of circumstance, like it or not
In the Westman Islands Folk museum in Iceland we have a few firearms (all deactivated). One is a 30 cal Lewis aircraft gun which was supposedly "lent" by the US-army to a captain of a local fishing boat to defend against German aircraft during WW2.
We didn't say you could deactivate that! What are you going to do if the Germans start flying over head again?
The US at that time had a passion for putting machine guns on anything that could conceivably use them. Tank? Give it a .50. APC? You guessed it, John Moses Browning is there. Jeep? Rip out the back seats and plant a .50 on a stick there, they boys could use it! That giant battleship with 14" guns that lob shells the size of office copiers in excess of 15 miles downrange? Looks like that boat could use a few dozen machine guns! So the idea of a few US GIs stationed in Iceland slapping a machine gun on a bewildered fisherman's boat and telling him to stay safe... it just tracks with the general fashion of the times in America.
@@necrothitude Well blame the Germans for showing how effective a dive bomber could be.
@@necrothitude Well 14 inch was WWI, 16 inch by WWII.
@@necrothitude This particular captain was one of the most prominent one on the island and basically demanded the gun from the army. Fishing in the North Atlantic at the time was very risky and the Germans intention toward Iceland was not clear. Fishermen were basically on their own.
A hundred and twenty guns in 13 years, is a lot faster than I could manage with no pre-made parts except the mags. It's about six weeks to go from salvaged materials to working firearm. And apparently, they still work. Not bad at all.
I traveled to Iceland for the first time this last summer. It's an absolutely amazing country.
Fun fact, Iceland actually has a fairly high firearm ownership rate, something like 30 guns for every 100 citizens.
It's a horrible country full of evil people. They are committing Nazi style eugenics programs against the disabled
@@jeffslote9671 Time for meds
Based
@@jeffslote9671 Man, they must be hiding it really well. Ive lived here for 30 years and never noticed any eugenic actions being taken 🤣
@@magnismarason3379 Þetta er útaf gamalli frétt sem var birt í Bandarískum fjölmiðlum, sirka 10-15 ár síðan. Vegna þess að við getum fundið áhveðna fæðingagalla meðan barnið er enn í móðurkviði eins og t.d. downsheilkenni, þá áhveða flestir að fara í fóstureyðingu frekar en að ala fötluð börn.
Einhvern vegin var þetta þýtt yfir í að við erum nasistar sem stunda "þjóðernismorð" á "kynstofni" Magga Mix.
Icelander here. Wow. Thank you for this video. I had no idea of this history. Big love and thanks again!
This is top-tier Forgotten Weapons content. This is what makes me love Ian. Thank you!
Very interesting actually. I especially liked the part about the "typical cranky old gunsmith" calling customer on the phone. Made me laugh.
Its all fun and games until a bear washes up and you missed that damn phone call!
Haha - I go to a guy like that (typically after trying something myself), and he gives me a ration of s*** every time. He’s real knowledgeable & reasonable on price; but the extra ball busting is free of charge! I’m not sure what we are going to do when these old guys actually tire of our s*** and retire for real?
When I have a problem I tell the gunsmith that’s probably the nut behind the wheel. He agrees.
Finally!! Been watching you since the machine gun intro many years ago. This museum is what ignited my interest for firearms.
The detail about them Writing to Guns and Ammo magazine about how to Blue the shotguns, really is quite endearing. I wonder if the inquiry and answer were printed in one of the monthly issues.
I heard Ian say how to blow a shotgun.
Your pronunciation of all the icelandic names and places was really good. I have never heard of the Drífa, very cool and interesting.
I visited that museum with my family last summer. The Shooting Association of Iceland had their annual gun show there and so we got to see all kinds of modern guns you do not normally see in Iceland.
Iceland has a unique and very interesting history. Always wondered how much history would have changed if Leif Erickson’s colony in Canada and the Eric the Red’s Greenland colonies would have survived. It’s odd that Iceland was settled for over 500 years befor Columbus and with Greenland colonies only dying out around the early 1400s, yet knowledge of North America was unknown to most of Europe until Columbus re-discovered it.
Taxi drivers would be White
I'm going to guess that the grooves on the back of the Drifa's bolt are something to do with preventing it from icing up and becoming stuck in the closed position. If I remember right, the L118 "Arctic Warfare" has grooves in the bolt that serve a similar purpose.
I hope you enjoy your visit here :) your Lopapeysa looks good and your Icelandic accent was actually very good indeed!
Absolutely fascinating. The background of these guns is almost comparable to improvised or poacher fire arms, but they're on the opposite end of the production quality spectrum.
I remember this video was made public accidentally almost a week or so ago.
Same! I got the notification but by the time I had time to click on it, it had been taken down! I only remember it because it said Drifa
*whispering into a radio* He knows too much.
Reminds me of how Browning and his father used wornout railcar axels as high-quality steel stock.
Holy smokes! I did not expect this video. Learned a fair piece about my country’s history Kærar þakkir, Ian.
What a wonderfull story! I have respect for the gunmaker being so resourcefull and yet deliver a funtional wel finished shotgun.
Forgotten weapons indeed.! I would have never imagined Iceland had a such an interesting firearms history . Would like to see what kinds of tools were used to make these shotguns. Thanks Ian.
@Mike Wysko Very good point, I think we should all tell Ian how interesting that would be.
Im willing to bet on the drifa you dont have to pull the trigger to cycle the bolt when the firing pin is installed. It appears that the firing pin would hold the sear down after firing allowing the bolt slide over the sear
I love the talk about the bluing. I would have just assumed it was a basic phosphate coating, possibly even just using naval jelly instead of a purer phosphoric acid. No clue how that would hold up compared to if you added zinc or manganese to the mix to be fully Parkerized. Since he wrote Guns & Ammo my guess is he went with a more modern hot bluing as well instead of the fairly time intensive and older process of rust bluing. I love how utilitarian those things are as well.
Thanks a lot for the video because previously to this I only had any sort of knowledge of Icelandic firearms only very tangentially: When Barbary pirates raided in 1627 it was infinitely more deadly than the later invasion of Iceland by the United Kingdom in 1940. The Turkish Abductions resulted in about 50 deaths and 400 captured slaves whereas the UK's invasion of Iceland resulted in no Icelandic deaths at all, though the UK did have a casualty of one fresh marine recruit killing himself on the voyage over.
Thank you, Ian for a very enlightening video! This kind of material is what this channel is all about!
10:20 The pistol grip is known as a "Prince of Wales" style.
Today I learned...
A much better option than a "Prince Albert" for sure.
I've been obsessed with Iceland for decades...top of my bucket list of places to visit when I stop being poor. Fascinating info Ian!
I don't know how poor you are, but I was able to fly to Reyk%$#vik for 16 pounds from Luton. My coach ticket cost more than that.
@@yannikoloff7659 But then you have to account for Iceland being a stupidly expensive place.
@@DasOrmur Weeelllll. I was planning my visit to eat and sleep cheaper. I went for a week of bike riding and sleept every other night in hostel, while sleeping in tent mostly. I was also eating buffee in hostel and food I took with me. You can also rent car and sleep in there, while watching ocean
i live here and its boring as hell
@@deadanyways Move out then
This is exactly why I like your channel. I love obscure mechanical contraptions, and knowing history to such a detail feels very special.
I don't own a single firearm. I have however watched probably 300 of your videos and plan to keep doing so. Cheers.
Glad you finally got around to covering these guns! I remember messaging you about this matter many years ago! Fantastic coverage as usual!
Nany thanks for for your insight and deep dive into Icelandic gunsmithing history. Bonus points for the Icelandic pronunciation effort 😉.
Another reason they might have focused on simple designs is competition with imports for the same customers. If they knew they couldn't make a gun as nice as some of those foreign companies making a simple, inexpensive, easy to maintain alternative is compelling if you knew any time a part broke on an import you would also have to import the replacement part.
This is actually really fascinating, always interesting to see what comes from such relatively smally populated area
Historically probably more important than all the numerous "and then Colt started to sell model X+1" stories. Kudos for looking into this and finding so much to share.
I came for the strange forgotten weapons, I got a fantastic history lesson! Thanks Ian!
Throw in a good laugh or two and these are the best!
Thanks Ian, I've been waiting/hoping for an Icelandic guns video like this since the Glima and local "delicacy" videos went online 😀
This is so well explained that I don't need any tools at all to completely understand the content. In fact, Ian is the only English speaker I can understand completely.
Very interesting! I love guns and I've lived in Iceland my whole life but I did not know about any of these gunsmiths.
BTW IAN!
You once made a video about a Spanish C96-machine pistol from a company called Royal (or at least that is the english-brand name).
That company made one more C96-machine pistol called the Royal MM34, several of these very rare guns were purchased by the Icelandic Police in 1939, in case of a Communist or Fascist uprising. It's a pretty cool loocking C96, with a barrel that looks like it belongs on a Tommy Gun. Hope you make a video about that one day.
The Drifa:
Those grooves on th erear of the bolt assembly.
Possibly, because of the weather conditions, the grooves are there to break up any formation of ice that might otherwise gum up the action.
Just a wild guess from a somewhat warmer place.
As befits a place with quite a history of boat-building, the stock work looks well executed, as well.
These various shotguns are yet more manifestations of; "Where there's a will, there's a way".
The Accuracy International rifles have a similar thing.
VERY cool history lesson. Purely LOVE when you find these niche weapons.
Iceland has had the presence and protection of the US Military for many decades. The huge US Airforce base was turned over to the Icelandic
government for use as a commercial airport a decade or so ago. If you go to Reykjevick today, you will hear 1950's to 1990's rock in every restaurant
Correction: it was occupied first by the British and then by the Americans. They just didn't leave after WW2, the bastards.
I had no idea that there were guns made here even though I'm Icelandic so it's really cool to see this. Also your pronouncing of Icelandic names is really good.
Making something is the hallmark of a ingenious person. Witness your neighbor dragged off and eaten alive might be a excellent motive to build a firearm, and when your Wife says the clothing smell like Fox poo and skunk urine it might be time to make a washing machine. Necessity is the Mother of Invention.
If Necessity is the Mother, laziness is the father... :) I've often made things because I was too lazy or bored to do it the normal way.
@@Chris_Garman Its a Made in Iceland .
as an icelander who has a lot of interest in guns i didnt even have a clue guns were produced or made here apart from this 1 tiny group that 3d printed guns for an attemped terrorist attack
Scandinavian Terrorist cell has to be one of the most outrageous oxymorons ever, yet...
@@donaldoehl7690 Yeah if only Iceland had been in Scandinavia.
I love this informative episode !
Cheers from 🇮🇸 Iceland
Thanx. -K
Beautiful simplicity of design. Thank you
Wasn't formative and extremely knowledgeable about everything firearm for the one millionth time ☺️thank you
Bolt action shotguns became common after WW1 in the U.S.
Veterans were used to the form, and several brands made them up to the 1960's, maybe later.
It's back!
Iceland isn't a common name when one thinks of firearms.
eyy, you did a great job with the icelandic names! that was impressive and much appreciated
"Gent" discharges 12-bore at Polar Bear, who ignore it.
"Gent" goes off to get a proper gun.
"Gent" discharges 4-bore at Polar Bear.
Polar Bear stops arguing and lies down......
I was wondering when you'd make this video, Ian. Great, as always.
Also, fun fact: Björn is Icelandic for Bear.
That was actually really cool! At first I thought this was going to be a boring episode but you know I really enjoyed it. The way they scrounged metal made me think of the movie about "Carbine" Williams with Jimmy Stewart. The way he used a tractor axle to make the barrel of his rifle while in prison. I'm not sure if that part was real or Holly Wood embellishment, but it was cool non the less.
It's amazing how accurate Ian pronounces Olafsfjordur, or Akureiri(I hope I spelled it correctly, I don't want an angry Icelandic mob, at my door) !
Akureyri! Pitchfork mob! :P
@@ranimosk The fact is , I could've googled it, but I'm to lazy and superficial!😊
Akureyri, otherwise you're good. Also both of those places are in the north of Iceland and they tend to be stuck up boring bastards there.
Those fired up Scandinavians are a scary bunch!
@@donaldoehl7690 That's what I call trolling ! 😉
Very Righteous dude
thxx 4 sharing Ian.
Really enjoyed this. Something different and very interesting. More of this type of thing would be welcome.
....+1 for Ian pronouncing the names of Iceland correctly... Most people butcher that language when they try... Myself included 😬
Yeah, he got them fairly well. Not perfect, but nobody that hasn't lived in Iceland 10+ years ever does.
Simple, doubtlessly effective, but 'ease of portability' appears to be at the bottom of the list of virtues.
Very interesting video, Ian, thanks.
That bolt-action shotgun bolt reminds me a bit of the bolt on my Savage bolt-action 22LR. Looks a bit similar from what I remember (haven't shot and disassembled it in some years) and you also hold down the trigger to bring it out the back of the receiver.
Dear Mr. Ian McCollum, I love this video, this is very much an esoteric and niche topic, it's fascinating and I admire how much justice you did the topic. It's also nice that you were so thorough, and provided so much additional history : I also have to say that Jon Bjornsson of Dalvik sounds like quite a fascinating gentleman. Thank You for making such a good, educational and entertaining video.
These are beautiful in their simplicity. I really enjoyed this video.
Also worth mentioning that there were two recent cases of 3d printed guns either used or intended to be used in criminal activity here.
hell yeah
Thanks!!! That was very fascinating. I didn't know they even had guns. Very insightful designs for sure. Nice and simple. Thx again!!!
Icelanders can serve in the Norwegian military, either through conscription or go to nco/officer/engineering schools.
This is super fascinating! I need to go to Iceland and see this museum alongside many other amazing places (and see a couple of Metal shows in the process).
There is an antique sled in Sweden called a Spark. Look up Swedish kicksled and look for the older models. Perhaps that is the sled used to make a part. You can see it in Swedish christmas cards circa 1900. Interesting well put display and dissertation. Thank you!
"It quite astonishing actually, it's a swedish invention, they call it a kick!" - Algernon Wickham-Twistleton-Ffykes
Kicksleds are awesome. :) Fun trivia: while spark is Swedish invention it was Finns who came up with metal blades and angled struts giving more room for kick and better steering. :)
@@vesasilander4292 Thank you for your contribution to this conversation.
Hah, I too am a classic cranky old man at present. Perhaps I should consider garage shotgun manufacturing as a retirement pastime.
One gunshop I worked at as gunsmith sent one of the young guys to the range to test fire some customers guns. He was severely and thoroughly excoriated by a patron there because, in this man's words, "You gotta be old to be a gunsmith!" True story. We all laughed too.
@@donaldoehl7690 😅 Well I fulfill that criterium.
American gun startup: no one is going to want to buy a gun from a startup. Let’s start the serial number range at 10000
Icelandic gun startup: no one is going to want to buy a gun from a startup. Let’s start the serial number range at 100
I'd be interested in knowing what Iceland's firearms laws are.
thei are quite strict
To buy your first gun you have to get a gun license. To get the license you take a short course on guns where you learn about safety, cleaning, and usage of guns (most people take the hunting license at the same time). Within the first year of getting the license you are only allowed to buy a shotgun (semi or manual) with a max capacity of 4 shots or a .22 manual action rifle with a max capacity of 10 shots.
After that period you are allowed to purchase a rifle firing a caliber of up to .30 with only a few exceptions going slightly over .30 cal. The restrictions on the magazine size and action stays the same though. There are special licenses for collectors and handgun shooting sports but those are quite hard to get.
@@kristjankeh takk fyrir!
@@kristjankeh What's with the weird .30cal limit? And what is the justification for the exceptions?
@@kristjankeh Is it the same for shotguns ? Seems like the only game is birds.
Great story about the bluing provenance! Guns and ammo was always around the house as a teen!
fun fact:
the guy who made the drífas lived in Dalvik which is right next to Olafsfjordur.
(and slightly closer to Akureyri too)
for some reason, a component of the android operating system was named after Dalvik, but that's a far off tangent.
you've been over in Iceland for quite some time haven't you?
Pretty amazing to see something even simpler than a Cooey.
Yeah... they don't have a military... but they certainly relied on the US for protection quite heavily during the Cold War Era. I spent a year there helping to do it. The Soviets would have loved to occupy that particular piece of strategic real estate.
Was stationed in keflavik, east of the capital. Wonderful culture, friendly people and a common sense approach on preserving it's natural beauty. A geological wonderland.
Keflavík is to the southwest of the capital
@@joi9480I was halfway right, and that was 30 years ago, takk
Icelandic small arms are wonderful but wanna know what Iceland *really* excels at? Ships. Best craft I've ever piloted were the Hurricane Fleet Issue and the Naglfar Dreadnought. I've also had a lot of great experiences with their Thrasher Fleet Issue. Yeah Iceland makes some seriously amazing ships.
So far I like this episode the best of all I've seen. I would be really curious how much those shotguns were originally sold for.
Another little fact about Icelandic firearm law. A "suppressor" (on a supersonic caliber) is allowed, while a "silenceer" (same thing, but on a subsonic caliber) is forbidden.
And that is followed by a forest of exceptions, like if you are in pest control, if you use it for farm work (basically pest control), or pretty much if you have a need for one...
But at the same time you can buy a powerfull air rifle with a silencer.
It sometimes feels like someone gathered a bunch of memos off the table and changed them into the firearms laws of Iceland without reading through them first.
But fun fact, Iceland has more guns per capita than the US. And it has not acured to anyone to go shoot up a workplace or a school, due to the fact that teenage and adult life is not what was portrait to us by tv and Disney...
Love these 20+ minute videos!
Darling, no. I can't help you. I need to be ready when I get called for my Drifa, made it onto the list.
Alright, if it is this urgent, I will give you a hand...
Drring drring..... drring drrring....
Runs inside, grabs the phone: YES???!!!??
tuuut tuuut tuuut
🤯🤯🤯
At first I thought the guns on the table looked big because they were closer to the camera, but when you said that they were up to 4 gague in caliber I realised that no, they really are dramatically oversized.
4 gague is _not_ a handgun, it's a light cannon. These ones just happen to _look_ like rifles/shotguns.
It would be awesome to see all 120 guns and owners gather together and render a 120 gun salute! On his birthday or some such...
What with the EU proclivities, getting all the guns together would be tempting fate.
@@george2113 I'm pretty sure if he made this harmless suggestion in Scotland. He'd be fucked.
Iceland isn't in the EU.
@@bjarkiorleifsson6100 do you think Putin is the only one with hungry eyes?
Iceland has roughly the same percentage of gun ownership as the United States, around 33-34%, and a total of 70,000 firearms of various types.
It might help some to put this in to context that in 1890 there were circa 80,000 people living on Iceland, and in 1990 there was still only circa 260, 000 inhabitants. The idea that they might have a 'weapons' factory needs to be seen in the context of the population. However that should not diminish the efforts of the gun smiths who were producing.
I have a Mossberg 375 in 12ga, a very similar bolt-action shotgun. The magazine feeding is a bit iffy but as a single-shot it is a joy to shoot. Somehow it has less felt recoil than my pump-action 12ga shotguns, despite weighing significantly less.
What's its barrel length compared to the your pump action 12 gauge guns? If its much shorter, that could be why but nice though lol
@@Isaac-ho8gh My pump guns are all 18.5", the 395 is 26" or 28" but at least a pound lighter overall than the lightest pump. Might be the balance improves the recoil somehow.
@@tacticalmanatee holy fuck, that's pretty strange then. Wow haha
@@Isaac-ho8gh Bolt action shotguns break physics, it's the only explanation.
But they are super fun, way more fun than they should be. And cheap since few people understand their utility. Mine was basically brand new, just without a box, and cost $150 during one of the recent gun panic periods.
Tell us about the Icelandic Crocodile.
I'd be interested to know what the cost of a new drifa was compared to a similar imported gun.
Forgotten Weapons: The guns of Iceland
Nice! Now do the *Guns of Brixton.*
Heh. That was my first thought too.
"When they kick at your front door... "
Drifa: do you want to shoot? pull the trigger. Do you want to cycle the lock? Pull the trigger. Do you want to disassemble the lock? pull the trigger. It seems that Icelanders hate complications. Grettings from Argentine Patagonia (in the other extreme of the Atlantic Ocean)
Now a reindeer and puffin hunting trip in Iceland is on my bucket list.
Your icelandic pronounciation is really good
I love how he has to keep reminding us what a polar bear looks like
Ian, I congratulate you on your excellent Icelandic pronunciation!
Drífa - snowfall or snow drift, what a great name. Really good video Ian, and I applaud your respect for Island's history, culture, language and of course alphabet!
¨weapons of Luxembourg¨ next.
you can really see the prop shaft with the 'ridges' at the back.
Cheers for people that know it's a reupload
Great video! Thankful you didn't announce another book this month. I don't want to have to sell a kidney.
So Icelandic gunsmithing seems to have some things in common with CAS and Rhodesian domestic firearm production.
There are also records of cannons in Icelandic use. When African raiders under the Ottomans came to Iceland to take slaves 400 years ago, some of their boats were dissuaded from landing near Reykjavik by a defensive cannon firing on one of their boats.
I have so much respect for these gunsmiths
Like, making do with materials when making something new... It's my jam