The world of firearms is filled with oddities-some ingenious, others simply impractical. Here are five of the strangest handguns ever made. While they might be fun conversation pieces or collector's items, you probably don't need any of these in your arsenal.
1. Apache Revolver / Knuckleduster
Imagine a weapon that combines a revolver, brass knuckles, and a folding knife. The infamous Apache Revolver is exactly that-a bizarre multi-tool for self-defense, invented by Louis Dolne in late 19th-century France. Designed for close-quarters combat, it offered versatility at the expense of practicality. The pinfire revolver had no barrel (just a revolving cylinder), a folding knuckle duster grip, and a knife blade that could be flicked out for stabbing.
- No sights, no barrel, and a weak cartridge-accuracy was an afterthought.
- Deploying the blade or knuckles required fiddling with screws and levers.
- It's more a weapon of intimidation than efficiency.
2. 10-Shot .22 Magnum Derringer Pepperbox
This modern take on the pepperbox revolver is as quirky as it gets. The 10-shot .22 Magnum Derringer Pepperbox features ten fixed barrels arranged in a circle. Unlike classic revolvers, the shooter must manually rotate the cylinder to line up the next shot-no automatic indexing here. Reloading is slow and cumbersome, making it more of a novelty or collector's item than a practical sidearm.
- Manually rotated cylinder-no quick follow-up shots.
- Unique safety mechanism requiring the hammer to be half-cocked.
- More conversation starter than defensive tool[3].
3. Duckfoot Pistol
Named for its splayed barrels, the Duckfoot Pistol is a classic example of a volley gun. Designed to fire multiple shots simultaneously, it was intended for use by bank guards or ship captains facing multiple attackers. The spread of fire made it possible to hit several targets at once-but accuracy and reloading were major issues.
- Usually three or four barrels, sometimes more.
- All barrels fired at once-great for crowd control, not so much for precision.
- Reloading was slow and awkward.
4. 2mm Pin Fire Micro Revolver
If you think .22 caliber is small, meet the 2mm Micro Revolver. These tiny, fully functional revolvers are often sold as novelties or jewelry. Despite their miniature size, they can actually fire a 2mm projectile-though with very little power. Loading and firing the gun is a delicate process, and the ammunition is almost as rare as the gun itself.
- Typically holds 6 shots of 2mm pinfire ammunition.
- More a marvel of miniaturization than a weapon.
- Often legal to own without a firearms license due to their low power[5].
5. World's Largest Revolver
For those who believe bigger is always better, the world's largest revolver is a testament to excess. Built by a Polish craftsman in 2013, this behemoth holds the Guinness World Record for size. It's not a production firearm-you'd have to build your own if you want one. Impractical for any real use, it's a true oddity that demonstrates just how far gun enthusiasts will go for a record.
- Massive size makes it impossible to carry or use practically.
- Built for the record books, not for the range.
- More a feat of engineering than a functional handgun.
Whether you're a collector, a history buff, or just enjoy the weird side of firearms, these handguns prove that gun design has no shortage of creativity-or eccentricity. Would you ever want to own any of these?