Gun of the Day: Belgian Screw-Barrel Pistol

Arms enthusiasts sometimes skip over simpler handguns that doubtless served their owners well in the past, but our inexpensive GOTD may have been the favored choice of many individuals for personal protection back in the 1850s.

This screw-barrel percussion pistol is easily loaded – just drop your powder charge into the cavity under the round ball and re-attach the barrel. Add a percussion cap, cock the hammer to reveal the folding trigger, and you are ready to shoot. No need for a ramrod and the powder charge is predetermined by the cavity size.