Talk:Rollin White

A fact from Rollin White appeared on Wikipedia's Main Page in the Did you know column on 29 November 2011 (check views). The text of the entry was as follows:

Did you know... that Rollin White was an American gunsmith who invented a revolver with a bored-through cylinder which allowed the use of metallic cartridges?

A record of the entry may be seen at Wikipedia:Recent additions/2011/November. The nomination discussion and review may be seen at Template:Did you know nominations/Rollin White.

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intent of the original Rollin White patent

The present entry reads: "White's idea was to completely bore through the cylinder and insert metallic cartridges from the rear.[2]"

I believe this is incorrect based on reading the original patent. When the patent was written, metal cartridges did not exist. White's intent was for paper cartridges to be used with separate percussion caps. Smith and Wesson deserve credit for appreciating that licensing the White patent would be necessary for realizing the full potential of the metal cartridges (.22 short rimfire) they intended to use in the revolvers they would produce as soon as the Key Colt revolver patent expired. Rlpapke (talk) 17:33, 15 March 2012 (UTC) Roger Papke[reply]

I am going to have to respectfully disagree with you on whether or not metallic cartridges existed at the time, as history shows that they did.--Mike - Μολὼν λαβέ 17:35, 15 March 2012 (UTC)[reply]

Metal cartridges existed but were nearly unknown in the US at that time. Pinfire cartridges were in use in Europe but a rarity over here. In any case, the original Rolin White patent makes no mention of metal cartridges. If you wish, I can send you a copy. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Rlpapke (talk • contribs) 20:35, 16 March 2012 (UTC)[reply]

It currently says in the article that White did not invent "the Smith & Wesson revolver". This phrase needs clarification, so I redlinked it. For one thing, I am not sure how anyone who is not named either "Smith" or "Wesson" can invent a "Smith & Wesson revolver". But I guess what is actually meant here is some special distinguishing feature of the "Smith & Wesson revolver" which was not present in White's invention. Maybe something to do with the cartridges? This would need to be mentioned here. --BjKa (talk) 11:13, 13 March 2013 (UTC)[reply]

It's perfectly possible for some other individual not called Smith or Wesson to invent something for them. The Colt 1911 wasn't designed by Sam Colt, Oliver Winchester didn't design guns at all.86.156.109.112 (talk) 14:57, 6 May 2014 (UTC)[reply]

This article is starting to give the impression that Rollin White's invention was not ridiculous - which it clearly and famously was.86.156.109.112 (talk) 14:29, 6 May 2014 (UTC)[reply]

He was also not, in fact, even the inventor the bored-through cylinder. His patent never should've been granted. 207.98.198.84 (talk) 03:20, 15 March 2016 (UTC)[reply]

He was. The self-contained center fire cartridge was invented by Jean Samuel Pauly, a Swiss inventer and granted by a French patent 1812. On the Rollin White patent drawing (No. 12.648 of Apr. 3. 1855) you can see a revolver with a parallel bored-through cylinder and a rear-loading mechanism for self-contained cartridges. In November 17, 1856, D.B.Wesson and Horace Smith signed an agreement with Rollin White, giving S&W the license to produce revolvers with bored-through cylinders, Rollin White was to receive 25 cents per revolver. Apr. 1869, a 2nd prolongation of the Rollin White patent was not accepted by President Grant. -- hmaag (talk) 10:22, 15 March 2016 (UTC)[reply]

I'm fairly certain that Casimir Lefaucheux was making revolvers bored-through cylinders for his pinfire cartridges well before Rollin White's patent. 207.98.198.84 (talk) 09:00, 5 April 2016 (UTC)[reply]

Casimir Lefaucheux invented the cartridge in 1828, patent date: 1835. His first rear loading guns were double barrel shotguns. At Crystal Palace in London, he exposed a pepperbox for copper pinfire cartridges. 3 years later, Eugène, his son patented the use of this cartridges for revolvers. (Traduction of the French artikle in Wikipedia. -- hmaag (talk) 09:58, 5 April 2016 (UTC)[reply]