Axe-pistol, Germany 17th. C.

Description of the Product

In museums around the world there are many exotic weapons that combine a firearm with some sort of a blade component. These look quite impractical and strange to us, and many were curiosities even in their own time. The firearm part was typically considered a secondary weapon, an addition to the blade. Pistol-swords especially were cumbersome to use, as balancing two very different types of weapons often meant that neither was very effective. The axe-pistol, however, was different as it actually worked both as a pistol and as an axe; an axe you could shoot with! As a result it was used as a serious weapon, not just a novelty item.

Flintlock pistols were muzzle-loaded pistols in which the blackpowder charge ignites when the flint strikes a spark from the steel part of the lock. Flintlocks became common during the 17th century and maintained their popularity until about the middle of the 19th century. Flintlock pistols were used as self-defense weapons and as a military arm. Their effective range was short. Since the method of reloading was very slow these weapons were often used only for a single shot during combat. After the single shot the pistol could be used as a small mallet, to block an opponent’s sword strikes, or to throw at an opponent. Attaching a blade to the pistol meant that its usefulness as weapon did not end with the single shot. Elaborate combination weapons often appealed especially to wealthy noblemen.

The flintlock axe pistol was a trademark of the Polish cavalry, the hussars, from their foundation in 1503 until the 18th century. The hussars were well-trained and well-equipped. Until the 18th century they were considered the elite of the Polish armed forces, and almost all of them were members of the upper level nobility. By the 1770’s their importance was diminished, their tactics and armament having remained almost unchanged.

The axe-pistols used by the hussars were called Półhak (half-hook) as they were a smaller and lighter form of the arquebus, a type of heavy rifle used from the 15th to the 17th century. A characteristic feature of the harquebus is a hook which served to cushion the recoil by hooking it on a wall or fence.

This reproduction flintlock axe-pistol is made of dark hardwood and the cast metal parts are delicately decorated. The mechanism simulates loading and firing, but it cannot be used to fire, nor can does the cast metal axe-head withstand use as an axe. A combination arm such as this was not only used on horseback in Eastern Europe, but would also have been useful for a pirate in the Caribbean seas when boarding enemy vessels and fighting in close quarters below deck.

• This gun is an exact replica of the original. The replica matches the original in size, but may be slightly lighter in weight. The mechanisms of the weapon are working. The weapon can be cocked and dry fired like a real one. Due to the materials used, the mechanisms cannot withstand continuous cocking and firing for long periods.
• Genuine wood and cast metal has been used to make this replica weapon. Zamac differs from steel in many respects, so the structure of the gun does not withstand pressure, it cannot be used to fire bullets, nor can it be converted to a functional weapon by any means.
• Replica guns such as this do not require permits in Finland, nor in many other countries. However, since the gun looks real, it should not be carried in public.
• A replica gun is perfect for historical re-enactment, on a theater stage, in film productions, for collectors of historical memorabilia, and as decoration.
• Length: 54,5 cm
• Weight: 1,29 kg
• Manufacturer: Denix, Spain

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