*You probably didn't notice the poll I had going. I asked you what you wanted me to cover next, and out of a meager three votes, the winner is "History and Science". So today's post is the result of that poll, and is especially for the two of you whose votes won! Keep an eye peeled for the next poll, coming soon.*
The role of firearms in steampunk comes up often. Firearms, so misunderstood, often become over or underpowered in the name of plot or assumed knowledge. As a shotgunner myself, I would like to talk to you about shotguns in the 19th century, and some of the actual developments coming to the turn of the 20th century.
The term shotgun itself was first used in 1776, in Kentucky, USA. With other terms like scatter gun, riot gun, pepper gun, and even fowling piece as appropriate names for the iconic weapon, nothing rings with as great a thunder as "shotgun". Typically a smooth bored barrel and designed to fire shot of various size, including a single, larger projectile, it is a short/medium range gun with an effective range of 50-75 yards depending on the quality of workmanship, and ammunition, with high quality slugs from a rifled barrel (a possible feature even in the Victorian era) reaching an upper effective limit of 100 yards. The shotgun was certainly the weapon of choice for hunters, but also served a significant military role, especially by cavalry troop in the American Civil War. The last few decades of the 19th century saw a decline in military use, however, but they remained a strong presence in law enforcement, home defense, and sport. As iconic to the American frontier as the revolver, it even developed little sister in the coach gun, a shorter barreled version designed to be used from the passenger seat of a stage coach, in tight brush, and other circumstances where a long gun would be disadvantageous. The use of the shotgun in military action would not be redeemed until the Great War, where is served magnificently in the trenches. Since that time, it has found various modifications and uses, and garnered favor among various demographics.
So, what of the technology? Let's start with the basic design. By the Victorian era, muskets and blunderbusses had given way to the more recognizable shotgun. The muskets saw their last tour of duty to the crown in 1838. The break action, breech loading design had taken hold, but it wasn't until the 1860s that cartridges, or shotshells, came on the market. Until that time, the guns were hand loaded, and would take life threatening time to reload in battle, or in the face of a stampeding boar. This led to the double barreled shotgun being a favored design, allowing a second shot before the necessary reload. Another notable innovation was the hammerless firing mechanism. Several designs were put forth in the middle 19th century, but it was the 1875 advent of the boxlock that gained the most success. With its simple design it allowed for cheaper manufacture, and greater reliability. Since its innovation, double barreled shotguns have had little need to adapt, and are still favored by sport shooters. 1880 saw the innovation of the ejecting cartridge, and the first automatic cocking mechanism upon closing the breech.
Enter John Browning. The man who revolutionized firearms in a way no one else could. In 1887 he completed the lever action shotgun. More of a gimmick for Winchester, the company he worked for at the time, he went on to finish his design for the first, more reliable, pump action shotgun (1893). In 1900, the very end of the wild west, and Victorian era, he patented the Browning Auto-5, the first semi-automatic shotgun. The first two decades of the twentieth century saw some astounding firearms innovation, much done by Browning.
Let us backtrack for a moment, to 1884. Up until this point firearms relied on black powder which was loud, smokey, and corrosive, and later, guncotton, which was unstable, and resultingly dangerous. Both produced a number of problems on the battlefield, including unnecessary fatalities. Then the invention of smokeless powder. Smokeless powder proved more powerful than black powder, more stable than guncotton, gave off negligible smoke, and would even burn wet. Beginning its use in France, it swiftly moved into prominence in middle Europe. By 1890 there were patent disputes because several different folks developed chemical variations. Needless to say, this became the standard in ammunition manufacturing.
A final, somewhat random note is that early shotshells were manufactured of brass, with paper shells becoming an option from the 1870s through about 1900. The paper shells had many problems, including dampness and pinholes (which would reduce the effectiveness of the powder burn). This led to brass bases, and wax coated paper to give them a little more reliability. Plastic shells, of course, would not be seen until 100 years after the first, in the 1960s.
So where does this leave us in the world of steampunk? Well, it leaves us with the king of close range combat an option. Depending on the specific date you're meddling in, you could certainly wield a pump action, or even semi-automatic shotgun. Being steampunk, it wouldn't be complete without some clock work or steam-powered anachronistic advances and ornate brass work, but this is technology you could certainly feel good about using in your projects. Me? I'll be taking my coach gun with me into town, just in case some bandits want to rough up the locals. Hell, I even have a gypsy spell engraved inside the barrel for a little extra oomph. Good Journey.
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