Manville gun
Encyclopedia
The Manville gun was a stockless, cylinder-fed, semi-automatic
gun created by Charles Manville. Manville designed the weapon for 12-gauge, 26.5-mm, and 37-mm shells.
, and wooden pistol grip
s.
Loading and unloading were effected by unscrewing two thick, large-headed knobbed screws at the top of the weapon's cylinder that allowed the disassembly of the weapon into two halves. The forend and cylinder were the front half and the pistol-grip and cylinder backplate were the second half.
The weapon's striker was engaged by rotating and then pushing in a knob at the back of the pistol grip (reversed to disengage it - rendering it safe). Each cylinder in the weapon had its own firing pin assembly. When the trigger is pulled the striker is cocked; when the trigger "breaks", the striker is released and hits the firing pin, firing the shell.
, smoke, and riot gas shells. The weapon is similar to the earlier 12-gauge version, except it has a 9.5-inch [242mm] or 9.75-inch [248mm] barrel and used hard rubber rear grips instead of wood.
The First Model was just a larger-bore version of the 12-bore shotgun, using the same two securing screws.
The Second Model differed in it used a long, thick metal locking bar with a turned-down bolt-handle, like the metal bolt on a bolt-action
rifle, which locked into a recess machined into the frame. This slid through a round sleeve atop each half of the weapon to secure the two halves. When the bolt was unlatched and pulled to the rear, the back-plate was turned to the operator's right using the rear grip, allowing access to the cylinder. The operator could then pull out the spent shells and reload fresh ones.
Barrel and cylinder inserts were available to allow it to fire 12-gauge shells or clusters of .38 Special
rounds.
The Indiana National Guard
used 26.5mm Manville guns to break up mobs of strikers during the Terre Haute General Strike of 1935. They fired flare and tear gas shells at strikers until they dispersed.
of the 1970s used the basic design for their weapon.
. The arms-dealer Baker states that it fired "Fragmentation
...Grenades...Tactical...Anti-Tank
...Anti-Personnel..." shells. The literature shown in the catalog glimpsed by Shannon (Christopher Walken
) stated that it also fired "Flashette" (sic)
shells.
Semi-automatic
Semi-automatic may refer to:* A semi-automatic firearm, a firearm which automatically reloads, but will only fire one round per trigger pull** Semi-automatic rifle** Semi-automatic pistol** Semi-automatic shotgun...
gun created by Charles Manville. Manville designed the weapon for 12-gauge, 26.5-mm, and 37-mm shells.
Manville 12-Bore Gun
Created in 1935, the original steel-and-aluminum weapon held 24 12-gauge 2.75-inch [18.5mmx70mmR] shells in a spring-driven rotary-cylinder that had to be wound counter-clockwise before firing. It consisted of a 11.1-inch [282mm] steel barrel, the aluminum-alloy ammo cylinder, a single-piece steel body and foregripForegrip
A foregrip is the grip on the front of a firearm that helps to control the gun, and prevent burns from the barrel during firing. A vertical foregrip can also allow for easier horizontal movement of the firearm, as it creates a firmer grasping point than conventional hand guards. Some firearms...
, and wooden pistol grip
Pistol grip
On a firearm or other tool, the pistol grip is that portion of the mechanism that is held by the hand and orients the hand in a forward, vertical orientation, similar to the position one would take with a conventional pistol such as the M1911....
s.
Loading and unloading were effected by unscrewing two thick, large-headed knobbed screws at the top of the weapon's cylinder that allowed the disassembly of the weapon into two halves. The forend and cylinder were the front half and the pistol-grip and cylinder backplate were the second half.
The weapon's striker was engaged by rotating and then pushing in a knob at the back of the pistol grip (reversed to disengage it - rendering it safe). Each cylinder in the weapon had its own firing pin assembly. When the trigger is pulled the striker is cocked; when the trigger "breaks", the striker is released and hits the firing pin, firing the shell.
26.5mm Manville Machine-Projector
An 18-round 26.5mm version followed in 1936 that fired 26.5mm Short (3.15-inch) [26.5mm x 80mmR] flareFlare
-In culture and the arts:*Flare , an acrobatic move employed in b-boying, commonly known as breakdance, and gymnastics*Flare , a female hero who is a member of the League of Champions...
, smoke, and riot gas shells. The weapon is similar to the earlier 12-gauge version, except it has a 9.5-inch [242mm] or 9.75-inch [248mm] barrel and used hard rubber rear grips instead of wood.
The First Model was just a larger-bore version of the 12-bore shotgun, using the same two securing screws.
The Second Model differed in it used a long, thick metal locking bar with a turned-down bolt-handle, like the metal bolt on a bolt-action
Bolt-action
Bolt action is a type of firearm action in which the weapon's bolt is operated manually by the opening and closing of the breech with a small handle, most commonly placed on the right-hand side of the weapon...
rifle, which locked into a recess machined into the frame. This slid through a round sleeve atop each half of the weapon to secure the two halves. When the bolt was unlatched and pulled to the rear, the back-plate was turned to the operator's right using the rear grip, allowing access to the cylinder. The operator could then pull out the spent shells and reload fresh ones.
Barrel and cylinder inserts were available to allow it to fire 12-gauge shells or clusters of .38 Special
.38 Special
The .38 Smith & Wesson Special is a rimmed, centerfire cartridge designed by Smith & Wesson. It is most commonly used in revolvers, although some semi-automatic pistols and carbines also use this round...
rounds.
37mm Manville Gas Gun
A later version made in 1938 could hold 12 37mm 5.5-inch [37mm x 127mmR] flare, smoke, or tear gas shells and was designed for police and "security" use. It was meant to be used in an indirect fire mode and had its barrel mounted at the bottom of the cylinder rather than the top. Its greater weight prohibited its use by any but the strongest of men, since it was designed to be fired from a tripod or pintle mount.History
Although its 12-bore guns saw some sales, police and military forces showed little interest in the larger Manville guns. The Manville company ceased production of the weapons in 1943, after which Charles Manville destroyed all machinery, dies, diagrams and notes.The Indiana National Guard
Indiana National Guard
The Indiana National Guard is the armed force of the state of Indiana. It consists of the Indiana Army National Guard and the Indiana Air National Guard, and is part of the larger Army National Guard and the Air National Guard...
used 26.5mm Manville guns to break up mobs of strikers during the Terre Haute General Strike of 1935. They fired flare and tear gas shells at strikers until they dispersed.
Hawk Engineering MM-1
The later 37mm / 38mm or 40mm Hawk MM-1Hawk MM-1
The MM-1 is a 40x46mm semi-automatic grenade launcher manufactured in the USA by the Hawk Engineering Company. The manufacturer claims that it has been used by US Special Forces units, as well as the military forces of several South American and African countries...
of the 1970s used the basic design for their weapon.
The XM-18E1R
The 26.5mm Machine Projector is best known as the stand-in for the fictional 25mm "XM-18E1R" grenade-launcher used in the film The Dogs of War (1981)The Dogs of War (film)
The Dogs of War is a 1980 war film based upon the novel The Dogs of War by Frederick Forsyth, directed by John Irvin. It stars Christopher Walken and Tom Berenger as part of a small, international unit of mercenary soldiers privately hired to depose President Kimba of a fictional "Republic of...
. The arms-dealer Baker states that it fired "Fragmentation
Fragmentation (weaponry)
Fragmentation is the process by which the casing of an artillery shell, bomb, grenade, etc. is shattered by the detonating high explosive filling. The correct technical terminology for these casing pieces is fragments , although shards or splinters can be used for non-preformed fragments...
...Grenades...Tactical...Anti-Tank
Heat
In physics and thermodynamics, heat is energy transferred from one body, region, or thermodynamic system to another due to thermal contact or thermal radiation when the systems are at different temperatures. It is often described as one of the fundamental processes of energy transfer between...
...Anti-Personnel..." shells. The literature shown in the catalog glimpsed by Shannon (Christopher Walken
Christopher Walken
Christopher Walken is an American stage and screen actor. He has appeared in more than 100 movies and television shows, including Joe Dirt, Annie Hall, The Deer Hunter, The Prophecy trilogy, The Dogs of War, Sleepy Hollow, Brainstorm, The Dead Zone, A View to a Kill, At Close Range, King of New...
) stated that it also fired "Flashette" (sic)
Flechette
A flechette is a pointed steel projectile, with a vaned tail for stable flight. The name comes from French , "little arrow" or "dart", and sometimes retains the acute accent in English: fléchette.-Bulk and artillery use:...
shells.