13 Incredible Belly Gun Pistols That Span the Decades

By Bob Arganbright

In case you’re unfamiliar with the term, a “belly gun” is a handgun with a very short barrel and often without a front sight. They are meant for close-range gunfights and are called belly guns because one may press the muzzle against his opponent’s belly before firing a shot. So, let’s examine a baker’s dozen of such handguns—for you young whippersnappers, a baker’s dozen is 13.

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Pair of Derringers

The percussion single-shot Derringer became a legend in April of 1865 when John Wilkes Booth used one to assassinate President Abraham Lincoln. Originally designed by Henry Deringer, spelled with one “r,” they were quickly copied by many makers and were commonly known as Derringers. The Derringer was a small, concealable, percussion side lock single-shot pistol, usually .41-caliber, with a bird’s head grip. They were popular pocket pistols with gamblers during the Gold Rush and were often carried in pairs.

My Single-Barrel Derringer was manufactured by George Gillespie of …Read the Rest

Source:: Tactical Life