The Smoking Gun…Literally
Once in a while (okay, almost every week), I receive questions about unusual firearms and other weapons, the kind that are easily concealed by bad guys in those perfect mystery stories. So, today I thought I’d show a few examples of just how creative people can get when it comes to designing firearms. Of course, mystery writers have the wildest imaginations on the planet, so feel free to design whatever your story needs. After all, the inmate in Virginia’s prison system did just that when he crafted a working handgun from sewing machine parts he gathered in the institution’s sewing factory.
And that cellphone gun your editor said was totally unbelievable. Tell her to have a look at these things…
This particular zip gun uses match heads as its source of combustion. It’s capable of firing multiple projectiles, such as nuts, bolts, screws, or any other item, at lethal speeds.
I guess one is never satisfied. The inmate designer of this zip gun decided that four barrels were better than one. The gun, designed with rotating barrels, essentially acts as a semi-automatic.
This double-barrel pistol is crudely fashioned from steel in the prison’s metal shop. It uses match heads as propellant and fires bits of metal.
A one stop shop with the combination revolver/dagger/brass knuckles above.
When it’s “time” to kill, your villain need to shop no further. This handy-dandy pocket watch gun is perfect for meeting the task.
Hey, when it comes to “penning” the perfect murder, this pen gun packs a nice little punch.
AND…
A cigarette lighter gun.
A .22 cal. key.
The original Smoking Gun, a .22 cal. pipe.
Oh yeah, I almost forgot. The cellphone pistol.
Posted in 
March 1st, 2010 3:38 pm
Hi, Lee,
I’ve always liked the term zip gun. And now I see someone has made a Zippo gun.
How interesting.
March 1st, 2010 4:48 pm
Dave - These are interesting, especially since they can worked into mysteries quite easily.
By the way - I was just contacted by a law enforcement officer who stated (his words), “Within the past 6 months during an arrest we took a cellphone stun gun off of a guy. Looked just like a real cell phone except for 2 prongs on top that were small. So, yeah, these things are out there.”
March 1st, 2010 7:44 pm
They used a lighter as a gun on The Avengers! I didn’t know stuff like that really existed.
March 2nd, 2010 1:25 am
Heck, the specialty shop where I work sells those cellphone stun guns for like 80 bucks or so. There is also a lighter that has a stiletto style knife in it, as well as a pen with the same kind of spring loaded knife. Hadn’t really given it much thought, but I can see policemen not liking that kind of stuff.
I know the cell phone stun guns are hugely popular with women because it doesn’t look suspicious to be carrying it in your hand. And lets face it, if it’s not in the persons hand, its probably not going to get used unless the bad guy is an idiot and gives them time to rummage in pockets or a purse.
March 2nd, 2010 10:04 pm
That one shot pen gun could be an example of what William Gibson calls a Wednesday Night Special.
March 2nd, 2010 10:13 pm
Wow! Now have to find a way to use one of these. Thanks for the inspiration.