Related video on derringers

[Craig Hipkins]

It is interesting to see the evolution of the rifle during the Civil War period. At the beginning of the war some regiments were still equipped with smoothbore flintlock muskets that were slowly being switched over to percussion rifles. By the end of the war there were gatlin guns and major improvements to breach loading rifles.

I sometimes do living history demonstrations and I can tell you all first hand that 3 shots a minute in a relaxed atmosphere is hard to manage with a muzzle loader. I can't imagine what it would be like in the heat of battle!

Craig