A Nurse with a Gun

Sunday, September 14, 2008

Ugly Gun Sunday

Here's one that isn't really ugly....... It's just wicked. I don't know just what it is. If anyone knows, illuminate me in the comments section.

edited to add: It's an Apache knife pistol. Here is one up for auction. Estimated price: $4,500 - $6,500

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9 Comments:

Blogger Don said...

It looks like an "Apache" but I wouldn't have any more idea than you of who made it or when.

They were supposed to be popular with young street thugs sometimes referred to as "Apaches" in 19th-century Paris.

Wikipedia on Apache gangs

6:12 AM  
Blogger Carteach said...

I have read of them, and seen photos. Anything that looks like that makes it to most of the generic 'history of the gun' books.

In an age just turning on to gadgets, (late 1800's) the idea behind that masterpiece was a gentleman would have levels of deterrence in his pocket. He could chose between shooting, stabbing, and simply pounding the snot out of an assailant.

When faced with a roving gang, he could fire his charges, then revert to dagger or brass knuckles as required, assuming he had time, and assuming any of the three choices actually worked.

My thought? About as effective as a Davis derringer combined with a small rock that happened to have a sharp edge.

6:19 AM  
Blogger Josh said...

Looks like an Apache pistol to me. Here's a link
http://www.hellinahandbasket.net/2006/11/is_that_an_apache_in_your_pock.htm

6:51 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I have heard this type of gun called a a "knuckle gun" for obvious reasons. This pistol was made for concealment, and as the story goes, was carried by gentleman gamblers in the riverboat days of the late 1800's. The brass knuckles was an idea that pre-dated speed loaders.

I must say, that I've never seen one in the dangerous revolver-assualt configuration. The folding bayonet, an invisible barrel shroud, and some sort of flash hider make this a candidate for a weapons ban of some type.

Seriously, I wonder what caliber it could be with a cylinder that seems rather long for it's diameter. Most that I have seen have been in obsolete rimfire calibers.

6:56 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I remember it from a book about strange weapons. If memory serves me, it's a gun that was custom designed and used by a criminal gang in Marseille long time ago, end of 1800s or something like that. It was years ago I read that book though, so I could be wrong.

6:58 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Did some googling, and it's an Apache folding knife revolver.

I was wrong about the city, it was a gang in Paris that called themselves Apaches.
http://www.gods-inc.de/macavity/IsleOfShadows/weapons/special.html

Here's a photo.
http://collectorebooks.com/gregg01/pinfire/Lot-283.htm

7:05 AM  
Blogger nightscool said...

I've always seen it referred to as an 'Apache pistol'. In this case 'Apache' refers to the Parisian criminals of the 19th & early 20th centuary. Kinda the Saturday Night Special of the day. It was concelable, had impact edged and projectile weapons all in one pkg. Not such a bad concept but te exicution leaves a lot to be desired.

7:41 AM  
Blogger Xavier said...

Yep, an Apache it is! Thanks guys!

8:01 AM  
Blogger Ed Skinner said...

But you're wrong!
It *is* ugly.

9:46 AM  

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