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"QUANTUM SHOT" #402
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These guns may be smaller, but you'll be just as dead

"Do not move while I destroy you, Mr. Bond" -
In the first part of this series we saw some vintage miniature weaponry, showcasing the ingenuity and craftsmanship of pistol makers, and the deadly intent of spy technology in the past couple hundred years.

Modern spy-tech is definitely more deadly and efficient, but the information about it is pretty scarce (for obvious reasons). On this page we'll see some examples of the modern weaponry, and the weirdest of vintage mini-guns. Many images were graciously provided by Alan Trigger, from "Little Gun" collection in Belgium.

Officially the Smallest Pistol in the World, Manufactured Today






Made in Switzerland (of course!), by SwissMiniGun company. On their site you can see illustrations of this revolver in real size: no bigger than 5.5 cm (2.16 inches). Even though you can put this gun on your key-chain, it could be a deadly weapon. It fires 2.34mm bullets, with the range of 112 meters.




SwissMiniGun can also be more expensive than a luxury Swiss watch. In fact, one of the offered models is made in hand-engraved 18k gold, encrusted with the choicest diamonds (price starts at $50,000) -




(images credit: SwissMiniGun)

Note to collectors: SwissMiniGun can not be imported into the USA due to present regulations, however, it's readily available in Canada.


Other Modern Spy Guns

Seecamp LWS 25 (or LWS .32 - same size, larger caliber) model is also very small:



It is available for purchase through certain dealers, and can also be embellished with custom engraving (if you insist on making a deadly object as beautiful as possible) -


(image credit: Seecamp)


Flashlight Shotgun -
Currently produced by ARES Defense Systems. "A grenade-style pin removes the safety, and the flashlight fires a .410 shotgun round out the back when a button is pressed."


(image credit: ARES Defense Systems)


Cellphone Gun -
a very mean variety of covert weaponry, hunted by security forces around the world. "Hitting the 5, 6, 7 and 8 buttons on the phone fires four .22 caliber rounds in quick succession."


(image credit: virginmedia)


Miniature Firefighter's Pistol

Getting back to vintage-tech, this extreme example of palm-sized, spring operated pistol hails from the bad old days of prohibition and gangsters - when arson was the main occupier of the firemen. Max Johnson sent us the photos, adding that such guns "were widely used by Chicago firemen... My dad's dad had one he got from a friend who was one of these firefighters" -






(image credit: Max Johnson)

Update: They were manufactured by the Chicago Fire Arms Company, usually 32 caliber. One was used to assassinate President McKinley in 1901.


Here is David Kucer's Smith & Wesson


(image credit: littlegun.be)


Pretty cool Derringer DA 38 (caliber 9mm!)






Kolibri by Pfannl Franz - Vintage key-chain-sized gun (2.7mm caliber)
This is a fascinating model, much sought by collectors:


(image credit: littlegun.be)


Deadly miniatures from French history

Other miniature pistols and guns - this time a collector's scale models, but fully functional. They are mostly creations of Michel Lefaivre of Paris, France (see more here)

P08–Luger (a working miniature). The 2/5 scale model represents about 600 hours of precision work:





The miniature craftsmanship and detail is often astonishing:



A French rifle, model 1874 - "Gras" fully functional at 1/4 scale, along with its bayonet:


(images credit: Michel Lefaivre)


The following is a series of strange-looking small pistols and other guns, which we hesitate to identify without consulting with collectors:
(let us know if you aware of any of these models)
Update: thanks to all commenters for great info!

The first pistol is James Reid "My Friend" knuckle duster circa 1880s, 22 rimfire:






The pistol below is so-called squeeze pistol. Most were French, held four rounds and were six or seven millimeter in caliber:




German Brevete pocket pistol in 25 ACP, circa 1906:




Below is one of the "Duckfoot" pistols. "They were reportedly favored by sea captains and prison warders because of their ability to keep multiple people at bay" (see more here) -




The following is some sort of pepperbox pistol. These were popular in the US prior to the introduction of the Colt revolver:




"High Standard" pistol model number DM101. These were made in .22 LR and in .22 Mag, and were issued to certain state police agencies as a backup gun:




Here is a very endearing little piece: Pocket "Squeeze" Pistol from 19th century France:


(image credit: Trevino)

Another incredibly bizarre mini-gun:
Ten-Barrelled Pin-fire Pistol - again, France 19th century:


(image credit: Trevino)


A Noon-Day Gun

If your thing is to greet the mid-day with an exquisite cannon blast, then take a look at this: "A miniature brass cannon barrel and brass-mounted adjustable circular magnifying glass fixed to a circular white marble base", all only 23 cm in diameter:






Knife Pistol by Unwin & Rodgers, England, circa 1830 - (more info)




(image credit: aaawt.com)


Here is a key flintlock from the 18th century. Very ornamental, almost fantasy-like piece:
(length: 23 cm)






How about a portable cannon? Not much is known about this curiosity:




A deadly handshake: Glove Pistol (must be pretty awkward to carry it around)
update:"It was meant to be punched into someone's belly, to help soften the sound of the gun, and to shoot them".




Most beautiful gun powder flask

Gun powder flask with sundial (16th century) - more info
It is also a compass and a watch - only 10 cm in diameter. Made in Germany, in 1590...imagine that.




Spy Guns of the Future Past

We just have to mention miniature rayguns from the future that never was. Look at these Steampunk Rayguns - creation of antiMichael from Make:Blog


(image credit: antiMichael)

And a real beauty: The Distracted Alchemist's Ray Gun:


(image credit: Andrew Beal)

READ PREVIOUS PART HERE

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Category: Military,Gadgets
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YOUR COMMENTS::

23 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

The Glove Pistol is classic OSS. Meant to be punched into someone's belly, to help soften the sound of the gun, and to shoot them.

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Anonymous Anonymous said...

The ten barreled pistol reminds me of the gonne from Tarry Pratchet's "Men at Arms" novel.

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Anonymous Anonymous said...

Unknown pistols #5 and #8 look very much like the 'Derringer DA 38' above them. Different styles, different calibers?

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Blogger Tony said...

I really don't think you can call that 2.34mm miniature gun "deadly". Unless, of course, you consider objects like paper clips deadly too. "This deadly paper clip can, when straightened, be used to make a puncture wound several centimeters deep!"

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Anonymous Anonymous said...

Unknown pistol #8 was made by High Standard and is model number DM101..these were made in .22 LR and in .22 Mag. The .22 mag, from what I understand, was issued to certain state police agencies as a backup gun.

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Anonymous Anonymous said...

that portable cannon looks like a brass knuckle on steroids. when I look at it I think "persian" or some arab country. maybe even oriental.

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Anonymous Anonymous said...

The unidentified pistol with three barrels is known as a "Duckfoot" pistol. They were reportedly favored by sea captains and prison warders because of their ability to keep multiple people at bay.

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Blogger Unknown said...

#5 is definitely DA 38, you can see the engravig, where the bottom bullet goes in the barrel...

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Blogger Unknown said...

I once owned a Derringer like the one in Unknown #8. It was .22 Mag and very exciting to shoot. I destroyed it because I was never sure if the next time I shot it it would blow up in my hand.

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Anonymous Anonymous said...

The multi-barreled revolver looks just like the piece from clue. I didn't think they made those...

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Blogger Unknown said...

I like the idea behind miniature guns!
Miniature wounds, miniature deaths, miniature tragedies...

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Anonymous Anonymous said...

The miniature fire fighter's pistol is a "Protector" palm pistol manufactured by the Chicago Fire Arms Company. These were usually 32 caliber. One was used to assassinate President McKinley in 1901.

The first pistol below the Graz is a James Reid "My Friend" knuckle duster circa 1880s, 22 rimfire.

Pistols three and nine, I believe are sometimes called squeeze pistols. Most were French, I think held four rounds and were six or seven millimeter in caliber.

Pistol number four is a German Brevete pocket pistol in 25 ACP circa 1906.

Pistol number seven is some sort of pepperbox pistol. These were popular in the US prior to the introduction of the Colt revolver.

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Blogger Sigivald said...

I concur with Tony; I don't know where you got "It fires 2.34mm bullets, with the killing range of 112 meters", but there is no way that's accurate.

(For instance, their webpage says it's a "non-firearm" in Canada or France because it's so low-powered.)

With a muzzle energy of about 3/4 of a foot-pound, the energy is substantially less than a spring-cocking BB pistol.

It would have trouble breaking the skin at a few yards, and it would be difficult to kill someone with it at all, at any range.

I don't think the projectile could travel 112 meters unless you fired it straight down a cliff.

Perhaps if you put the barrel up their nose when firing, or got a good shot through the eye into the optic nerve, and a lot of luck.

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Anonymous Anonymous said...

ARES? Woah. Shadowrun esque :p

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Blogger Avi Abrams said...

Wow, thank you all (especially Cal H. ) for great info - post updated.

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Anonymous Anonymous said...

You have to have really small fingers to use these guns.

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Anonymous Anonymous said...

i don't really think that it is possible to make deadly wounds with such small weapons...

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Anonymous Anonymous said...

That shotgun-flashlight is scary... Every time you use that thing as a flashlight, you have a shotgun facing you...

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Anonymous Anonymous said...

Steampunk Rayguns? Umm, no, I think you smoke hash from those...

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Anonymous Anonymous said...

Actually, the Glove Pistol was "issued" to the Construction Battalions --the SeaBees.
They were not permitted to carry firearms, so this gadget was invented and attached to the back of a work glove. It held a single .38 special round, and was supposed to give the wearer some means of fighting back against on-rushing Japanese soldiers.

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Blogger Unknown said...

The glove gun was also used in Inglorious Bastards in the final few scenes where they storm the fuhrer in his theatre lounge.

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Anonymous Anonymous said...

I believe the "hand cannon" might be a signal gun sued on naval vessels in the 18th and 19th centuries.

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Anonymous Anonymous said...

if they can make rayguns, they wld alrdy have them 4 the army

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