While browsing the Tortuga Trading Inc1 website I came across this bizarre knife/mini-cannon/pistol weapon. I can't even figure out how it is supposed to be held. It is such a terrible idea that in comparison it makes the infamous Apache Pistol look ingenious.
The owner of Tortuga Trading frequently appears in the TV show Pawn Stars. ↩
The only thing I can think of is that it is a push knife. You would hold it by wrapping your finger around the hilt and the blade with stick out between your finger (kind of like how you would with your keys before punching an assailant). I’m guess the trigger is connected to the blade so the impact of the blade was suppose to cause to weapon to fire, sort of like the OSS glove pistol.
0 
0I’m sure that sarah Brady will want to ban this!
Where is the rail mount, so one can put on a laser, flashlight, scope, foregrip and a bipod!
0 0it seems to me that sphere at “operator” end of device would fit in palm, dagger blade and guard would be in position like knuclkes, and firing mechanism would be operated by other hand/
0 0kind of makes you wonder what some people were thinking. It looks kind of ok, but not practical at all. Wow, great find.
0 0I agree! One of the strangest weapon ? I have ever seen.
Denny
0 0By terrible idea you mean awesome?
0 0i’m skeptical of its antiquity and authenticity … there, i said it.
0 0This makes pistol bayonets look useful.
0 0I imagine that it is held with difficulty, and only fired by the sort of people who can’t get life insurance.
0 0I’m guessing you have to hold that sphere, so that your knuckles fit into the grooves in an underhanded grip so your thumb can cock the hammer. Or maybe its a two handed job? I am so lost.
0 0The saddle ring really helps make sense of it all.
0 0I may not be a weapons expert, but it looks like the knife is styled after, or was originally, a Javanese Kris, which tend to be short handled stabbing weapons (unlike a Tantō).
Working on the basis of it being a stabbing weapon: if you were to hold the pommel in your right hand, so that the barrel was projecting out of your fist between your thumb and fore-finger, you would be able to thrust the blade with a punching action whilst still being able to bring back the hammer with your thumb.
0 0looks to me like you’d put it between your first two fingers make a fist then use your thumb for the trigger/ hammer. then again it might be a lot larger than it looks.
0 0Greetings from Texas,
Steve, did they say anything about the calibur of this, er…item? I am guessing the trigger is under the barrel (I mean – where else?) but would love to get a good view of it.
Like you said, the Apache is starting to look creditable.
0 0Sword gun- mightier than the pen gun!
0 0Thumb on the cannon, two fingers on other side, either side of the cannon.
It reminds me of that strange new self-defence pistol that you’re written about.
0 0Without doubt a fantasy piece, could be late Victorian at the earliest.
0 0I have never seen a more phallic weapon in my life.
0 0I’m guessing you hold it sorta like a set of brass nuckles
0 0My guess is the ball goes in the right hand with the index finger in the notch under the barrel, and the rest of the fingers wrapped around the ball. It’s probably fired by the left hand pulling the hammer spur back and letting it fall. holding the ball would put the blade in line with the forearm, so it’d be in an effective position for thrusting.
I’m not sure why the guard is so wide, unless it’s meant to be used as a clubbing weapon also.
0 0It looks like you’re supposed to hold it somewhat like a gun, and it’s upside down in the pictures. Basically, it looks like your index finger is supposed to wrap around in the space between the blade and the cannon.
0 0
i’m skeptical of its antiquity and authenticity … there, i said it.
This makes pistol bayonets look useful.
I imagine that it is held with difficulty, and only fired by the sort of people who can’t get life insurance.
By terrible idea you mean awesome?
I agree! One of the strangest weapon ? I have ever seen.
Denny
The only thing I can think of is that it is a push knife. You would hold it by wrapping your finger around the hilt and the blade with stick out between your finger (kind of like how you would with your keys before punching an assailant). I’m guess the trigger is connected to the blade so the impact of the blade was suppose to cause to weapon to fire, sort of like the OSS glove pistol.
I’m sure that sarah Brady will want to ban this!
Where is the rail mount, so one can put on a laser, flashlight, scope, foregrip and a bipod!
it seems to me that sphere at “operator” end of device would fit in palm, dagger blade and guard would be in position like knuclkes, and firing mechanism would be operated by other hand/
kind of makes you wonder what some people were thinking. It looks kind of ok, but not practical at all. Wow, great find.
I’m guessing you have to hold that sphere, so that your knuckles fit into the grooves in an underhanded grip so your thumb can cock the hammer. Or maybe its a two handed job? I am so lost.
The saddle ring really helps make sense of it all.
I have never seen a more phallic weapon in my life.
I’m guessing you hold it sorta like a set of brass nuckles
My guess is the ball goes in the right hand with the index finger in the notch under the barrel, and the rest of the fingers wrapped around the ball. It’s probably fired by the left hand pulling the hammer spur back and letting it fall. holding the ball would put the blade in line with the forearm, so it’d be in an effective position for thrusting.
I’m not sure why the guard is so wide, unless it’s meant to be used as a clubbing weapon also.
Without doubt a fantasy piece, could be late Victorian at the earliest.
Thumb on the cannon, two fingers on other side, either side of the cannon.
It reminds me of that strange new self-defence pistol that you’re written about.
I may not be a weapons expert, but it looks like the knife is styled after, or was originally, a Javanese Kris, which tend to be short handled stabbing weapons (unlike a Tantō).
Working on the basis of it being a stabbing weapon: if you were to hold the pommel in your right hand, so that the barrel was projecting out of your fist between your thumb and fore-finger, you would be able to thrust the blade with a punching action whilst still being able to bring back the hammer with your thumb.
looks to me like you’d put it between your first two fingers make a fist then use your thumb for the trigger/ hammer. then again it might be a lot larger than it looks.
Greetings from Texas,
Steve, did they say anything about the calibur of this, er…item? I am guessing the trigger is under the barrel (I mean – where else?) but would love to get a good view of it.
Like you said, the Apache is starting to look creditable.
Sword gun- mightier than the pen gun!
It looks like you’re supposed to hold it somewhat like a gun, and it’s upside down in the pictures. Basically, it looks like your index finger is supposed to wrap around in the space between the blade and the cannon.