John Linebaugh
Encyclopedia
John Linebaugh is an American gunsmith
who has gained international renown for creating custom firearm
s. He is inventor of the .500 Linebaugh caliber — the first successful .50 caliber revolver (and cartridge
) which he created in 1986. He is also credited with inventing the .475 Linebaugh
cartridge, which he perfected in 1988.
capable of shooting 250 gr bullets at 1700 feet per second (518.2 m/s) — an increase of about 350 ft/s (107 m/s) over its peers.
When heavy loads were employed, the observed expansion was no greater 0.001 inch in diameter above the base of the cartridge. This measurement indicates a dangerously overloaded cartridge - when significant - the above measure indicates that such performance was well within safe standards, and therefore all the more impressive for having been achieved. Compared to standard firearms, such results implied a 400% increase in performance.
Gunsmith
A gunsmith is a person who repairs, modifies, designs, or builds firearms. This occupation is different from an armorer. The armorer primarily maintains weapons and limited repairs involving parts replacement and possibly work involving accurization...
who has gained international renown for creating custom firearm
Firearm
A firearm is a weapon that launches one, or many, projectile at high velocity through confined burning of a propellant. This subsonic burning process is technically known as deflagration, as opposed to supersonic combustion known as a detonation. In older firearms, the propellant was typically...
s. He is inventor of the .500 Linebaugh caliber — the first successful .50 caliber revolver (and cartridge
Cartridge (firearms)
A cartridge, also called a round, packages the bullet, gunpowder and primer into a single metallic case precisely made to fit the firing chamber of a firearm. The primer is a small charge of impact-sensitive chemical that may be located at the center of the case head or at its rim . Electrically...
) which he created in 1986. He is also credited with inventing the .475 Linebaugh
.475 Linebaugh
The .475 Linebaugh is an extremely potent rimmed revolver cartridge developed by John Linebaugh in the late 1980s. The cartridge is based on the .45-70 Government case cut down to 1.5 inches and loaded with bullets weighing from to...
cartridge, which he perfected in 1988.
Unusual performance
Linebaugh crafted handguns that defied convention by leaps and bounds For instance, he made a .45 Colt.45 Colt
The .45 Colt cartridge is a handgun cartridge dating to 1872. It began as a black powder revolver round developed for the Colt Single Action Army revolver, but is offered as a magnum level handgun hunting round in modern usage. This cartridge was adopted by the U.S. Army in 1873 and served as the...
capable of shooting 250 gr bullets at 1700 feet per second (518.2 m/s) — an increase of about 350 ft/s (107 m/s) over its peers.
When heavy loads were employed, the observed expansion was no greater 0.001 inch in diameter above the base of the cartridge. This measurement indicates a dangerously overloaded cartridge - when significant - the above measure indicates that such performance was well within safe standards, and therefore all the more impressive for having been achieved. Compared to standard firearms, such results implied a 400% increase in performance.
Philosophy
Linebaugh has a philosophy on his craft:- "We are a custom sixgun shop dedicated to the old school sixgunner. We follow the theories of Elmer KeithElmer KeithElmer Keith was an Idaho rancher, firearms enthusiast, and author. Keith was instrumental in the development of the first magnum revolver cartridge, the .357 Magnum, as well as the later .44 Magnum and .41 Magnum cartridges.-Personality and life:Keith's trademarks were his cigars, his ten-gallon...
and John (Pondora) Taylor. Theirs was one of big bullets, so is ours. Bullet weight and caliberCaliberIn guns including firearms, caliber or calibre is the approximate internal diameter of the barrel in relation to the diameter of the projectile used in it....
are constants in external ballisticsBallisticsBallistics is the science of mechanics that deals with the flight, behavior, and effects of projectiles, especially bullets, gravity bombs, rockets, or the like; the science or art of designing and accelerating projectiles so as to achieve a desired performance.A ballistic body is a body which is...
; velocityVelocityIn physics, velocity is speed in a given direction. Speed describes only how fast an object is moving, whereas velocity gives both the speed and direction of the object's motion. To have a constant velocity, an object must have a constant speed and motion in a constant direction. Constant ...
is a constantly diminishing variable. I believe high velocity to be a superb killer if placed with exact precision, and if it reaches the inside of the animal. But without exact placement, it lacks the penetrating qualities and thus it wastes its energy in flesh wounds. The big bullet does not have these shortcomings. It will penetrate fully from any angle, thus letting the hunter take shots with confidence that he would otherwise pass up with a 'little' gun. I for one do not like big guns, just big bullets. With this in mind we offer models and ideas to the old school sixgunner. Remember, old school to us is powerful, practical, and packable."