The video features an engaging demonstration of antique firearms, as the host and his son explore and test fire several old pistols. These include a British single barrel, Belgian double derringer, and a uniquely designed triple barrel, often referred to as a duck foot pistol. They provide a detailed look into how percussion cap firearms function, highlighting the excitement and unpredictability of operating historical weaponry.

This is a must-watch for enthusiasts interested in antique firearms and history, as the host combines thorough explanations with a hands-on demonstration. His son actively participates, gaining valuable experience in firearm safety and operation. The dialogue is both educational and entertaining, showcasing their personal relationship and love for learning.

Main takeaways from the video:

Please remember to turn on the CC button to view the subtitles.

Key Vocabularies and Common Phrases:

1. percussion cap [pərˈkʌʃən kæp] - (noun) - A small ignition device used with percussion-lock firearms, which ignites the gunpowder when struck by the gun's hammer. - Synonyms: (ignition cap, firing cap)

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

2. nipple [ˈnɪpəl] - (noun) - The small metal tube on a firearm that holds the percussion cap, which is struck by the hammer. - Synonyms: (tube, nozzle)

There's a thing called a nipple. You put a percussion cap on there and when you pull the trigger, it falls and slams into that percussion cap.

3. duck foot pistol [dʌk fʊt ˈpɪstəl] - (noun) - A multi-barrel gun, named for its barrel configuration that fans out like a duck's foot. - Synonyms: (multi-barrel pistol, spread pistol)

I've heard this referred to as a duck foot pistol because it kind of looks like a duck foot.

4. manifold [ˈmænɪˌfoʊld] - (noun) - A pipe or chamber having several outlets, used in the context of ensuring ignition across multiple barrels. - Synonyms: (pipe, conduit)

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

5. derringer [ˈdɛrɪndʒər] - (noun) - A small, easily concealable pistol, traditionally having two barrels. - Synonyms: (pocket pistol, palm pistol)

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

6. debauchery [dɪˈbɔːtʃəri] - (noun) - Excessive indulgence in sensual pleasures, often used humorously to describe relaxed or carefree behavior. - Synonyms: (self-indulgence, excess, wildness)

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

7. lock time [lɒk taɪm] - (noun) - The period between the trigger being pulled and the firing of the gun. - Synonyms: (delay, lag)

But there's such a long lock time that I have time to move the gun off target, and then it fires.

8. smoldering [ˈsmoʊldəriŋ] - (verb) - Burning slowly with smoke but no flame, often used to describe the gunpowder ignition process. - Synonyms: (slow-burning, smoking, simmering)

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

9. swashbuckled [ˈswɒʃˌbʌkəld] - (verb) - Engaged in daring and romantic adventures with bravado or flamboyance. - Synonyms: (adventured, battled)

We'd get swashbuckled real hard right now, wouldn't we?

10. fundamentals [ˌfʌndəˈmentlz] - (noun) - The basic principles underlying something, essential knowledge. - Synonyms: (basics, essentials, principles)

But I want him to have a better understanding of the fundamentals, like a hands on, not just a knowledge, but an understanding...

Why Is THREE BARRELS Harder to Aim Than ONE? (44,000 fps Slow Motion)- Smarter Every Day 304

This is my son and I love him very much and I'm very proud of you. Do you know that you're, you know all that? I do you think the Internet knows that I'm proud of you? No. Well, now they do. Now they do. Okay, cool. Would you like to explain what we have here? We have a single barrel pistol, a double barrel pistol, and then a triple barrel pistol. A what? Triple barrel pistol. Okay. I found these pistols at an antique shop and I thought about them for a really long time and eventually I just had to drive back. So this one, very, very old single barrel pistol. The tag on it says it's a British double action percussion cap, 1830. That is extremely old. The second one here, double barrel. What I really like about this one is somebody put their initials on there. I think that's really, really cool.

The tag on this one says it's a Belgium made double derringer from the 1850s. That's incredibly old. I've never shot pistols. And this one right here, I think this is fascinating. I've heard this referred to as a duck foot pistol because it kind of looks like a duck foot. Also, it's for clearing the deck on a boat if you're getting overrun by pirates. At least that's what I read. And a buddy of mine when he first saw this thing, his name for it I really like was the crowd pleaser. These things operate with what's called a percussion cap. Basically, I'll show you on the double here. So if I pull back the hammers, you can see underneath the hammers there, there's a thing called a nipple. You put a percussion cap on there and when you pull the trigger, it falls and slams into that percussion cap.

Now this double is pretty interesting because it's got two triggers. I can fire them one at a time or both of them at the same time with this trigger over here. Watch this. So we've got powder, we've got bullets and we've got patches. So here's a lead ball we're going to try to load. But first, this is powder, made for pistols. So I read where you're supposed to do no more than 20 grains of powder. So that's a powder measuring tool. We got it set to about 10. So go ahead and get some powder in that thing. We're going to make a mess. I don't have a funnel. Got 10 grains of powder. Need a little bit more. All right, now just pour it in the barrel. This is cool. That's really cool. All right, now if you Tip that over. It's going to fall, right? Yes, sir. So here's. Here's a really cool thing that we're going to do. So we're going to put this patch right over that. Okay. Now put that lead ball right on top of that. Now push it down in with your thumb. See if it goes. Does it go? Not really. Not really. Let me see. Kind of. Kind of thump it right there. Alright, keep going. Don't break the handle, but just keep going. You want to compress it all the way.

Will the powder go off? No, no. The powder is not as sensitive as the primer. Did it go down anymore? Yes, sir. It looks pretty good. It's kind of scary, isn't it? Yes, sir. I don't, I don't want it to go off. All right, pull that rod out. All right, so we got the high speed camera. Let me get it set up so we can get a shot. I want to be the guy to fire this because if it doesn't work, I don't want you to get hurt. That's fair. Not like it's from the 1850s or something. Right? So I'm going to load this thing. So I'm going to put the, the percussion cap on the nipple. You know what? I'm going to hide behind titanium. I'm just going to be safe. This thing's old. Does it look in focus? It looks like the end of the gun is in focus, but like your hand and stuff isn't. Tell me what to do. Go forward. Keep going. A little bit more. There you go. There you go. Stop, stop. I have no idea if this is going to function. Ready? Yes, sir. 1830s black powder. 10 grains. 3, 2, 1.

It feel like it shot. I pushed the button. So I saw smoke and I pushed the button. Man, that's so ridiculous. That was like the nerdiest way to shoot a gun ever. Open that thing up. Oh, it loosened it. Oh, did it? It did. All right. Did it go? Is it clear? It's clear. Let's see what the slow mo says. Oh, looks like we did have problems. Looks like the sensor wigged out here. So you gonna shoot it this time? Sure. That's pretty funny. Let's do it then. I love you. All right, so. All right, get in position. You need a percussion cap. I have one. You have ears in? Yes, sir. All right, load your percussion cap. Let me get my ears in. percussion cap is loaded. Okay. Ready? Ready. You look awesome. 3, 2, 1. Got it. I saw the. I saw the patch come out. I saw that too. And I also saw it hit like a leaf over there. Oh, did you really? It hit something in a bunch of leaves fell. Okay, clear the gun. Obviously it is clear, but that's just what we do.

Okay, look at. As soon as it hits, look at the cap blows the hammer up. You see that? Oh, yes, sir. And so then it's lighting the powder inside. Takes quite a bit. It feels like a delay when you pull the trigger, doesn't it? Oh, wow. So you have the cap hit. Oh. And then the powder goes. So you got the ignition. And then once the powder goes, it blows the hammer up. So the hammer is going up three times. Once the hit the primer. Once the primer goes off, it goes up. Other. Once the powder explodes, it goes up again. It does, doesn't it? That's pretty neat. I think we moved to the double. All right. Is it weird? Low in two at once. It's kind of scary. I'm going to be real with you, son. You look pretty awesome. Thanks, dad. Three, two, one, fire.

Okay, now we don't know if they both went. That's the interesting thing about this gun. So they pull the trigger again just. Just as a safety. Yeah, why not? So another one went. Yeah, but it didn't sound like the thing went. Sounded like that percussion cap went, but not the. Oh, wow. What an interesting predicament. So we don't know. Good thing we have a high speed camera. So we're going to assume one of these barrels is loaded, right? Yep. Okay. All right, let's see what happens. The left one fired, the right one did not go. Put a percussion cap on the right one. See if you can make it go. Just clear to. Just clear the weapon. Percussion cat. Huh? That was only percussion cap. But the bear. Oh, man. We have an issue, don't we? It's time for the nipple pick. I bought a nipple pick. Should that fire it? Huh? Is that gonna fire it? No, I'm just trying to get a path to the powder. Try to clear it. Yep. Three, two, one. Only percussion cap.

So we're gonna. We're gonna assume that there's powder and a. And a ball in there, Right? So we'll flood it later with water. Did papa bring his donkey? He brought his donkey. You bringing Miss Pearl over here? He wanted her on video, didn't he? Okay, we're gonna move on because I don't know how to clear that right now. Got it out. We're gonna take a donkey break this. Miss Pearl. Miss Pearl. Hey, Miss Pearl. I've got a Special camera. People have been taking pictures of people and donkeys for a long time. Oh, yeah. Got it. That'd be fun. I like those pictures. Yeah, they're neat, aren't they? Is this percussion cap gonna be bigger? Yes. What is this for? So like in the Civil War, they would do this. They would. They had your rifle, you would take it. And if you had your rifle going, you'd go wham. And you'd stick a new percussion cap on. Pretty interesting, isn't it? What I think is so interesting about this is you got a single percussion cap that goes down through the nipple and lights off the powder.

But on this one, it's like a manifold, right? Has to be. So I put air on it back at the shop. I. I held this back and I put air pressure there and just made sure. Oh, look at that. The nipples a little loose. And I made sure I was getting airflow out of each one. So it'll communicate. There's got to be like a pipe back here in the back, right? Do you like doing that? It's kind of fun. Yeah. I don't think I could do it if somebody was shooting at me though. Yeah. I think a cartridge bullet style design is a pretty good thing. So they go all the way down to the blocks. So the bullets down in the block on the left, on the left and the right side. Okay. But if you go to the middle one, it goes like down into the block. Interesting. Okay, I'm going to shoot the triple first. Looks good here. Okay. Red circle, red circle and looks good there. Will you hand me this plate of titanium right here? Yes, sir. I'm ready. Three, two, one. Oh, gosh. That was scary. Could have a smoldering thing there.

I'm gonna hold it for a second. You ready on the trigger? Ready. 3, 2, 1. Man did not push it. 3, 2, 1. This isn't great. Do a big cap with some powder under it. Yeah. 1. I really want this to work. I want it to work so bad, dude. Three, two, one. Something happened. I hit the button. You hit the button. It felt like a single cylinder. Went 1, 2. The other one went too. That's just a mess, dude, you want to load her back up? I really want to load that thing up. 15 inch. Did you pick the nipple? Not yet. Here's your nipple pick. It's a clean looking nipple right there, man. You know, it's an important thing for a son to learn proper nipple hygiene from his dad. Do you feel that way? I feel like you've taught me how to Clean my nipples properly. Okay. Three, two, one. That scared me. All right, load another cap. Three, two, one. It's getting annoying. The pirates have already taken our ship. Over. Ready in 3, 2, 1. What do you think we do? I mean, if we were pirates, we'd die. That's exactly.

We'd get swashbuckled real hard right now, wouldn't we? We would. Dag gum it. Ready in three, two, one. Made sure to. Let's go. Did you push that time? Yes, sir, I did. Let's go. Look at that. Fizzle, fizzle, fizzle, boom. So cool. Oh, dude. Is it like. Oh, sick. Come here. Oh, man. Look at that. The log time is forever. I have to. I'll calculate it later. We don't have time to calculate right now. But it. It's clearly smoldering for a while before it goes. Like, how long? Milliseconds. Tens of milliseconds.

Now that my son is gone, old age and debauchery will beat youth and skill. Move this thing a little closer, and we'll just do this. We'll play the angle game a little bit. We'll just move them in a little bit. Huh? It's neat how that works. How did I miss on plane? I'm going to aim lower than I think I need to. All right. Three, two, one. How on earth am I missing? I could not figure this out. It didn't become clear what was going on until editing the video. And then if you roll it back and play it slow, you can kind of see it. Look close. The hammer falls, the percussion cap goes. But there's such a long lock time that I have time to move the gun off target, and then it fires. It's the lock time that's getting me. And maybe even the fact that the percussion cap is firing and I'm flinching. Something's going on. But that little bit of time is what's making me. My hand move off target.

I'm sitting here looking at this, trying to figure out how I shot it. Looks like I was kind of like tilted like this kind of. Anyway, this is fun. It's fun to think about. I hope you enjoyed this episode of Smarter Every Day. If you want a Ridge wallet, go to ridge.com smarter I hope you enjoy that. Thank you to everybody that supports on Patreon. This was a lot of fun. I'm Destin you're getting smarter every day. Have a good one. Bye.

EDUCATION, TECHNOLOGY, INNOVATION, ANTIQUE FIREARMS, HISTORICAL WEAPONS, FATHER AND SON BONDING, SMARTEREVERYDAY