Identify This Unusual Chest-Mounted Revolver

[DougCxx]

I have taken an interest lately in wearable guns--not guns carried in a holster, but guns fired while still attached to the shooter. Of course you have silly media things like the sleeve-concealed gun in "Taxi Driver", but I am curious as to any real actual examples.
---------
A long time ago I saw some TV show about inventions during the post-WW II period. One of them was a type of gun that was worn concealed. It was a revolver-type that was worn on a harness centered on the chest underneath one's clothes. It was short enough that moderately loose clothes would conceal it. To fire it, there was a cable of some type that attached to the wrist, so that if you were robbed (presumably at gunpoint) you could put your empty hands in the air, yet face the robber and flick your wrist, and fire the gun (the bullets putting holes in your shirt). To show how it worked they had film of a demo of a "shopowner" using the gun against a "robber"--all a re-enactment of course, firing blanks. but to this day I cannot remember anything else about it, or find anything online. Anybody know? Or have any other examples?
~

 

[BluesBear]

I don't know about a chest mounted gun but when I was a kid in the early 1960s I remember seeing at one of the museums we visited on a field trip a four barreled belt buckle gun.

It looked like a rectangular Rodeo buckle for a Sam Brown belt.

As near as I could tell, you lifted up the plate that concealed the guns, the four approximately 2" barrels, one above the other, then pivoted from perpendicular to the belt to straight ahead, spring loaded perhaps. There were four "levers" on the right side that were triggers, one for each barrel. As I recall it looked to be about .32 caliber. Wouldn't be able to handle much recoil "down there".

I recall the guide saying it was German but she didn't seem to want to answer all of my questions.

 

[muddyboots]

The most unusual firearm I ever saw of this variety was in the movie From Dusk Till Dawn. Of course, it was just a prop, but it was wearable. I won't describe the weapon. Just watch the movie. You'll know it when you see it.

 

[OEF_VET]

What about the "machine-gun jubblies" in the beginning of Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me? Now those gave a whole new meaning to referring to those anatomical parts as guns.

 

[azrael]

I once had a customer ask me to build him a sleeve rig for his pistol similar to that on Taxi Driver...I wasnt sure if it was legal or not so I declined but it would be something fun to play with at the range LOL!!!!




The gun in From Dusk To Dawn is worn by the character "Sex-Machine"
and YES you will know what he is talking about when you see it...it is VERY funny



Little bit of trivia for you horror fans out there...The part of "Sex-Machine" was played by special effects guru Tom Savini...he did the make-up effects for films like Friday the 13th and Friday the 13th part 4...as well as the legendary Dawn of the Dead and countless others...

just some vague ramblings of someone needing his holsters to hurry up and dry so he can stay on schedule

 

[azrael]

OHHH yea...I just remembered an article in one of the gun rags...the belt buckle was issued to SS officers during the closing days of WWII as a "Last act of Defience"(sp?)....they were supposed to use it when the american soldiers got close to them and instead of surrenduring they shot one of them with the hidden gun....it didnt work that many times as the belt buckle is VERY distinctive...I think it was made in .32acp.

 

[4v50 Gary]

Didn't the OSS develop a single shot that fired when both arms were raised?

 

[SDC]

I've seen something very similar to what 4v50 Gary describes; a single-shot firearm mounted on the belt that was fired by the wearer raising their arms to the "surrender" position. I've also got a book on OSS equipment that shows a belt attachment that holds a 1903 Colt .32 Auto attached to a web belt (muzzle pointing to the wearer's left); this was supposed to be worn under a shirt (OUCH, hot brass), and fired by a cable attachment that ran up a sleeve to a ring with a lever.

 

[Hardtarget]

I had a buckle that held a derringer. The gun was mounted into the buckle cocked. When you "pushed" against the buckle with your stomach, the gun pivoted out and fired...way cool!. Mine was made by Mattel...fired a paper cap...and all my cowboy buddies were jelous! (I was10)
I think I saw a setup made for those mini revolvers, ( North American Arms), but they didn't stay on the market long. Any one else remember seeing those?...or am I experiencing brain fade?
Mark

 

[azrael]

the NAA buckles are still around
I live near a shop that sells them

 

[BluesBear]

Belt Buckle Holster with Aluminum Grip Set for NAA .22 LR with 1-1/8" barrel.
This oval belt buckle holster is machined from aluminum and safely carries your NAA .22 LR Mini-Revolver with a 1-1/8 inch barrel. The buckle features a quick push-button release and comes with a set of aluminum grips which are required for this buckle, and they look good, too. BBG: $59.00
Buckle Holster with Aluminum Grips. Fits NAA .22 Long Rifle 1-1/8 inch barrel ONLY

 

[general]

Belt Buckle Holster = Open Carry?

 

[azrael]

it isnt open carry in NC...our local despot has deemed it concealed carry for whatever reason.

 

[dfariswheel]

One of the most unusual "wearable" guns was WWII's "gauntlet pistol".

This was a single-shot gun mounted on the back of a heavy leather work glove. It had a projecting plunger that would fire the gun if you made a fist and punched something.

Reportedly, a few of these were made up for bulldozer operators working on Pacific islands.
They had a problem with Japanese soldiers jumping on the 'cat to try to stop them from burying bunkers.

The idea was, when the soldier boarded the 'cat, the operator would simply punch the man with the glove, and the gun would fire, blowing him away.

Another really wild device was actually patented around the late 1890's. This was a hat gun for police use in riots.

This thing was a large revolver-type gun mounted inside a helmet-like hat, with a sighting ring in front of the users eye.

In a system that foreshadowed todays helicopter helmet-mounted sighting systems, the user simply looked at a rioter, and fired the gun.

Needless to say, there's no record of any being actually made or sold.

I also once saw a "forearm" shotgun. This was a single barrel shotgun that was attached to the top of the forearm.
A thin cable was attached to a ring that was worn around the middle finger, and was attached to the trigger assembly.

To fire the gun, the user pointed the shotgun at the target and curled the hand downward toward the wrist, firing it.

 

[boing]

I recall a B&W demo clip of a woman using a chest gun to shoot a purse snatcher, and then accidentally firing the gun again as she reached down to pick up her purse with her trigger hand.

 

[Ann]

Chest-mounted firearm

The weapon DougCxx describes sounds exactly like one I read of recently in a very old science-fiction story from the twenties. The story is called "The Blind Spot" and the weapon is worn by a very no-nonsense detective in the story. I came to this forum because I was seeking data on the same item.

 

[Rexster]

I cannot say if any such rigs were made for real-life carry, but read of, and then later saw on one TV show, a double horizontal shoulder rig, with barrels pointed forward, that would fire the guns if the wearer raised both arms high enough.

I can't remember where I read of this rig, so cannot attest to any historical accuracy.

 

[Rev. Chad]

I remember reading in Chic Gaylord's book about a shoulder holster he designed, that was made to shot with the gun in the holster in case of a mugger grabbing you in a rear choke hold.

 

[geekWithA.45]

boing #15, I remember seeing that clip too.

 

[Zanad]

I remember talking with a guy who owned one of those naa mini belt buckles and he told me one day that went to get on a plane but was stopped becuase he tripped the metal detectors. he was skimmed and remembered "Hey it's just my belt buckle"(forgetting that he had the gun IN the belt buckle) and they let him through. Well after getting about 10' past the checkout he remembered he had a gun on him and turned right back out to put it in his car.

 

[GCBurner]

There's a book called Firearms Curiosa that has a picture of the steel breastplate mounted with 19 (!!!) revolvers, which could be raised and fired singly or severally by the wearer pulling on various wires. I think it was French, circa WWI or earlier, and was the only one made, as far as I know.
The OSS "glove pistol" and "briar pipe pistol", the CIA "Stinger", and the German "belt buckle gun" are illustrated as well. Really, people have built guns into just about everything over the years.

Here's a link to an illustration of the "pistol curiass": http://www.trubble.com/archives/2004/07/does_this_cuirass_make_me_look.html

 

[ironhead7544]

There was a .25 cal bra made at one time. Double barreled.

 

[a1abdj]

The gun you describe does exist, and I have seen one.

It was owned by a museum. I think it was called House On The Rock in Wisconsin.

 

[GrammatonCleric]

Defariswheel, that gauntlet pistol you describe sounds a lot like the devices used in a certain scene from the movie Inglourious Basterds. I think the concept is pretty neat, and wonder why nobody has made a modernised version of some wrist or forearm mounted guns.

 

[rcmodel]

Didn't the OSS develop a single shot that fired when both arms were raised?

They also had a rig like that for a Colt .25 ACP auto pistol mounted under the left arm pit.

Raising your hands or slumping your shoulders forward pulled a string attached to the gun and fired it.

Official documents recommended it not be used for training, as accidents were quite common.

You can read about it in U.S. Handguns of World War II: The Secondary Pistols and Revolvers, by Charles W Pate.

rc