Steampunked Handguns?

[Speedo66]

So what is steampunk? It's a fashion or style combining retro looks with advanced technological aspects. Brass or steam power is often involved, frequently seen in science fiction.

But there are real examples, I would say the C96 Mauser would work. Very retro looks combined with advanced for the times features, i.e., semi-auto function. The brass Gatling guns might be another. The following is not mine, wish it were. lol


There are a few guns here that might fit: https://www.pinterest.com/bullheadtee/unusual-firearms/

What can you come up with as far as handguns that might fit that category? Bonus points if you actually have one, especially with brass parts!

Lets keep it real, they must exist and been operable. No sci-fi movie props please, they'd be a thread killer.

 

[aarondhgraham]

I've always thought the European revolvers from the late 1800's to the early 1900's had a steampunk flair to them.

Here's one I own,,,
Modele 1892 Revolver,,,
Commonly called the 8mm French Lebel.



It has no brass in it's makeup but still has "The look",,,
To me anyways.

Aarond

.

 

[RedlegRick]

The C96 is already as steampunk as it needs to be. Ditto the Webley and LeMat.
My candidates for it would be ARs, AK, and M1 Garand. Others that would work nicely would be SKS and FN/FAL, in my opinion.

 

[earlthegoat2]

I like any old west style rifle with a brass scope.

I know you are looking for real guns but....

one of the coolest Sci-Fi guns ever IMO is this old west retro styled with steampunk elements is Captain Mal’s from Firefly.

 

[Varminterror]

So much steampunk stuff has come to mean “bolt on a bunch of crap which LOOKS cool but doesn’t actually function in any way.” I love a good retropunk, OG steampunk style - saw a T/C pistol recently with the barrel turned to look like a musket barrel, flared and banded muzzle and all. But I can’t abide the overdone hipster steampunk stuff, where folks are riveting random gears to their shirt pockets.

 

[mcb]

I really dislike the Steampunk genre in general and that's saying a lot given all of the "bad" sci-fi and fantasy I do like.

None the less top break revolvers especially Webleys always seemed appropriate to the Steampunk genre.


My Steampunk-ish Webley Mark IV

 

[WestKentucky]

Webley Fosbery is absolutely near the top of the list for steampunk handguns. There are other guns with a similar cylinder pattern, but none so distinctive as the Webley Fosbery. P08 and p1 pistols also fit the bill to an extent. Seems like a lot of stuff from or around the first quarter of the 20th century is there, and a lot bled over into later guns in Europe. Rifles seem to follow the same pattern but more so as a necessity to allow stamped parts and simple manufacturing for wartime production volumes.

 

[RedlegRick]

For a handgun, the Ruger Marks 1-4 are prime candidates too.

 

[Hanshi]

This may not be exactly a great example but to me it says "turn of the century"; plus they haven't been mfg for years. The 1911 was ahead of its time, yet dated.

 

[RedlegRick]

This may not be exactly a great example but to me it says "turn of the century"; plus they haven't been mfg for years. The 1911 was ahead of its time, yet dated.

View attachment 934051

I'd hope no one mauls a Savage 99 like that. One of the most beautiful designs ever, in my opinion.

 

[Nature Boy]

What about these Lancaster Howdah pistols. Very steampunk-ish to my eye

 

[buck460XVR]

I'm a pretty big fan of Steampunk. IMHO, the key word is "steam" and relates to technology derived from being steam driven or in use at the time when steam was king. This would be the Victorian era in Europe or the American Wild west. Since much of Steampunk is alternative history, the weapons used in the genre do not have to be real, but when reference is made to real firearms, they generally use black powder for propellant and actions are simple like revolver, break actions and lever.

JMTCs.

 

[mcb]

The closest thing to Steampunk I ever enjoyed was the original Wild Wild West TV show James West (played by Robert Conrad), and Artemus Gordon (played by Ross Martin). I find most of the more modern works to be lacking.

 

[MikeInOr]

I really dislike the Steampunk genre in general and that's saying a lot given all of the "bad" sci-fi and fantasy I do like.

None the less top break revolvers especially Webleys always seemed appropriate to the Steampunk genre.

View attachment 934049
My Steampunk-ish Webley Mark IV

I will see your Webley top break and raise you a Webley-Fosbery auto loading revolver:


Or how about a Borchardt:

 

[JFrame]

It would be "pre-steampunk"... But the duckfoot volley pistol might be keeping in the spirit of things...



Also, the pinfire revolver has the desired kludgy look...

 

[Rembrandt]

 

[mcb]

View attachment 934061

View attachment 934062

 

[Craig_AR]

one of the coolest Sci-Fi guns ever IMO is this old west retro styled with steampunk elements is Captain Mal’s from Firefly.

And here it is as displayed in the NRA Museum at NRA Headquarters in Virginia, outside Washington, D.C.

 

[chicharrones]

If you'll allow muzzle loaders into "steam punk", I've always thought the Colt 1860 Army was ahead of it's time in styling. That streamlined barrel and brass trigger guard/half grip sure seemed like Jules Verne had some sci-fi influence on Samuel Colt.

My Italian copy below.
View attachment 934099

 

[earlthegoat2]

Then there is this modified C96.

 

[indy1919a4]

Always had a thing for those Bergmanns 1 - 2 & 3s..




Not only are they old school but ahead of their time the way that Mandalorian rascal uses one..

 

[Varminterror]

I can dig certain degrees of Steampunk - this, I’m actually intrigued:



This... well you’ve lost me when the absurdity reaches this level, regardless of genre:



I had heard of some fringe cowboy action shootists running steampunk matches, which I find to be absolutely fantastic. If I had more time on my hands which wasn’t spent with PRS competition, my own grappling, and coaching wrestling, AND of course if that kind of whimsy had sufficient following out here in the Midwest such we had local matches, I’d love to start building steampunk firearms for that kind of game. But a 15lb Steam punked ‘66 doesn’t make any more sense to me than the tactical Timmy quad rail AR with more weight in gadgets than in gun.

 

[JFrame]

I can dig certain degrees of Steampunk - this, I’m actually intrigued:

View attachment 934105

This... well you’ve lost me when the absurdity reaches this level, regardless of genre:

View attachment 934106

I had heard of some fringe cowboy action shootists running steampunk matches, which I find to be absolutely fantastic. If I had more time on my hands which wasn’t spent with PRS competition, my own grappling, and coaching wrestling, AND of course if that kind of whimsy had sufficient following out here in the Midwest such we had local matches, I’d love to start building steampunk firearms for that kind of game. But a 15lb Steam punked ‘66 doesn’t make any more sense to me than the tactical Timmy quad rail AR with more weight in gadgets than in gun.

What I've heard, regarding steampunk, is that the technology being depicted might be fantastical and/or whimsical -- but ultimately, it has to make some sort of internal "sense" (like any good science fiction, really).

Clearly, that second pic has jumped the shark in that regard...

..

 

[MosinT53Hunter]

I always liked the Le Francais pistol was very cool .

 

[indy1919a4]

I can dig certain degrees of Steampunk - this, I’m actually intrigued:

View attachment 934105

This... well you’ve lost me when the absurdity reaches this level, regardless of genre:

View attachment 934106

I had heard of some fringe cowboy action shootists running steampunk matches, which I find to be absolutely fantastic. If I had more time on my hands which wasn’t spent with PRS competition, my own grappling, and coaching wrestling, AND of course if that kind of whimsy had sufficient following out here in the Midwest such we had local matches, I’d love to start building steampunk firearms for that kind of game. But a 15lb Steam punked ‘66 doesn’t make any more sense to me than the tactical Timmy quad rail AR with more weight in gadgets than in gun.

I like his arm gear