Ribaudequin Volley Gun

[dominick]

I didn't get to post photos of the last volley gun I built.  It was the breechloader that I posted last year in the late fall.  I made a field carriage for it and took it uncompleted [less paint] to a local gun show last December with the intention of not selling it.  Well, someone wave a big wad of cash at me and it was gone. I took some impromptu photos from my cell phone but they are thumbnail size and I'm having trouble uploading them top my computer.  The person who bought it said he'll send photos when the weather warms and it's painted.
 
In the meanwhile, I built another.  This one is also 50 caliber but it's a muzzleloader.  The barrel assembly tilts vertical for easy loading and a safe trip down range after firing.  I am planning to make a video possibly this week when I get a warmer day.  It's also for sale.  I'm asking $950, and the shipping is included in the price. [continental US only]
 

[seacoastartillery]

     I like it a lot, Dom.  It is very unique and has a powerful look to it.  How is fire communicated from one tube to the next?  What is that lever on the left side under the back edge of the tube assy.?  Could you explain where the name comes from?  Sounds French.

Tracy

[jeeper1]

I like that.
If I was to build one of those, I build it in golf ball size after checking with the BATF&E to be sure it would not be a DD.
I would also put the bottom of the elevation mechanism near the rear and the top on the rear of the bar.
That way just by loosening it up I can swing the barrel assembly from the shooting position to the loading position without disconnecting anything. 

[jeeper1]

Regarding the name.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ribaudequin
The channel on the top connects to the flash holes on each barrel. Fine BP is placed in each flash hole and a line of powder in the channel. Then a piece of fuse goes through the piece of tubing on the left ending in the BP. That gives you a chance to get away and start your video camera.

[seacoastartillery]

     Thanks for the name info link, Jeeper.

If I was to build one of those, I build it in golf ball size after checking with the BATF&E to be sure it would not be a DD.   

     If you actually build it like Dom did, 14th century style, you need not bother the BATFE will any inquiries.  However the photo below might suggest a smaller size would be easier to handle and still look cool.  The pic below is of seven 42" long, 3.000" O.D. X 1.7500" I.D. tubes we will be working on soon to make Rifled Sleeves for smoothbore cannons.  The thickness is 5/8", only .625", but if cut to a more reasonable length like 36" for your version of a Ribaudequin Volley Gun with a 3 pound chamber plug fitted, just the finished  tubes alone would weigh 350 pounds!  And the recoil, if they all went off in short order would be....well..........spectacular!!  Don't lower your linstock from behind the beast!

Tracy


Seven 1.7500 inch I.D. tubes, approx. 53 pounds each, over 350 pounds!

[jeeper1]

Much as I would like to build one, it is beyond my physical capabilities. To say nothing of financial means. Plus it would be too heavy to tow behind my mobility scooter to get it to a safe place to shoot it. Although it would be interesting as heck to see how it did against "Fort Pallet".

[Victor3]

 And the recoil, if they all went off in short order would be....well..........spectacular!! Don't lower your linstock from behind the beast!

Tracy

 I've gotta mention something here in case anyone reading does make one this large and uses a projectile heavier than a golf ball...


 The recoil would indeed be spectacular; even the 1st barrel going off. Note though that the outer barrels are not on C/L of the gun. If the carriage isn't secured from rotation, the 1st round might spin the gun around so it's not pointing in the direction originally aimed.


 This wouldn't be a problem with something as small as Dom's 50 cal but I'd be very cautious with a 1.75" bore and a heavy charge/projectile.

[dominick]

Jeeper, thanks for the link to the Ribauldequin.  I may build a larger version for myself.  It would be a 10 barrel, 75 caliber.  It's in the thought process.  A golf ball size like Tracy correctly pointed out would indeed be massive.  The 75 caliber I'm thinking of would be built on a carriage with 30" diameter wheels.  I am very familiar with 3" x .625" wall tubing.  I lugged a 4 foot piece into the bandsaw last night to cut a piece for a golf ball size thunder mug. It's heavy. Photo below.
Victor's correct thoughts on the gun rotating would be effectively negated only by an even more massive size [and weight] carriage. My back hurts just thinking about it...    Dom

[dominick]

 
 The

     I like it a lot, Dom.  It is very unique and has a powerful look to it.    ...What is that lever on the left side under the back edge of the tube assy.?...[/i]  Tracy

Tracy,  thanks for the compliment.  The handle is part of the locking bolt for the slide elevation tube. 

[dominick]

I finally had a chance to fire it yesterday.  I used Pyrodex in the powder tray to slow the rate of fire.  I'm not sure what happened here.  It looks like the fuse burned very quick it began firing and then two barrels went off at the same time.  Here's what's strange,  The pattern on the target matched the barrels except two rounds hit the target one on top of the other like they came from the same barrel. I know I didn't double load one barrel and forget to load another.      Here's the video. 

[Indygunworks]

AWESOME, I bet your proud of that.    I also wonder what happened because I counted 5 shots all three times that I watched it.

[seacoastartillery]

     From the holes in the target, I'm guessing your barrels were almost perfectly parallel and I heard 5 shots too, but I believe the results shown on the target are what counts!  I have done zero research on this type of volley gun, Dom.  During what era were they in use?  Were they fielded on a regular basis or only for special purposes like defense of a bridge?

     Sure is a nice looking piece, functional too!

Tracy

[Double D]

The barrel may be close to horizontally flat  but that they are not parrallel.  They are converging.  Parrallel and the shots would impact the same distance apart as  the barrel are spaced. Looking backat the Double rifle regulation class back in college.

[dominick]

Tracy,  The Ribauldequins were built in Europe during the 15 and 1600's.  I'll post some video of some tomorrow.  I believe these type of guns were anti-personel defense weapons.
   
Douglas,  The barrels are mounted parallel.  Listening at the video closely, I think it's possible that since barrel #3 and #4 went off almost simultaneously, the muzzle blast from #3 may have caused the round from #4 to divert.  I will measure the other shots on the target tomorrow to see if there was any convergence in the pattern.  When I get a chance, I'll take it to the range and try some more shots.  This time with more powder, 50 instead of 25 grains of BP.

[Double D]

If the ctc width of the group is smaller than the ctc width of the barrels then  group is converging.  If the ctc width of the group exceeds the ctc width of the barrels then the group is diverging.

[dominick]

Douglas,
 
There is no consistant group in the shot pattern where one can determine if it is converging or diverging.  The pattern varies from 3/4" to 2".  This is at 15 feet so it's probably just the way it will shoot. 

Here are videos of a replica full scale Ribaudequin.

[Double D]

You very much do have a group.  A very flat horizontal group.  just what you would expect. from this type gun.  This is multibarrel science.

 Measure the distance from center of the furthest shot to the right and to center of the furthest shot to the left.  Compare that to the distance from the center of the  right most barrel  to the center of left most barrel.

If the width of the two outer shots on paper is narrower than the width of the two outer  barrels then you are converging.   Eyeball guestimating I would say the ctc width of right barrel to  left barrel is some where around 8" to 12".    Looking at a screen print and counting pixels it looks like the group is some where around 15 inches.

If that is correct then the group would be diverging. I kinda would expect a gun like this to diverge. Recoil form the left barrel would swing left and right side swing right.

[flagman1776]

I really like that!

[dominick]

You very much do have a group.  A very flat horizontal group.  just what you would expect. from this type gun.  This is multibarrel science.

 Measure the distance from center of the furthest shot to the right and to center of the furthest shot to the left.  Compare that to the distance from the center of the  right most barrel  to the center of left most barrel.

If the width of the two outer shots on paper is narrower than the width of the two outer  barrels then you are converging.   Eyeball guestimating I would say the ctc width of right barrel to  left barrel is some where around 8" to 12".    Looking at a screen print and counting pixels it looks like the group is some where around 15 inches.

If that is correct then the group would be diverging. I kinda would expect a gun like this to diverge. Recoil form the left barrel would swing left and right side swing right.

Douglas,
The shot pattern on the target is 6" across and the barrel assembly from centerline of the two outer barrels is 9".  Do you think the gun is moving when fired?  I can't see if it is in the video, but it may be.
 
Also, anyone who is interested, I reduced the price to $300 plus shipping.
Dom

[dominick]

This is sold.  I'll make another in my spare time.  Dom