My wife challenged me...

[Michael Tinker Pearce]

Last week Linda and I were discussing my birthday presents, both of them 'mouse guns,' and she got this thoughtful look on her face and said, "I want to see you make the smallest pistol you can."

We discussed it and agreed that it must fire a real cartridge, not 2.7mm pinfire or some nonsense like that, and it had to be at least arguably useful.

Challenge accepted. I went into the shop, grabbed some steel and went to work. The barrel is taken from a section of Ruger 10/22 barrel, and is chambered for .22 Short. The frame is a composite of 5160 spring steel and 1020 mild steel. The grips are... I dunno. Some kinda wood that's been sitting around the shop for a couple years. the photo shows the gun with a .45 Colt cartridge for comparison, and the second photo shows it with .22 Short cartridges.


To load or unload you place the gun on half-cock, rotate the lever on the left side up and forward 180 degrees, allowing the barrel to swing out to the left.


Here's the gun in my large, but not huge, hand. It's literally shorter than my index finger.

Despite it's tiny size the gun is not difficult for me to manipulate or fire, and my test shots at five feet went pretty much where I wanted them to.


.22 Short isn't much, and these were CCI CB Short Low Noise. They are not 'low noise' out of this gun's 1-3/8" Barrel! Despite being a low velocity round- roughly equivalent to the original black powder load- at a distance of 5 feet the 28gr. bullet penetrated over 1-1/2" into a pressure-treated pine 4x4! With careful shot placement this could indeed be lethal.

Linda agreed that I had met the challenge, and she thinks it's adorable. I think it's hilarious.

 

[Sistema1927]

Very interesting. When I was a young man I gave a buddy $5 for a .22 LR single shot pistol that loaded the same way, except that it didn't have a locking lever. It used a ball bearing detent to keep the barrel in place with the frame. I think that I over paid for it, since the fit/finish was miles behind your iteration.

It did allow me to carry a marginal self-defense weapon in a hostile environment, and would have been a last ditch up close and personal proposition if needed.

 

[entropy]

I gave my wife a Colt (reissue) Thuer shortly after we married, she sold it when we were really low on money. Now I know I can build her one!

 

[OrangeCat]

That's a wee little bigger, the hammer looks a little pointy but .22 short probably doesn't make enough recoil to be a problem. Can we get a shot of the open gun from the lock side?

 

[1KPerDay]

She obviously knows you’re comfortable in your masculinity. Very cool project!

 

[shoebox1.1]

WE love her! Tell her so! Thanks

 

[Michael Tinker Pearce]

That's a wee little bigger, the hammer looks a little pointy but .22 short probably doesn't make enough recoil to be a problem. Can we get a shot of the open gun from the lock side?

this shows it open for reloading-

 

[OrangeCat]

Oh ok I didn't see the lever down there I somehow read it as you swing the lever 90° I assume that the lever is a half round pin under the barrel and rotating it moves the flat part up top and allows you to swing it open?

 

[Armored farmer]

The sidewinder?
The Cricket?
Swinging Linda?

 

[Michael Tinker Pearce]

Oh ok I didn't see the lever down there I somehow read it as you swing the lever 90° I assume that the lever is a half round pin under the barrel and rotating it moves the flat part up top and allows you to swing it open?

Since the barrel can only swing to the left the lever simply blocks it from moving. Rotating it 180 degrees gets it out of the way of the barrel. It's mainly there for safety; you can fire the gun without it locked with no trouble. The case-head has enough friction against the breech to hold it closed, and all the recoil goes straight back.

 

[OrangeCat]

Ah I see.

Which raises a new question could a mk ii be designed with a lever that moves down thirty degrees and is held in place with like a pair of ball detents like on a ratchet driver?

ETA mostly just spitballing design ideas I don't have the skills to machine something like this or the tools without misappropriating company time more than I already do.

 

[shoebox1.1]

The sidewinder?
The Cricket?
Swinging Linda?

Not swinging Linda!! Lol

 

[toivo]

Very cool!

Every time the subject of really tiny handguns comes up, I start to think that maybe the traditional pistol form factor of grip and trigger isn't the best for something so small. I'm thinking of something that you hold in your fist with the barrel protruding between your middle and ring fingers. The trigger mechanism could be a button that you press with your thumb. Alternatively, it could be fired by some kind of squeeze mechanism, although that might lend itself too much to unintended discharges.

Just thinking out loud here -- probably something that no one needs. But anyway, very cool little gun!

 

[OrangeCat]

Very cool!

Every time the subject of really tiny handguns comes up, I start to think that maybe the traditional pistol form factor of grip and trigger isn't the best for something so small. I'm thinking of something that you hold in your fist with the barrel protruding between your middle and ring fingers. The trigger mechanism could be a button that you press with your thumb. Alternatively, it could be fired by some kind of squeeze mechanism, although that might lend itself too much to unintended discharges.

Just thinking out loud here -- probably something that no one needs. But anyway, very cool little gun!

They actually did do a few ones like that forgotten weapons has a couple of videos one called the Shattuck (sp) unique comes to mind and one that had some nice detailed engraving too. I don't know if he ever did one on the palm protector but that was a weird one too looked a bit like a ufo with a barrel on the end.

 

[PWC]

Neet looking gun. Question; should the feds have occasion to check, how do you accountfor it? I don't lnow....

 

[Michael Tinker Pearce]

Neet looking gun. Question; should the feds have occasion to check, how do you accountfor it? I don't lnow....

I don't need to account for it. Under Federal law you are allowed to produce a firearm for your own use, but not for the purpose of sale unless you are a licensed manufacturer. As a private citizen you can produce any firearm you can legally possess, provided you follow the law regarding NFA restrictions. State laws vary, but this does not violate Washington state law.

 

[Tallball]

Another super cool project!

 

[hso]

it's adorable... it's hilarious.

I agree with the both of you!

 

[whughett]

Still think you should be a YouTuber even have a patron account. I follow a young lady on YouTube who reproduced several firearms from scratch. She hasn't posted in months now however.

 

[shoebox1.1]

You could be rich! I dunno about that but I’d rather watch your videos than hikok45 ( who they blatantly put on a pedestal) you search for “xyz videos “ THIS year only. First thing pops up is hikok45 stuff from 5 yrs ago

 

[doubleh]

Cute. I always enjoy looking at your creations.

 

[PWC]

I don't need to account for it. Under Federal law you are allowed to produce a firearm for your own use, but not for the purpose of sale unless you are a licensed manufacturer. As a private citizen you can produce any firearm you can legally possess, provided you follow the law regarding NFA restrictions. State laws vary, but this does not violate Washington state law.

Did not know, thought a license was required; wish I had the tools to make my own.

 

[Johnm1]

Linda agreed that I had met the challenge, and she thinks it's adorable. I think it's hilarious.

I agree with the both of you!

I want one!

 

[Dave T]

Tinker,

At first glance (at your first picture) I was scared you had built that little thing in 45 Colt. I was going to ask how much the hand surgeon charged to put your hand back together...then I scrolled down. (smile)

Dave

 

[Gordon]

Kudos to a great craftsman