The Swiss also followed events in America during their Civil War with great interest and together with all the other European Nations, realised that the muzzle loading rifle fitted in the same category as the dinosaur and the breech loading rifle was the way of the...

As discussed before, the US Civil War was considered the turning point in history that ushered in a new era in “modern” warfare. Most importantly, it rendered the muzzle loading rifle obsolete and heralded in the era of the self-contained breechloading cartridge....

In 1867 the Dutch military authorities, by Royal Order dated 24 January 1867, decided to modify their existing .69 (17.5mm) muzzle-loading percussion rifles to breech loader by using the Snider side-hinged action. These rifles remained in service only for a very...

One of the concepts that followed from the defeat of Napoleon in 1815 was the beginning of a new movement called nationalism that shaped most of Europe in the years that followed, which also fanned the flames in Denmark and the German Confederation. In early 1848...

As with most wars fought over the centuries, someone, somewhere has imperialistic visions of grandeur and religion is used to justify invading his or her neighbour. The Crimean War (1853 – 1856) was no different, this time Czar Nicholas I of Russia wanted to take...

This is one of two cartridges developed by Czech engineer, Frantisek Karel Janacek between 1936 and 1941, the other being the 11/7.92mm. On the 6th of September 1915, the first British prototype tank, named ‘Little Wille’ rolled of the production line in England, and...

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This was a South African development by one of the technicians involved in the Anti-Materiel project at the CSIR (Council for Scientific and Industrial Research) during the 1980’s. It was loosely based on the French Anthis round. See also RSACCA 204:19.    

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This was an experimental cartridge based on the 500 Jeffery case, developed around 2002 – 2003 by Bertrams for a potential sniper rifle system for the USMC.    

This is a longer case (22mm) version of the 12mm Perrin Revolver and was manufactured for the Perrin Mle. 1865 revolving style carbine. They were manufactured by Louis Perrin and was marketed to the French military commission of the Ministry of the Armed Forces...

There is an interesting discussion regarding the history of the Dutch Arms industry from early days, through the Napoleonic Wars, the succession of Belgium in 1830 to the rise and decline of the Maastricht factories as well as the Delft/Hembrug connection and the...

Very rare Waenzel experimental cartridge that might have been part of calibre reduction experiments.    

After losing the Austro-Prussian war of 1866 at the battle of Königgrätz, the Austrian army began the search to replace their ageing Lorenz muzzle-loading rifles. The first modifications were done by Vienna gunsmith Karl Wänzel who converted the muzzle-loading...

During the Franco-Prussian War the French were armed with the Chassepot rifle that was adopted in 1866. It was a better rifle in all aspects that the Dreyse needle-fire rifle the Prussian forces were using, but notwithstanding that they still lost the war, more...

Notes courtesy Brad Dixon - This is the first Belgian drawn case type, using the same case profile as the M72 rolled foil case type. Designated as the M76 and intended for use in the same Belgian rifles. Identified by the lower shoulder and without paper patched RN...

This exceedingly rare cartridge was developed during the beginning of the 20th Century by Major-General Julius Maudry Edler von Wehrbrunn who was the Director of the Vienna Military Arsenal for a three shot rifle based on the M.95 Mannlicher design, although the...

    The American Civil War was the major turning point in military small arms development in many ways. Most notably it showed that the muzzle loading infantry musket was a thing of the past and the self-contained breech loading cartridge was the way of the...

The name of Hiram Berdan is most well known for the development of the primer that bears his name, but he also designed a hammerless "trapdoor" breechblock rifle in 10.67x57R designation (also called the .42 Russian Berdan) in 1868 that was to become the standard...

With the completion of the reunification of Italy in 1870, together with the break-neck speed of “modern” military development in Europe with the move to bolt action rifles, a solution was needed to replace the ageing Carcano Mod. 67 needle-fire. Various repeating...