Unusual firearms of the past

2024 Author: Seth Attwood | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 15:55

Firearms have come a long and thorny path of development. At all times, people wanted to make sure that their weapons were effective enough in different situations - to conduct continuous fire at several targets, to be compact and comfortable enough. This is what different designers have done in different years.

1. Pistol with an ax

Nice try, but this weapon is too heavy.

Until the beginning of the 19th century, gunsmiths from all over the world tried to combine edged weapons and firearms. These attempts were dictated by the fact that the shooting from a firearm was associated with a long charging process. Attempts to create a hybrid were mostly unsuccessful, but such interesting examples appeared.

2. Platypus pistol

Such a pistol was used by the jailers.

Before the advent of semi-automatic and multiple-charge weapons, shooters suffered from the inability to fire at multiple targets without reloading. Such a pistol was designed specifically for firing at a group of opponents. It was used, as a rule, by couriers and prison guards.

3. Shooting cutlery

I wonder what kind of situation they are for in life.

Looking at some samples of weapons, it becomes completely unclear what their purpose was, and against whom such weapons should be directed. Take, for example, cutlery with pistols. Perhaps such people helped to cope with thieving acquaintances who took out the silver from the house after the next feast.

4. Pistol-boxes

Small but dangerous.

A very unusual sample of weapons that was created in the United States for the self-defense of ordinary citizens. The weapon has a caliber of 22 and is loaded with 12 rounds. Easily fits in your pocket, because its average dimensions are somewhere between a matchbox and a deck of cards.

5. Pistol-handle Bravermann

A dangerous thing.

An astonishing amount of concealed carry weapons are produced in the United States. Perhaps this is the reason for such nervousness of the local police. Take, for example, this Bravermann system pistol, developed in the 90s of the last century. The model differs from most of its "congeners" in that its design can actually take the form of a pistol, which greatly facilitates firing.

6. "Organ"

Terrible but, fortunately, unpopular weapon.

The organ cannon is another early attempt to create a firearm capable of efficiently firing multiple targets at once. Used "organs" in the 14-15th centuries. This type of weapon had a much smaller caliber than a cannon, but more than pistols and rifles, which easily allowed it to cope even with protected targets.

7. Shield pistol

Trying to combine a shield and a firearm.

While some gunsmiths tried to combine melee weapons with firearms, others tried to equip weapons with pistols, for example, a shield. For some time these shields were incredibly popular in Italy. It was made somewhere between 1540 and 1547.

8. Pistol-knuckles

It must have been very uncomfortable to shoot.

An unusual mixture of firearms and melee weapons. Apparently, this type of weapon was made handicraft. It will be difficult to judge the effectiveness of a pistol with brass knuckles. First of all, I want to know how accurately you can fire from it.

9. Multi-barrel pistol

For shooting without reloading.

Another weapon that appeared in an attempt to give a pistol with multiple charges. Unlike duck pistols, such multi-barrels were intended for firing at one target. The disadvantage of this weapon was its decent size and serious weight. Attempts to reduce both, as a rule, led to a reduction in combat effectiveness.