Howdah pistol

Howdah pistol, 13 mm Lefaucheux

Howdah pistols are multi- barrel single - barrel pistols for close-range defense when hunting big game with a caliber that is comparatively large for pistols . They are named after the howdah , the saddle on the back of an elephant, on which big game hunters sit while hunting. The caliber of Howdahpistolen ranges from about 11 mm (.45) to 26 mm ( 4 gauge ).

history

When English colonial officers and officials began to hunt large game in the Indian jungle at the end of the 17th century , it sometimes happened that a tiger attacked the hunter on the elephant. Therefore, apart from (or to) gun (s) was a handy handgun required for close range that could stop a Tiger with a shot and still allowed for a quick second shot for an emergency.

The first Howdah pistols were probably shortened muzzle-loading flintlock double rifles . Howdah pistols were later custom made by English gunsmiths.

Big game hunters led Howdahpistolen not only in India but also in Africa with the Lions - rhino -, elephants - and Cape buffalo hunting .

technology

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In terms of weapon technology, they went through the same development as the rifle, from the flintlock to the percussion lock to metal cartridges in breech-loaders like the .577 Snider . Modern howdah pistols have basins with internal locks.

Most Howdah pistols have two barrels, but four-barreled pistols were also available. In contrast to the double rifles, the tilt barrel lock is mostly operated by a lever located under the barrels that is swung out to the side.

Web links

Commons : Howdah pistols - collection of pictures, videos and audio files

Terry Wieland: Loading the .577 Snider. (PDF; 6.4 MB) In: Handloader Magazine. December 2016, pp. 30–35 , accessed on June 3, 2018 (English).
A Black Powder Percussion Howdah Pistol by James Purdey. In: ctmuzzleloaders.com. Retrieved June 4, 2018 .
The Howdah Pistol - Built for the Final Charge. In: theexplora.com. Retrieved June 4, 2018 .

Individual evidence

^ Stan Skinner: Shooter's Bible Guide to Extreme Iron: An Illustrated Reference to Some of the World s Most Powerful Weapons, from Hand Cannons to Field Artillery . Skyhorse Publishing, New York 2014, ISBN 978-1-62873-538-3 (English, limited preview in Google Book Search).
↑ Pedersoli Howdah single shot pistol. In: all4shooters.com. Retrieved June 4, 2018 .

[1] Stan Skinner: Shooter's Bible Guide to Extreme Iron: An Illustrated Reference to Some of the World s Most Powerful Weapons, from Hand Cannons to Field Artillery . Skyhorse Publishing, New York 2014, ISBN 978-1-62873-538-3 (English, limited preview in Google Book Search).

[2] Pedersoli Howdah single shot pistol. In: all4shooters.com. Retrieved June 4, 2018 .