[CWL]

I remember from past travels thru Germany that some stores used to display 'teargas pistols' for sale. These looked like cheap revolvers which fired teargas cartridges. Each cartridge couldn't have been bigger than a .38 or .44 if memory serves me right.

Also recall reading an article there about street gangs and neo-Nazis with photos of gangmenbers displaying these very same pistols as part of their weaponry.

Are they still available? Did these things ever work with any effect? How did they work?

[The-Distinctive-Edge]

wow, never neard of such a thing? paul

[SDC]

They are still available, but they were never really effective, because most of the loadings were in the form of irritant powder. There are a number of newer designs coming out of Russia now, that might be more effective. HTH

[kevral]

I have one lying around gathering dust somewhere, as do two of my friends.

Mine is a copy of a Walther P-88 Compact, semi-automatic, mag cap of 15 or so 8mm cartridges.
One other is a snubnose DA revolver, the other is a Walther P22(?) semi, both in 9mm.
The semis actually work rather well, with a "real" rate of fire. Of course, the barrel is partially blocked so that the gun will reload, meaning that the revolver (no blockage in barrel) works way better.
Ammunition is available in blanks, CS, and pepper. The guns also come with a small fireworks "grenade launcher" adapter, that screws onto the barrel. Coupled with blanks and some rather nasty fireworks, the guns can be dangerously -- literally -- fun on New Years.

I have tried the CS on myself. It WORKS, although not as well as a good spray can.

These guns are primarily made for certain European markets, where real handguns are illegal to carry (or own) but these lookalikes aren't. By Norwegian law, the very very few people who get granted a CCW, are supposed only to get permission to carry one of these toy guns.
What are these politicians thinking?

[gvass]

Rocket launcher in action:-))

http://www.co2air.de/wbb2/wom/Syl03_HW94.jpg

[dens330]

Friend of my had such pistol and used it once - one shot in the face stopped attacker and two his friends. In other case two shots in the face did practically nothing to the guy, revolver misfired tree other times... the good thing is that good hit in the head can bring man down :)
There are also rounds with metal cuttings for these guns, they should work better for the face shot, but it still more psychological tool then weapon.

[gvass]

hi,
" revolver misfired tree other times"

That should be some really junk Italian product. The German- or Czech-made revolvers are much higher quality, and very reliable.

For really good effect you should use pepper cartridges. It burns as hell deep into your lungs.

I've used once such tear gas pistol effectively against attacking dog.

[dens330]

it was German revolver, it didn't hit primer hard enough

[gvass]

What model? Maker?

[dens330]

maker was Umarex, I don't remember model