Wacky Weaponry

The period between the Wars was an interesting time for firearms. Most English and German gun manufacturers were keen to claim the exclusive right to outfit the armies of their respective countries and the competition was very fierce. Many guns made at this time are still in use, since their construction is sturdy and their precision still comparable to firearms made later on. Many peculiar guns, such as the Nagant, displayed innovations whose benefits were marginal at best; however, they showed a willingness on the part of their inventors to explore the realms of possibility in design that stood independent of the economic concerns which restricted production later on.

I’m not an advocate of guns; I do not condone their use or free distribution throughout any society. Frankly, they cause more problems than they solve. So, kudos for Call of Cthulhu for making them practically worthless against the agents of the Mythos! Rather than being of any real use, the following list is a catalogue of character accessories more than anything else.

Apache Revolver, 1869

Fin-de-siecle Paris was a hotbed of political factionalism and notable amongst these voluble idealists were Les Apaches, an anarchist movement bent upon removing government from the citizens’ daily round. Not above throwing bombs through shop windows or vitriol into the faces of political figures, these fanatics invented some curiously ingenious weapons to combat the ‘Forces of Control’.

Chief among these is the ‘Apache Revolver’. This is a concealable gun with no barrel, so its use was limited to close-range attacks, ideal for assassinations. The grip of these pistols was usually formed from a set of knuckle-dusters, for fighting off assailants, and occasionally they even sported a folding knife, bayonet-fashion before the trigger. These guns were made in Belgium and subject to buffets and other rough handling; consequently, they malfunction quite often.

Since the gun has no trigger guard, users often made sure to empty the chamber under the hammer, to avoid shooting themselves if the gun went off unexpectedly. Unless players make this stipulation when wielding one of these weapons, have them make a Luck Roll to avoid discharging the gun if they fall, are tripped over, or become involved in some similar type of misadventure.

Base%: 20

Damage: 1D6

Range: 2m (6ft)

Shots/round: 1

Capacity: 6

HP: 4

Malfunction: 80%

Buntline Special, 1931

According to legend, Ned Buntline, a reporter in the wild territories of the Western Frontier in the US, created these weapons to thank Wyatt Earp and other western lawmen for adding ‘local colour’ to his writing. Sadly, the story is a complete fabrication, and the concept of the gun was invented by a biographer of Earp’s in his account of the gunman’s life. Still, word got out and the Colt company was pestered about the weapon until they relented and started manufacturing them. Thus, this wacky firearm came into being: it’s basically a standard single-action .45 “Long Colt” revolver with a barrel from 10- to 18-inches long. Some of these also have a detachable stock which can be screwed on to give better stability.

The theory was that the longer barrel made the bullet travel on a surer trajectory, meaning that accuracy would be improved; if so, the benefits were marginal. More likely, opponents would take one look at this berserk ‘hand-cannon’ and head for the hills in fear.

Base%: 30

Damage: 1D10+2

Range: 20m (60ft)

Shots/round: 1

Capacity: 6

HP: 10

Malfunction: 00%

Nagant, Belgium/Russia, 1895-1950

A solid-frame revolver that may be found in a single-action or double-action format, the latter being more common. An unusual weapon: as the hammer is cocked, the cylinder is pushed forward so that the mouth of the chamber engages around the rear of the barrel. This, together with an especially long cartridge with the bullet concealed inside the case, makes a gas-tight joint between cylinder and barrel. The gun was designed this way in an attempt to prevent a loss of power to the bullet through gas leakage from the chamber. The benefits from all this tinkering are, in fact, marginal at best.

However, since one never knows who, or what, may lurch out at one when one is at a chic function, having a gun that doesn’t leak cordite fumes and smoke onto one’s gloves is a blessing.

Base%: 20

Damage: 1D10

Range: 15m (45ft)

Shots/round: 1

Capacity: 7

HP: 11

Malfunction: 80%

Reform Pistole 1913, .25 semi-automatic cartridge pistol

Patented in 1906 by August Schuler of Suhl in Germany, this four-barrelled pocket pistol was designed for personal defense. Re-loading is time-consuming but many find the advantage of rapid shooting adequate compensation. Gas pressure auto-ejects the first three spent rounds and the specially-designed hammer shape ensures that the spent cases are deflected away from the shooter’s face.

This small-frame double-action semi-automatic was released for sale in 1913. Those encountering it for the first time must make a Mechanical Repair roll to understand its complexities, especially as the four-barrelled magazine must be completely removed in order for re-loading to occur

Base%: 20

Damage: 1D6

Range: 3m (9ft)

Shots/round: 2

Capacity: 4

HP: 5

Malfunction: 00%

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