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The Textbook of Stage Violence

 

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OLD TIME SMALLARMS FOR RENT

( prices shown are for up to 30 days' rental )

When discussing firearms for theatre, keep in mind that the descriptions in the script are of only limited value in trying to identify a weapon. This is especially true when the caliber number is used in attempting to describe the size or shape of the gun. Remember, caliber refers only to the internal diameter of the barrel, not the size of the gun frame. A giant revolver might be a .22; a tiny single shot pistol might be a .44 magnum. You just can’t tell by looking.

("what kind of blanks  do I need?")

("what kind of holsters  do I need?")

[Prices are for the first 30 days and are subject to change].

F01 - CUIRASSIER PISTOL - The Three Musketeers and The Rover take place in the mid 1600’s, so this is the historically correct pistol to use. Most of the other pistol styles are about one hundred years in the future. Measures 20" from barrel tip to end of butt.

prop – [26.00]      22 cal blank-fire – [48.20]

Did you know that ... pistols of the 1600’s were used by light cavalry as a nuisance weapon to provoke a rash charge by the enemy. Soldiers leaned that the pistols were so weak that the flight of the bullet could be deflected by mere heavy leather. That‘s why cavalier boot tops are so high, to protect the rider’s legs during a charge at the light cavalry (aren’t you glad you are still reading this?)

    F05 - CATALONIAN DAG - with much filigree; 17 " long ; prop – [16.00]

    F18 - POCKET FLINTLOCK - Also called a muff pistol, since it was an easily concealable 18th c lady’s gun. prop only – [4.80 ]

    F03 - SCOTTISH WATCH PISTOL - beautifully engraved prop – [12.00]

F10 SERIES – RANDOM FLINTLOCK PISTOLS - these flintlock replicas are dress pieces only, covering the 18th and 19th centuries. We have a few dozen of these things, some match, some are one-of-a-kind -  just some leftover items when you need a generic prop at a low price. Sorry, no choices - we pick from what's in stock - [ 8.00]

 

Did you know that... actually there is no such thing as a dueling pistol? Although the very rich might have made a purchase of a brace of pistols with dueling in mind, civilian pistols were used for sport hunting, and often a fairly nice pair would be passed down from one generation to the next. By the turn of the century, these family treasures were romantically called dueling pistols by their owners, but any style of gun can be considered a dueling pistol because in real duels anything handy would do.

    Z99 – PISTOL CASE - varied – each is different. [$15.00]

 

    F32 - KENTUCKY PISTOL - an excellent choice for 1800’s flavor.   prop – [16.00]  

    F33 - ENGLISH BELT  PISTOL - shorter than the Kentucky.   prop – [16.00]  

    F35 - LANCASTER - finally, a "dueling pistol" that can fire safely - because the outer barrel is completely false! A starter pistol is hidden inside - 9 shots before reloading.    22 cal blank-fire – [59.00]

    F23 - PANAMA PISTOL - yes, it’s just a starter pistol with an attempt to dress it up some so that it might pass  for an "olde tyme" pistol. But at least it safely fires 22 caliber blanks. Only one available     22 cal blank-fire – [40.00]

    F22 - BLUEBEARD PISTOL - another variation of a disguised starter pistol.  Only these two available    blank-fire – [35.00]

    F34 - PHILADELPHIA DERRINGER - a little 7 inch  gun designed for close range (as John Wilkes Booth fatally proved). percussion – [60.00 ]     prop: non-firing – [40.00]

    F36 - VEST POCKET PISTOL - a tiny 5 inch gun firing the same percussion caps and blackpowder. percussion – [28.00 ]

    F45 - TWO-SHOT POCKET DERRINGER - only 5 inches long.  prop only – [12.00]

    F44 - HIDEAWAY 4-SHOT - Many attempts were made to build multi-shot pistols, one common idea was to have several barrels turning for one hammer to strike. The barrel in this case had to be manually turned for each shot, and the bullet was so small that it was little more than a BB gun. [Someone shot by a gun of such small caliber would not fall to the ground, but death several days later from infection was highly likely.]     prop only – [4.00]

    F42 - NAVY 1851 REVOLVER – used by both armies of the Civil War. The firing version is single-action only firing percussion caps with or without blackpowder - not block barreled. Six shots. A very tricky gun to operate : can jam, misfire, and chain-fire.    prop – [15.00]   percussion – [45.00]  : see Operating the percussion firearm:

    [By the way, here is the F50 - Colt Peacemaker [check the "modern" pistols page] re-painted to look a little bit like the Colt Navy 1851, just in case you really need a blank-firing version of the earlier Civil War pistol, but don’t want to deal with blackpowder and percussion caps.]    prop – [12.00] 22 cal blank-fire – [40.00]

Did you know that ... from the 1840’s through to the 1880’s, both sabre and revolver were often part of the officer’s uniform. The pistol should be worn on the right hip, but with the butt facing forward. Why? The revolver can then be drawn and fired with the left hand, leaving the right hand free to draw and fight with the sabre. Remember this next time you do Arms and the Man.
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