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By Rick Lisson via wideopenspaces.com

At first glance, the Enouy revolver seems to be some kind of steampunk weapon with lots of imagination and little practical use. But this is a real firearm from the past, with an interesting history. The innovative revolver was patented by Joseph Enouy of Middlesex, England in 1855. A compound magazine wheel with eight different cylinders spun on a rod attached to the butt and a bracket from the underside of the revolver barrel. Each cylinder held six shots . . .

With that much metal, the revolver was very heavy and unbalanced, making accurate shots difficult at best. Additionally, the large compound magazine wheel made it impossible to carry in a holster, which meant you had to lug it around. For these reasons, the revolver was a flop. There are no records of it ever being manufactured or sold commercially.

But you’ve got to hand it to Joseph Enouy for creativity.

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48 COMMENTS

  4. I once saw a photo of a 20 shot pinfire revolver, but it was just one BIG cylinder. Looked like they cut back on the weight by welding individual chambers in a ring, then attaching a back-plate with a hole for the cylinder arbor. It would still be ungainly as heck, though…

  8. He’d have had a market for it if he scaled it up and offered it as a naval or coastal weapon firing 1-lb or similar shells.

  9. Cap and ball era. Lots of convoluted designs to get large capacity and rapid reloads. God help you if you get a chain fire with that monster.

    If I had a bucket list of firearms to try I’d like to try the LeMat.

    • A chain fire would be quite spectacular to witness though. At a distance. With a ballistic shield for protection.

    • I have a LeMat replica. You know how you grease the loaded chambers to prevent chain fire? I did not grease the shotgun chamber because, well, shotgun. But I stupidly thought to save the shotgun for last after the 9 .45 chambers, because it spreads so much (30″ pattern at ten feet, IIRC) that I figured it should be the last chance shot. Mistake! The shotgun chain fired and the recoil kicked it up so much that the hammer bit me and gouged out a chunk of flesh. I can’t imagine how it would be if any of the chambers had chain fired too.

  10. Let’s see: 6×8=48? Probably not legal in Mass… although… it does get past magazine requirements I imagine. Still, the only way I’d want to fire one would be at the end of a really long string. And preferably around a corner. I bet Ralph has one in a closet somewhere.

    • I bet Ralph has one in a closet somewhere.

      Yup, and I bought it new. 🙂

      BTW, since it’s pre-ban, it’s legal.

  11. Not even close.

    The Webley-Fosbery Auto-cocking revolver is, by far, the most unusual revolver in history. By far.

    Being a gunsmith who loves to study how machinists made gun parts in the days before NC/CNC machining, the W-F revolver is an incredibly audacious piece of machining.

  15. It sure has to be in the top ten “most unusual” … that’s really bizarre and awesome all at the same time.

    I’m going to consider one for my CCW.

  24. It should, at least, make everyone aware, that FU can come out of nowhere, and be completely non-conspiratorial [the maker of that pistol was clearly thinking FU on somebody]. Therefore you should not let youself fall for any singular, or conspiratorial attempt to bind your hands againdt such possibilities.

  25. that is why I have been saying buy ammo. I have the right to protect myself and if you don’t like it tough $hit.
    The 2nd Amendment was put into the Constitution so the people could protect themselves from a corrupt government. No double standards put DC politicians on Obamacare and SS.Thanks for your support and vote.Pass the word. mrpresident2016.com

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