What kind of handgun would an English gentleman use in the early 1900s?

Question

I'm writing a novel and need to describe the handgun with a bit of detail.

Answer 1

Hmmm! This from a non-Britisher: Possibly a: Webley .455 caliber MK. IV (Mark 4, 1899), a large bore break-top revolver also favored by the British Military.

OR perhaps the: "The British Bull Dog" .450 Center Fire, a more petite break-top revolver with a snub-barrel, easier to carry concealed.

NOTE: The Webley and Scott break-top revolvers were also chambered in .38 S&W later in the earlier Nineteen hundreds (say 1934). The .38 was considered a more modern cartridge than the .455 military. Of course, your British gentleman could have been more urbane and carried a more exotic weapon such as a German Luger, the Broomhandle Mauser (Mauser also made a handsome, petite, relatively modern 1910 Mauser .25 or .32 acp auto), or possibly even that new fangled 'Colonist' favorite the Colt 1911 .45 acp. (More bullets than the British breaktops).

Best of luck with your novel.

H

Your profile says you don't allow e-mail, but consider also the Deringers (by American gunsmith Henry Deringer). The Remington Corp. produced a handsome and very popular two-shot over and under .41 Rimfire Deringer (riverboat gambler's favorite). The Pepperbox pistols (four or more barrels in pocket pistol configuration) might also work well for your novel's turn-of-the-Century hero. Depending on how well into the 20th. Century your novel is set, consider that the original James Bond first carried a Beretta .25acp, then was 'forced' to change over to a Walters PPK in .32acp. If you read the novels he also had for backup a .38 Special Colt snubnose revolver.

Best,

H

Answer 2

A Smoith and Wesson topbreak .32SW short or .38SW. On a budget it might have been a Hopkins and Allen in the same calibers. These guns were made in such abundance that they are not as valuable today as being think they are. They were also only about $7.00 out of a Sears catalog.