This is a one-of-a-kind prototype of a .25ACP blow forward pistol made by Iver Johnson. It was patented in 1916 (patent applied for in 1912) by William O. Barnes of Massachusetts, and assigned to Iver Johnson. We don’t know much more about it, but it was probably dropped by the company for not working well.
Patent for this pistol: https://patents.google.com/patent/US1173161A
Thanks to Joe Salter for loaning me this piece to film!
“(…)patented in 1916 (patent applied for in 1912) by William O. Barnes of Massachusetts, and assigned to Iver Johnson.(…)”
Iver is fake in this statement. US1173161A Automatic Pistol https://patents.google.com/patent/US1173161A was assigned to MARY E JOHNSON.
Anyway overview of patents with William O. Barnes https://patents.google.com/?inventor=William+O+Barnes which do include (filed)
– Instrument for measuring the height of liquids (1921)
– Machine for grinding formed cutters (1916 and 1919)
– Apparatus for the reception of radio messages (1926)
– Automobile (1899)
– Means for truing wheels for grinding formed cutters (1916)
– Automatic pistol (1912)
– Internal-combustion engine (1907)
– Radio amplifying circuit (1931)
suggest he was more mechanical inventor who happened to invent said fire-arm, rather than someone focused at fire-arm designing. Beyond this automatic pistol, he has only 2 fire-arm related patents US1131984A Breech-loading firearm and US1137045A Barrel-locking device for guns. These 3 fire-arm related patents are assigned to MARY E JOHNSON, all others are assigned to himself. What might be reason for that?
great job Daweo
Blow forward action has an advantage of having longer barrel at total lenght than a comparable blowback…
this gun seems not getting advantage of that feature.
The frame system is one slick design.
Quite a slick design, overall. That barrel taper; sort of a squeeze bore, might help with blow forward designs “You can see why it might” I like the trigger/sear, striker thing… With you pulling the trigger back, it must pull the striker back by the sear thing going up, until the wee missing bit that likely sat in that cut out on the sear “thing” goes off the \ surface, into the little box cut out at the bottom left – To release it. That mag safety thing, might have been an idea to stop that jamming issue mentioned on the barrels return over the mag, by depressing/keeping down the follower… Maybe. You can see the potential weak parts mentioned, being issues (The missing piece is an example) but, maybe that is just because they are so small. Lead bullets might be better for blow forward – Squeeze bore thing, maybe if it was bigger .45 Long colt… Bigger parts less likely to break off. And maybe black powder fowling would help blow forward; increase friction. Some sort of push button on the back to push the spring end BB forward to aid in twisting it out. I like it. So much so, I have totally talked myself into a steam punk sort of .45 Long Colt BP round version with an 8 round mag, and a brass knuckle duster incorporated. For the Space Cowboy market cira 1878.
The knuckle duster could also act, as a delay mech, given your gripping it in a larger cal – A reverse grip safety if you; your pulling this way barrel is going that way; your pulling barrel via “Lever/knuckle duster, this way” you are right, I have gone to an attempt to convert it to 45/70 BP Winchester made by Hi-Point Uranus Cira 1878, Space manufacturing co. For Space Cowboys… It has brass bits, steam punk. The weight of the mag underneath will help, just grip it more as it empties. K’pow, Zap – Whats not to like. Whens this footie on…
Looks like a 1895 sort of but with brass, cheaper… Budget Space Cowboys, want to spend more on Space whiskey. Convinced of it – BP well help; fowling, conversly.
I am not convinced England will win the world cup, and this match is an hour of yet. Tell you that. Class of gun – It is in that not a revolver, not a semi auto class; you know those 19th c. See total steam punk credentials. Brass? C’mon.
Swarzlose had a grip safety, I know it wasn’t for that but… You get the idea – Gripping thus. Comes with a cleaning rod, patch box in stock. Reckon it will fire a mag, then need a clean. No good? How about it is cheap enough, you can buy 3 for the price of one normal lever action 45/70 Winchester – One in each hand, semi auto’ish; it will certainly try to be in 45/70.
Trigger does the lifting thing, in the tube mag, possibly via a fly wheel, and some cogs… Anyway, s’meh. A decent design that blow forward Iver Johnson thing. Out.
Simpler feed mechanism than Boberg bullpup pistol.
4:49 – Ahem.
The spring is not under TENSION. It is under LOAD, the opposite.
I’m just sayin’…
Actually your comment kicked off for me a very interesting session googling up what I did not know about the nomenclature for springs.
Nice shirt, thanks fr earning and wearing it.
1905. Winchester… 3 nill England but… Who knows! Quite like the brass knuckle .45 long colt anyway – Could see that being popular now; unsure of legalaity.