The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1885-05-01
CURIOUS WEAPONS.
Concealed Arms Used Before the In
PRODUCTION of Firearms.

AEO0AEAtOAa VI -
London Telegram.
Before the introduction of firearms
concealed weapons for projecting missiles
were very rare, though cross-bows evil
IDENTIFY meant for that purpose have
been preserved. With the use of fire
arms. however, concealed weapons be-
came more numerous, the sudden dis
charge Of a volley Of unknown weapons
causing more fright and confusion than
homage. When the cavalry pistol was
first introduced it was regarded as mar
vel ingenuity, and won many battles for
the troop that employed it. In the early
days of firearms we find them combined
with battle axes, pickers, swords, dag
gers and even shields, though whether
these may be considered concealed weap-
ons may be a matter of doubt In the
Museum of Edinburg there is purse of
peculiar construction. Beneath the
catch there is a small, flint-lock pistol,
and by turning certain buttons the pistol
is prepared for instant use, so that any
one acquainted with the secret can open
the purse without danger, but an explo-
sion is sure to follow an attempt in the
ordinary way. This purse is alluded to
by Sir Walter Scott in Rob Roy and
description of it given in full The Tower
of London has twenty one specimens Of
shields with pistol attachment in the
center the pistol being a breech-loader
and slightly projecting from the center
Of the shield so that it would hardly be
noticed by an enemy until the discharge
took place. \ small hole in the shield
gave an opportunity for taking aim, and
while the weapon could not have been
dangerous it must have been terrifying
to a knight 10 see his antagonists shield
go off in this unexpected manner. The
Paris museum has a sword arquebus,
the sword beingstraight and the pistol be-
ing alongside oft and fred with wheel
lock This tower collection has also
pike gun, double barreled, with a flint
lock, together with a dagger pistol, the
two weapons being combined in one in
a remarkabl ingeniousy manner, the
pistol being in the center of the dagger
blade. The Birmingham museum has a
NhiE-pistol, the barrel being concealed in
the stock of a whip, a flint lock having
concealed trigger 1t is used by out
laws and also Positions. many spec
linens being preserved in the Paris mu-
seums The Germans had peculiar
battle-axe with a pistol cunningly con-
cealed in the head of an axe, so that the
owner could shoot down his opponent
befoe the lattrer knew what allied him.
Among these early weapons, so large a
number was breech-loaders that it is
quite remarkable that the fact is not
more generally known. Almost the
earliest cannons were breech-loaders.
Many of the earliest portable firearms
were of this patient, and so large a num-
her of the pistols that the notion ceases
to be novel Nor were hammerless guns
unknown even before the days of percus-
sion locks. The Tower of London con
taines a specimen of hammerless gun
made in the seventeenth century, which
was more of an achievement for t2at
day than the most complex specimen Of
the kind can be for us. It feat, among
the early long and heavy guns, the
breech- loader is the rule and not the ex-
ceptiou. so that even here there is moth
ing new. and it may be safely affirmed
that, in the matter of firearms, so faI as
the principle go, there is not one princi-
pie known to the present generation
that has not been applied at least hun
bred times two centuries ago.