jar
Contributing Member
Well, maybe not really a canon. Maybe closer to a sling shot; an old fashioned build your own sling shot using pieces from a worn out inner tube.
Hopkins & Allen Safety Police 32S&W on top on a box of ammo:
Hopkins & Allen ceased production IIRC in 1915 so this little pocket gun is over a century old. The 32S&W (not even 32S&W long) was never considered as more than a mighty mouse even though two US Presidents had been shot and killed with 32S&W short revolvers.
The revolver is a 5 shot, top break, auto eject 32S&W and the hammer at rest sits firmly against the frame. When you pull the trigger it moves back and down then forward to strike a firing pin then raises back up against the frame.
The cylinder is held in place by a levered hook on one side and removed to make cleaning easy. Not quite as simple as the H&R turn the cylinder and pull up to remove but pretty simple and reliable.
It has a three inch barrel and pretty good accuracy out to 7 yards or so. At the intended 3-5 yard range it generally makes one ragged hole. These were unabashedly self defense handguns meant as a last resort up close and very personal option; small, easy to conceal, very low recoil and super accurate ammo. One day I may try it at longer ranges but that is not the design purpose of the gun.
Here it is with a modern iteration that serves similar functions; a Beretta Pico.
What I did take away from today's range session was that the little H&A is fun to shoot and super reliable, more fun to shoot than the Pico.
Hopkins & Allen Safety Police 32S&W on top on a box of ammo:
Hopkins & Allen ceased production IIRC in 1915 so this little pocket gun is over a century old. The 32S&W (not even 32S&W long) was never considered as more than a mighty mouse even though two US Presidents had been shot and killed with 32S&W short revolvers.
The revolver is a 5 shot, top break, auto eject 32S&W and the hammer at rest sits firmly against the frame. When you pull the trigger it moves back and down then forward to strike a firing pin then raises back up against the frame.
The cylinder is held in place by a levered hook on one side and removed to make cleaning easy. Not quite as simple as the H&R turn the cylinder and pull up to remove but pretty simple and reliable.
It has a three inch barrel and pretty good accuracy out to 7 yards or so. At the intended 3-5 yard range it generally makes one ragged hole. These were unabashedly self defense handguns meant as a last resort up close and very personal option; small, easy to conceal, very low recoil and super accurate ammo. One day I may try it at longer ranges but that is not the design purpose of the gun.
Here it is with a modern iteration that serves similar functions; a Beretta Pico.
What I did take away from today's range session was that the little H&A is fun to shoot and super reliable, more fun to shoot than the Pico.
