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  • Multi Barrel Pistols

    #1
    Some of us have seen single and double barrel pistols but how about theses multi barrel pistols. Theses type of pistols fire a number of shots simultaneously or in sequence. Apparently multi barrel pistols were popular among bank and prison guards and sea captains in the 18th and 19th century. Not sure how practical theses pistols are but must have been very intereting when they fired. Here are a few, what works of art.

    3 barrel pistol
    http://i1204.photobucket.com/albums/...rel-pistol.jpg

    Some 4 barrel pistols
    http://i1204.photobucket.com/albums/...rrelPistol.jpg

    http://i1204.photobucket.com/albums/...tol-bronze.jpg

    http://i1204.photobucket.com/albums/...t-4barrels.jpg

    6 barrel pistol
    http://i1204.photobucket.com/albums/...rel-pistol.jpg

    Bayle 6 barrel palm pistol
    http://i1204.photobucket.com/albums/.../bayle1879.jpg

    7 barrel pistol
    http://i1204.photobucket.com/albums/...rel-pistol.jpg
    Tags: None

  • #2
    Nice pictures Shorty B.. It just shows what the gun makers came up with, within the constraints of the technology of the time and as the needs their clients devolped. Cleaver stuff really.

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    • #3
      Those are some really interesting pieces. I like the look of the 6 barrel pistol, some really wonderful stuff.

      Comment


      • #4
        I believe these pistols were known as pepperbox pistols. If you punch that into Google images you get a plethora of images that lead to quite a few interesting sites. Thanks for the idea S B

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        • #5
          Very interesting collection.

          The 4 barrel pistols were sometimes known as a webfoot pistol and popular with ship's officers and prison guards as they would fire all four barrels at the same time across a wide front, thus discouraging a to a mutinous crew, rioting prisoners, or a mob.

          In the day of smoothbore pistols the common tactic was to shove the pistol muzzle against your opponent (or as close as you could) before squeezing the trigger, thus ensuring a mortal wound. Accuracy was not all that good until the use of rifled barrels, so pistols were very much a close contact type of weapon.

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          • #6
            The first one has a certain elegance to it, in my opinion. I've never seen anything like these before. Thanks for sharing!

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            • #7
              Thanks for the additional information guys, found some great pistol sites. How about a 24 barrel pistol, what fun.

              http://i1204.photobucket.com/albums/..._pepperbox.jpg

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              • #8
                Very cool images, shorty! I recognized a lot of them from a recent cracked.com article about bizarre firearms. You can read the full article here:

                http://www.cracked.com/article_19702...ally-used.html

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                • #9
                  Pic.2,3,4 are "duck foot pistols" smile

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                  • #10
                    Multi barreled pistols are "fun". They date from "early on until today.
                    Their design really ( IMO) show the inventiveness/craftsmanship of the "gun maker"

                    They were carried quite often also by "Gents" ( as "pocket pistols") & Ladies (as "muff pistols )

                    Here are couple ( late 17th century ) that are a wee bit dif., in their construction. ( note the pic.s are of a a slightly longer Bbl. ( poss. boot gun or waist" ) these were also made in "pocket/muff size".

                    http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...or/BP1/tap.jpg
                    Last edited by Puffer; 04-04-2012, 01:39 PM.

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                    • #11
                      Thanks for the link Diane, very interesting article. The jailors key guns are fantastic, another fascinating subject is disguised weapons, walking sticks and umbrellas with hidden blades. You are right Jack, the people who made theses type of pistols have amazing talents.
                      Last edited by Shorty Biscutes; 04-05-2012, 07:19 AM.

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                      • #12
                        Another "genre" is the "Box lock"
                        This was not a ML, ( the bbl.s were "unscrewed, & loaded from the "rear")
                        They VERY popular. ( this config. usually used a smaller cal. but actually had better ballistics.)
                        While the singular bbl. is the most often seen, multi Bbl.s were also made.
                        BTW, the HBC until the 1850s (?) actually acquired for clerks & above, to carry as "factor's pistols" ( by this time they were "cap locks )
                        Here is 4 bbl.
                        http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...r/BP1/687p.jpg
                        Last edited by Puffer; 04-05-2012, 04:42 PM.

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                        • #13
                          I like the look of the box lock Jack. I had a great time researching theses awesome pistols so thanks to everyone for their input. Here are a few more of theses multi barrel pistols, I would imagine they are very rare.

                          3 Barrel pistol
                          http://i1204.photobucket.com/albums/...l--pistol-.jpg

                          4 Barrel pistol
                          http://i1204.photobucket.com/albums/...rel-pistol.jpg

                          10 Barrel pistol
                          http://i1204.photobucket.com/albums/...rrelpistol.jpg

                          16 Barrel pistol
                          http://i1204.photobucket.com/albums/...rel-pistol.jpg

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