Powder Smoke (Patreon)

Continuing what's becoming a series of drawings with anthro MLP characters test firing various late 19th and early 20th century pistols. Link Primarily I am exploring the early 1st generation of semi-automatic pistols that were around in the late 19th and very early 20th century. Many of these were not great designs, but they would lead the way to better future models.

However while new technologies were offering alternatives to traditional forms of handguns, there were some who still felt older ways were better. Also this piece happens to be a Patreon patron reward for Spypone so this drawing takes care of two tasks in one piece, and it is the return of Spypone's OC character Antebellum.

Antebellum inserted the 6th chunky .577 black powder cartridge into the cylinder that the earth pony held in her hand. With that task completed, she picked up a steel plate that was pierced with 6 holes that corresponded with the primers on the back of the centerfire cartridges. She lined up the 2 pins on the plate with their matching holes on cylinder and then returned the loaded cylinder to the rest of the pistol. She inserted the cylinder pin/arbor thus completed the reassembly of the revolver. As she did she glanced over at the old earth pony stallion and thought.

Did this pony even read the technical requirements for submissions? This is the opposite of what the Crown is looking for? We're primarily interested in a self-loading pistol, or at least a revolver with automatic extraction and using the new smokeless powder. This thing is doesn't even have an ejector rod!

Still she'd been asked to give the revolver an evaluation, so Antebellum dutifully stuffed some cotton wads in her ears. Then she turned, faced the paper target 25yds away and raised the massive revolver and took aim. Aligning the small blade, front sight with the equally small V notch rear sight she carefully squeezed the double-action trigger. A deep, thunderous roar echoed across the range as the pistol rocked and rolled up in the mare's hand. At the same time a great cloud of smoke hung in the still morning air. By 5th the shot the target was almost completely obscured by a vast cloud of acrid powder smoke. As she sent the 6th and final 400gr/ 25.9 gram soft lead projectile downrange she thought.

Well one advantage here is if you haven't dealt with your problem by the time you've fired the last round you can either use the smoke to cover your retreat, or to mask your presence while you reload.

Having fired all the cartridges Antebellum reversed the process and removed the cylinder and began the task of extracting the now spent cartridge casings with a loose rod. When this chore was completed she reassembled the revolver and then addressed the old stallion.

"Sir. Thank you for taking the time to travel to Canterlot to participate in these trials.Your pistol will be very useful in aiding the Crown in its search for a new side arm."

"Well dearie that's might kind of ya ta say that. If I may ask how will it help the Crown?"

The mare pulled the last cotton wad from her ears and then slightly adjusted her black leather bustier top. Then she replied.

"By being an example of what we're not looking for in pistol."

"Oh." The stallion.

The pistol Antebellum is firing is a Tranter .577, for years I've loved this very Victorian revolver. So when Spypone proposed it I was eager to draw it. For those who are interested our friend Ian over at Forgotten Weapons did a video about the .577 Tranter.Link  Although Ian reviews a 5-shot version of the revolver.