Fig. 50. A gadgeteer’s dream. The big pistols are double barreled, and each of the little ones has three bayonets and a corkscrew!
The little pocket pistols are a gadgeteer’s dream. They have invisible triggers, which are only exposed when the lock is cocked. Each has on the right side a tiny triangular bayonet which springs into position at a touch on a catch. On the left side is a strong, light, knife blade similarly operated. Above each barrel is a second smaller knife blade (just right for trimming a quill pen), which may be pushed forward from a housing which conceals and protects it. And in the butt of each pistol is hidden a small but, effective corkscrew. What more could Beau Brummel himself desire?
The final item for which we have space is a flintlock pistol ([Fig. 51]) of the late eighteenth or early nineteenth century. It bears the signature “Derby à Paris”. Nothing seems to be known of this gunmaker; whether he was a Frenchman with an English name or an English gunsmith working in France must be left for future research to determine. In any case, he was a master of his craft. The pistol is in beautiful condition, though the blue color of the metal is a later restoration, no doubt based on the original finish of the weapon. The barrel and lock are finely engraved and partially gilt; the walnut stock is fitted with a gilded butt cap and inlaid with silver wire in delicate arabesque scrolls. Attached to the top of the barrel is a short bayonet of bright steel; this is mounted with a spring device in such a way that the bayonet can be folded back when not needed, but at a touch of the thumb upon the spring catch, will fly forward and lock in position for use.
Fig. 51. A repeating flintlock pistol. A thousand of these in one place could have changed the history of the world!
The most remarkable feature of this pistol, however, is its ingenious repeating mechanism. The type, though rare, is well known. It seems to have been invented about one hundred years previous, toward the close of the seventeenth century, by a Florentine gunsmith named Lorenzoni. During the following hundred years it was extensively copied. Arms with this type of mechanism are known bearing the signatures of Austrian, German, French, English, and Spanish gunsmiths. Variations and improvements show themselves from time to time, but a complete study of the Lorenzoni type of flintlock repeater has yet to be written. Its general principle, however, is as follows: a cylinder of brass, lying transversely across the body of the pistol, can be rotated a half turn by a lever. As this is done, the cylinder picks up a bullet, gunpowder, and priming powder, and conveys them to the proper positions for firing. Lugs on the cylinder also close the pan cover and cock the hammer. The magazines hold supplies for eight shots, which can thus be fired with practically the speed of the single action frontier revolver which was, for many years, the most famous of American arms. Think what changes in history a liberal supply of breech-loading repeating firearms of this type might have made had it been available throughout the eighteenth century! But unfortunately very few gunsmiths were skillful enough to do the precise work required on an arm of this type, and all who ever lived would not have been able to make enough of them to outfit a regiment. Such arms were rare and costly, and only princes could afford them, but we are fortunate that this specimen has come down to us to show what Master Derby of Paris could do generations before the day of Colt, Winchester, and the all-destructive Atom.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
The books listed below will be found helpful by any readers who wish to pursue further the study of Armor and Arms.
1. Laking, Sir Guy Francis: “A Record of European Armour and Arms,” 4to, 5 Vols., London, 1920-22.
2. Cripps-Day, Francis Henry: “A Record of Armour Sales,” 4to, uniform with above, London, 1925.