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A Guns to Save Lives: Winchester 1886 Line Thrower (Ad-free)
🕑 Added 2024-04-14 12:00:05 +0000 UTCLine-throwing devices have long been an important part of maritime safety, and many different have been guns adapted to launch ropes from shore to ship or ship to ship. Usually they are inexpensive obsolete surplus of the era, but a change in law in 1918 led to a spike in demand for line-throwers in the US. As a result, a number of entrepreneurs put together line-throwing rifle kits. One of these was William Read & Sons, who bought 497 Model 1886 Winchester lever action rifles in .45-70 form the Winchester factory, specifically bored smooth and with barrels cut down the 14.5 inches. They packaged these with line launching projectiles, spools or rope, blank cartridges, and other accessories and sold them commercially. This particular model was used by both the US Coast Guard and Navy as well as private ship owners, and remained in use until after World War Two.
For a tremendous amount of information on line throwers, I highly recommend John Spangler's article "Guns to Save Lives":
Comments
Derek Elsberry
Finally made it through the attached article "Guns to Save Lives". Definitely a fascinating read - thanks for including it!
Robert Beattie
Very interesting to see a "weapon" used for non-lethal purpose. By the way, could these be loaded with some sort of bullet and actually be lethal?
Dana Arbeit
In the fire department where I worked, each ladder company(they called them "Truck" companies) carried a line-throwing gun kit. They were H&R top break actions. I don't think they ever fired one, even during training drills while I was around. Some of the old-timers said they had a brutal kick. That stands to reason since they fired a heavy brass rod similar to the one in the video.
Guido Schriewer
man. that 14 1/2 looks awesome. wouldn't mind that in 45/70. could kick some LOW cap but man does that look handy! the USN still use m14's for that?
Forgotten Weapons
I should have mentioned that specifically - it needed to be a rifle with a big enough cartridge to get reasonable range on a heavy line. The pistol caliber guns wouldn't have been effective, but the 1886 was chambered for .45-70.
Terry
Any idea why they chose the 1886? Was there something particular about it that made it more suitable than, say, an 1873 or 1892?
