The Incredibly Unique Triple Barreled Pistol... - Smarter Every Day 304

0:00 [D] This is my son and I love him very much and I'm very proud of you.

0:04 Do you know that you're, you know all that?

0:06 [S] I do [D] You think the Internet knows that I'm proud of you?

0:09 [S] No.

0:09 Well, now they do.

0:10 [D] Now they do.

0:11 Okay, cool.

0:11 Would you like to explain what we have here?

0:14 [S] We have a single barrel pistol,

0:17 a double barrel pistol and then a triple barrel pistol.

0:20 [D] A what?

0:22 [S] Triple barrel pistol.

0:23 [D] Okay.

0:24 I found these pistols at an antique shop and I thought about them

0:28 for a really long time and eventually I just had to drive back.

0:32 So this one, very, very old single barrel pistol.

0:36 The tag on it says it's a British double action percussion cap, 1830.

0:42 That is extremely old.

0:44 The second one here, double barrel.

0:46 What I really like about this one is somebody put their initials on there.

0:50 I think that's really, really cool.

0:52 The tag on this one says it's a Belgium made double derringer from the 1850s.

0:57 That's incredibly old.

0:59 I've never shot pistols, this old.

1:01 And this one right here, I think this is fascinating.

1:03 I've heard this referred to as a duck foot

1:06 pistol because it kind of looks like a duck foot.

1:08 Also, it's for clearing the deck on a boat if you're getting overrun by pirates.

1:13 At least that's what I read.

1:15 And a buddy of mine when he first saw this thing,

1:17 his name for it I really like was the crowd pleaser.

1:21 These things operate with what's called a percussion cap.

1:24 Basically, I'll show you on the double here.

1:26 So if I pull back the hammers,

1:28 you can see underneath the hammers there, there's a thing called a nipple.

1:32 You put a percussion cap on there and when you

1:35 pull the trigger it falls and slams into that percussion cap.

1:38 Now this double is pretty interesting because it's got two triggers.

1:41 I can fire them one at a time or both

1:43 of them at the same time with this trigger over here.

1:46 Watch this.

1:46 So we've got powder, we've got bullets and we've got patches.

1:50 So here's a lead ball we're going to try to load.

1:52 But first, this is powder made for pistols.

1:54 So I read where you're supposed to do no more than 20 grains of powder.

1:58 So that's a powder measuring tool.

2:00 We got it set to about 10.

2:03 So go ahead and get some powder in that thing.

2:05 We're going to make a mess.

2:07 I don't have a funnel.

2:08 Got 10 grains of powder.

2:10 [S] Need a little bit more.

2:11 [D] Alright, now just pour it in the barrel.

2:13 This is cool.

2:13 [S] It's really cool.

2:16 [D] Alright, now if you tip that Over.

2:18 It's going to fall, right?

2:19 Yes, sir.

2:20 [D] So here's a really cool thing that we're going to do.

2:22 So we're going to put this patch right over that, okay?

2:26 Now put that lead ball right on top of that.

2:31 Now push it down in with your thumb.

2:32 See if it goes.

2:33 Does it go?

2:36 [S] Not really.

2:37 [D] Not really?

2:38 Let me see.

2:41 Kind of.

2:42 Kind of thump it right there.

2:46 All right, keep going.

2:47 Don't break the handle, but just keep going.

2:50 You want to compress it all the way.

2:53 [S] Will the powder go off?

2:54 [D] No, no.

2:56 The powder's not as sensitive as the primer.

2:58 Did it go down anymore?

2:59 [S] Yes, sir.

3:00 [D] It looks pretty good.

3:01 It's kind of scary, isn't it?

3:02 [S] Yes, sir.

3:03 I don't.

3:03 I don't want it to go off!

3:04 [D] All right, pull that rod out.

3:07 All right, so we got the high speed camera.

3:09 Let me get it set up so we can get a shot.

3:11 I want to be the guy to fire this because if it doesn't work,

3:14 I don't want you to get hurt.

3:16 [S] That's fair.

3:16 Not like it's from the 1850s or something like that.

3:19 [D] Right.

3:19 So I'm going to load this thing.

3:21 So I'm going to put the.

3:22 The percussion cap on the nipple.

3:24 You know what?

3:25 I'm going to hide behind titanium.

3:26 I'm just going to be safe.

3:28 This thing's old.

3:30 Does it look in focus?

3:32 [S] It looks like the end of the gun is in focus.

3:34 Like your hand and stuff isn't.

3:36 [D] Tell me what to do.

3:38 [S] Go forward.

3:38 Keep going.

3:39 A little bit more.

3:41 There you go.

3:41 There you go.

3:42 Stop, stop.

3:43 [D] I have no idea if this is going to function.

3:46 Ready?

3:47 Yes, sir.

3:48 1830S black powder.

3:49 10 grains.

3:51 3, 2, 1.

3:53 [gun shot] It feel like it shot.

4:01 [S] I pushed the button.

4:04 I saw Smoke and I pushed the button.

4:06 [D] Man, that was so ridiculous.

4:07 That was like the nerdiest way to shoot a gun ever.

4:10 Open that thing up.

4:11 [S] Oh, it loosened it.

4:12 [D] Oh, did it?

4:13 [S] It did.

4:14 [D] All right.

4:15 Did it go?

4:17 Is it clear?

4:18 [S] It's clear.

4:18 [D] Let's see what the slow-mo says.

4:20 Oh, looks like we did have problems.

4:23 Looks like the sensor wigged out here.

4:25 So you gonna shoot it this time?

4:27 [S] Sure.

4:28 [D] That's pretty funny.

4:29 [S] Let's do it then.

4:33 [D] I love you.

4:34 All right, so.

4:34 All right, get in position.

4:36 You need a percussion cap?

4:37 [S] I have one.

4:38 [D] have ears in?

4:39 [S] Yes, sir.

4:40 [D] All right, load your percussion cap.

4:41 Let me get my ears in.

4:42 [S] Percussion cap is loaded.

4:44 [D] Okay, ready?

4:45 [S] Ready.

4:47 [D] You look awesome.

4:50 [Son] 3, 2, 1.

4:54 [gun shot] [D] Got it.

4:56 I saw the, I saw the patch come out.

4:59 [S] I saw that too.

5:00 And I also saw it hit like a leaf over there.

5:02 [D] Oh, did you really?

5:03 [S] Like it hit something and a bunch of leaves fell.

5:05 [D] Okay, clear the gun.

5:07 Obviously it is clear, but that's just what we do.

5:10 Okay, look at that.

5:12 [click] [then low rumble with cap igniting]

5:15 [like someone softly hit a gong and its

5:20 ringing out] [soft explosion sound as the gunpowder

5:33 ignites] [D] As soon as it hits, look, the cap blows the hammer up.

5:47 You see that?

5:48 [S] Oh, yes, sir.

5:49 [D] And so then it's lighting the powder inside.

5:51 Takes quite a bit.

5:52 There's.

5:53 It feels like a delay when you pull the trigger, doesn't it?

5:55 Oh, wow.

5:56 So you have the cap hit.

5:58 Oh.

5:58 And then the powder goes.

6:00 So you got the ignition.

6:02 And then once the powder goes, it blows the hammer up.

6:05 [S] So the hammer is going up three times.

6:07 Once the hit the primer.

6:10 Once the primer goes off, it goes up.

6:12 Other once the powder explodes, it goes up again.

6:14 [D] It does, doesn't it?

6:15 That's pretty neat.

6:16 I think we moved to the double.

6:18 [S] All right.

6:19 Is it weird?

6:19 Loading two at once?

6:20 [S] It's kind of scary.

6:23 [D] I'm gonna be real with you, son.

6:24 You look pretty awesome.

6:25 [S] Thanks, dad.

6:26 [D] Three, two, one, fire.

6:30 Okay, now we don't know if they both went.

6:33 That's the interesting thing about this gun.

6:36 So.

6:39 [S] Then pull the trigger again?

6:42 [D] Just as a safety?

6:44 Yeah, why not.

6:47 So another one went?

6:48 [S] Yeah.

6:49 [D] But it didn't sound like the thing went.

6:51 [S] Sounded like the percussion cap went..

6:53 [D] But not the...

6:55 Oh, wow.

6:56 What an interesting predicament.

6:57 So we don't know.

6:59 Good thing we have a high speed camera.

7:01 So we're going to assume one of these barrels is loaded, right?

7:03 [S] Yep.

7:04 [D] Okay.

7:05 All right, let's see what happened.

7:11 [soft click sound] [louder click sound] [mini explosion sound

7:24 as the gun powder ignites] [D] The left one fired.

7:32 The right one did not go.

7:34 Go put a percussion cap on the right one.

7:35 See if you can make it go.

7:36 Just clear to.

7:38 Just clear the weapon.

7:40 [gun shot] [S] Percussion cap, [D] huh?

7:43 [S] That was only percussion cap.

7:44 [D] But the ber...

7:45 Oh, man.

7:45 We have an issue, don't we?

7:47 It's time for the nipple pick.

7:49 [Destin Laughing] I bought a nipple pick.

7:53 [S] Should that fire it?

7:54 [D] Huh?

7:55 [S] Is that gonna fire it?

7:56 [D] No, I'm.

7:56 I'm just trying to get a path to the powder.

7:59 Try to clear it.

8:01 Yep.

8:03 Three, two, one.

8:06 [S] Only percussion cap.

8:07 [D] So we're gonna.

8:08 We're gonna assume that there's powder and a.

8:10 And a ball in there, right?

8:12 So we'll flood it later with water.

8:13 Did papa bring his donkey?

8:15 [S] He brought his donkey.

8:16 [D] You bringing Miss Pearl over here?

8:18 He wanted her on video, didn't he?

8:21 Okay, we're gonna move on because I don't know how to clear that right now.

8:27 Got it out.

8:28 We're gonna take a donkey break.

8:30 Is this Miss Pearl?

8:31 [Papa] Miss Pearl.

8:32 [D] Hey, Miss Pearl.

8:33 I've got a special camera.

8:39 People have been taking pictures of people and donkeys for a long time.

8:42 Oh, yeah, Got it.

8:45 That'd be fine.

8:50 [S] I like those pictures.

8:52 [D] Yeah, they're neat, aren't they?

8:54 [S] Is this percussion cap going to be bigger?

8:56 [D] Yes.

8:57 [S] What is this for?

8:58 [D] So like in the Civil War, they would do this.

9:00 They would.

9:01 They had your rifle, you would take it.

9:03 And if you had your rifle going, you'd go wham.

9:05 And you'd stick a new percussion cap on.

9:07 Pretty interesting, isn't it, huh?

9:09 What I think's so interesting about this is you got a single

9:12 percussion cap that goes down through the nipple and lights off the powder.

9:16 But on this one, it's like a manifold, right?

9:18 [S] Has to be.

9:19 [D] So I put air on it back at the shop.

9:22 I held this back and I put air pressure

9:24 there and just made sure, oh, look at that.

9:26 The nipple's a little loose.

9:27 And I made sure I was getting airflow out of each one.

9:30 So it'll communicate.

9:31 There's gotta be like a pipe back here in the back, Right.

9:33 Do you like doing that?

9:34 [S] It's kind of fun.

9:35 [D] Yeah.

9:38 [S] I don't think I could do it if somebody was shooting at me though.

9:42 [D] Yeah.

9:43 I think a cartridge bullet style design is a pretty good thing.

9:47 [S] So they go all the way down to the blocks.

9:50 [D] So the bullets down in the block?

9:51 [S] On the left, on the left and the right side.

9:54 [D] Okay.

9:55 [S] But if you go to the middle one, it goes like down into the block.

10:00 [D] Interesting.

10:01 Okay, I'm going to shoot the triple first.

10:03 [S] Looks good here.

10:04 [D] Okay, Red circle?

10:05 [S] Red circle and looks good there.

10:08 [D] Will you hand me this plate of titanium right here?

10:10 [S] Yes, sir.

10:12 I'm ready.

10:13 [D] Three, two, one.

10:16 Oh, gosh.

10:17 That was scary.

10:18 Could have a smoldering thing there.

10:20 I'm gonna hold it for a second.

10:21 You ready on the trigger?

10:23 [S] Ready.

10:24 [D] 3, 2, 1.

10:27 Man [S] Did not push it.

10:29 [D] 3, 2, 1.

10:32 This isn't great.

10:34 [S] Do a big cap with some powder under it.

10:36 [D] Yeah.

10:37 1.

10:39 [S] I really want this to work.

10:40 [D] I want to work so bad, dude.

10:42 Three, two, one.

10:45 [gun shot] something happened.

10:50 [S] I hit the button!

10:51 [D] You hit the button?

10:54 It felt like a single cylinder.

10:57 Went.

11:08 [explosion sound] 1, 2.

11:12 The other one went too.

11:13 That's just a mess dude.

11:24 [explosion sound] Do, you want to load her back up?

11:31 [S] I really want to [D] load that thing up.

11:33 15 each.

11:33 Did you pick the nipple?

11:35 [S] Not yet.

11:36 [D] Here's your nipple pick.

11:37 It's a clean looking nipple right there, man.

11:40 You know, it's an important thing for a son

11:42 to learn proper nipple hygiene from his dad.

11:44 [S] Mhmm.

11:45 [D] Do you feel that way?

11:46 [S] I feel like you've taught me how to clean my nipples properly.

11:49 [Destin laughing] [D] Okay.

11:55 [S] Three, two, one.

11:59 [just the cap went] [D] That scared me.

12:02 All right, load another cap.

12:03 [S] Three, two, one.

12:06 It's getting annoying.

12:08 The pirates have already taken our ship.

12:10 Over.

12:10 Ready in 3, 2, 1.

12:15 [D] What do you think we do?

12:16 [S] I mean, if we were pirates, we'd die.

12:18 [Destin laughing] [D] That's exactly.

12:22 We'd get swash buckled real hard right now, wouldn't we?

12:25 [S] We would.

12:26 [D] Dadgum it.

12:27 [S] Ready in three, two, one.

12:32 [Gun shot!] [D] Made sure to.

12:35 [S] Let's go.

12:35 Did you push that time?

12:36 [D] Yes, sir, I did.

12:37 [S] Let's go.

12:38 [D] Look at that.

12:38 Fizzle, fizzle, fizzle, boooooom.

12:41 [S] So cool.

12:42 [D] Oh, dude.

12:44 [S] Is it like.

12:45 [D] Oh, sick.

12:47 Come here.

12:50 [Explosion sound followed by gong ringing] [Destin once again laughing] Oh, man.

13:04 Look at that.

13:11 The lock time is forever.

13:14 I'll calculate it later.

13:15 We don't have time to calculate right now, but it.

13:18 It's clearly smoldering for a while before it goes.

13:21 [S] Like, how long?

13:22 [D] Milliseconds.

13:22 Tens of milliseconds.

13:24 The sponsor's ridge.

13:25 What if we put three ridge wallets up there

13:27 and you try to hit all three of them?

13:31 [S] We can try.

13:32 [D] You think you can do it?

13:33 [S] I don't know.

13:34 Maybe.

13:34 Depends on how far away they are.

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14:25 For now, it's time to go shoot these things.

14:27 My son has a few minutes left before he has to go to a dance.

14:30 Why are you gonna go to a dance?

14:31 You could just still be doing this with me.

14:33 [S] I kind of want to still be doing this with you.

14:35 [D] Whatever, dude.

14:36 So what's the plan here?

14:37 You gonna walk me through it?

14:38 [S] I'm gonna have to line the middle barrel up here

14:41 and try to find Like a distance back to where these barrels are.

14:46 About in the same position.

14:47 [D] Oh, in.

14:48 In the outside, because you have a fixed spread.

14:52 Like, that would be too close.

14:54 So let's back up.

14:55 Back up with me.

14:56 So as you go back, the pie spreads out and is, like, right there, for example.

15:03 That's interesting.

15:03 And there's also a component of this that matters.

15:06 So this is like planar aiming, isn't it?

15:08 [S] Yes, sir.

15:09 I'd be lucky if I hit one.

15:10 [D] Yeah, that'd be pretty significant.

15:12 Okay, so I'm gonna go back here.

15:13 [S] Three, two, one.

15:18 [D] I think you nicked one.

15:25 [S] I don't see nothing.

15:27 [D] Oh, you hit it right here.

15:29 You want to try one more time?

15:30 [S] Let's go for it.

15:31 [D] He's worried because he's about to go to homecoming,

15:34 and this is his last opportunity.

15:36 All right, ready?

15:38 [S] Ready.

15:39 [D] Three, two, one, fire.

15:41 [gun shot] [S] I missed again.

15:45 [D] Did you miss?

15:46 All right, well, that was your shot.

15:48 [S] Darn.

15:49 [D] Enjoy your dance [S] Now I'm not going to.

15:53 [D] Why?

15:54 [S] I'll be thinking about this the whole time.

15:57 What do you think you missed?

15:58 [S] I felt it felt low.

15:59 [D] That time felt low.

16:01 All right, well, you can go on, and I'll try

16:02 to hit it while you're gone, and I'll get it.

16:04 [S] Okay.

16:05 Do it for me, please.

16:06 [D] Have fun.

16:07 [S] Yes, sir.

16:08 [D] Okay.

16:09 Now that my son is gone, old age and debauchery will beat youth and skill.

16:16 Move this thing a little closer, and we'll just do this.

16:19 We'll play the angle game a little bit.

16:21 We'll just move them in a little bit, huh?

16:24 It's neat how that works.

16:30 How did I miss?

16:36 [Explosion sound] On plane, I'm going to aim lower than I think I need to.

16:50 All right.

16:51 Three, two, one.

16:52 [gun shot] How on earth am I missing?

16:57 [explosion in slow motion- deeper sound and longer

16:59 duration] I could not figure this out.

17:12 It didn't become clear what was going on until editing the video.

17:15 And then if you roll it back and play it slow, you can kind of see it.

17:19 Look close.

17:20 The hammer falls, the percussion cap goes.

17:23 But there's such a long lock time that I have

17:26 time to move the gun off target, and then it fires.

17:30 It's the lock time that's getting me.

17:32 And maybe even the fact that the percussion cap is firing and I'm flinching.

17:35 Something's going on.

17:37 But that little bit of time is what's making me.

17:40 My hand move off target.

17:42 How?!?

17:49 [gun shot] It worked!

17:53 [Destin Laughing] That is so stressful!

18:03 [explosion sound] All right,

18:27 I hope you enjoyed that episode of Smarter Every Day.

18:29 I mean, clearly, I was just having fun here.

18:31 My son is learning a lot about firearms, and I want him to.

18:35 I mean, he's doing good with safety and stuff,

18:36 but I want him to have a better understanding of the fundamentals.

18:39 Like a hands on.

18:40 Not just a knowledge, but an understanding that this many grains of powder

18:44 equals this kind of boom, that kind of thing.

18:46 And all gunpowder is not the same, obviously, but this was fun.

18:49 I really enjoyed this familiarization with this stuff.

18:52 Obviously be careful if you do anything like this.

18:55 I was firing these old antique firearms

18:58 at a much reduced load from what was recommended,

19:01 like half powder kind of stuff.

19:03 So be safe.

19:05 Yeah, I.

19:06 I hope you enjoyed this.

19:07 Big thanks to Ridge for sponsoring Smarter Every Day.

19:10 I'm sitting here looking at this, trying to figure out how I shot.

19:13 It looks like I was kind of like tilted like this kind of.

19:18 Anyway, this is fun.

19:19 It's fun to think about.

19:20 I hope you enjoyed this episode of Smarter Every Day If you want a Ridge wallet,

19:23 go to Ridge.com/Smarter I hope you enjoy that.

19:27 Thank you to everybody that supports on Patreon.

19:30 This was a lot of fun.

19:32 I'm Destin, you're getting Smarter Every Day.

19:35 Have a good one.

19:36 Bye.