Alofs: A Steampunk Mousetrap for a Shotgun

Posts related to shotguns.
Post Reply
herb
Shooting true
Shooting true
Posts: 630
Joined: Mon Mar 26, 2007 2:03 am
Location: Ontario, Canada

Alofs: A Steampunk Mousetrap for a Shotgun

Post by herb » Tue Jan 24, 2023 12:31 am

Very interesting contraption to convert a single shot shotgun to multi-shot.





Nice feat of engineering for the 1920's.

Will the license in India be still valid if one fits something like this to your single shot shotgun?

For Advertising mail webmaster
User avatar
Vikram
We post a lot
We post a lot
Posts: 5105
Joined: Fri Jun 02, 2006 6:14 am
Location: Tbilisi,Georgia

Re: Alofs: A Steampunk Mousetrap for a Shotgun

Post by Vikram » Tue Jan 24, 2023 1:21 am

I remember having seen this a while ago. Ian does a brilliant job of explaining this very ingenious mechanism.

I really doubt our licensing authorities would allow it. Though this is technically not a semi-automatic in the conventional sense.
It ain’t over ’til it’s over! "Rocky,Rocky,Rocky....."

User avatar
timmy
Old Timer
Old Timer
Posts: 3010
Joined: Mon Dec 08, 2008 7:03 am
Location: home on the range

Re: Alofs: A Steampunk Mousetrap for a Shotgun

Post by timmy » Tue Jan 24, 2023 1:47 am

How cool! It looks like a lot of fun to blast at cans on the range, or maybe even trap?

I have to wonder why someone hasn't come out with a 8 or 10 round "tactical" version! :-)

Can you imagine mis-loading something like that and launching the unfired rounds into space?!
“Fanaticism consists of redoubling your efforts when you have forgotten your aim.”

saying in the British Royal Navy

User avatar
eljefe
Old Timer
Old Timer
Posts: 2870
Joined: Sun Jun 04, 2006 3:37 am

Re: Alofs: A Steampunk Mousetrap for a Shotgun

Post by eljefe » Tue Jan 24, 2023 5:35 pm

This is my favourite. Martini’s rule, aye!

''It dont mean a thing, if it aint got that zing!''

"...Oh but if I went 'round sayin' I was Emperor, just because some moistened bint lobbed a scimitar at me, they'd put me away..."

herb
Shooting true
Shooting true
Posts: 630
Joined: Mon Mar 26, 2007 2:03 am
Location: Ontario, Canada

Re: Alofs: A Steampunk Mousetrap for a Shotgun

Post by herb » Wed Jan 25, 2023 9:35 pm

eljefe wrote:
Tue Jan 24, 2023 5:35 pm
This is my favourite. Martini’s rule, aye!

Very interesting to see the various developments in the evolution of the complex firearms that we see today.

User avatar
timmy
Old Timer
Old Timer
Posts: 3010
Joined: Mon Dec 08, 2008 7:03 am
Location: home on the range

Re: Alofs: A Steampunk Mousetrap for a Shotgun

Post by timmy » Sat Jan 28, 2023 2:38 am

It is interesting to see a "steampunk" jugaad like this attached to an old single shot shotgun, and even more interesting to see it work, more or less. However, were something like this attached to a classic Holland & Holland double or Parker double, that would be a different matter. Calling such things a matter of bad taste would be an understatement!

So, I must offer my opinion about such contraptions being attached to a Martini Henry: It's understood that, during the development of repeating weapons, such examples were contrived to test concepts and principles, and also, like the Snider and Trapdoor and Rolling Block sought to save money by converting muskets to cartridge use, to save money and enhance the military's cost-effectiveness.

But -- and this is a big but! -- a Martini Henry, to me, is the finest of the old single shot cartridge designs. It is simpler to operate than the vaunted Rolling Block, stronger than conversions like the Trapdoor and Snider, and has a much more effective ignition system than a big swinging side hammer. Those who wish to relive the American buffalo hunting days love the old Sharps (as I do, though I've never owned one), but that design is more appropriate to a paper cartridge weapon -- a fleeting thing in the development of firearms.

So to restate, seeing a jugaad like this on some old single shot break shotgun is one thing, but seeing an abomination on the wonderfully clean lines of a Martini henry is really, from an aesthetic standpoint, an abomination!

Having prattled on about this, I confess I did begin to wonder about having a double with mirror images of this device on each side, giving 10 shots. All I can say in my defense in this regard is that we are all tempted at times with evil thoughts. Still, it would have been fun watching Ian shoot such a repeating blunderbus!
“Fanaticism consists of redoubling your efforts when you have forgotten your aim.”

saying in the British Royal Navy

Post Reply