The gun, called ladies', only in appearance resembles a beautiful toy. In fact, this is a dangerous and even deadly weapon. Consider the legendary “Walters”, “Vesta”, “Browning”, as well as their modern alternatives.
What is a ladies gun
Ladies', vests, salons or pocket pistols are small-sized devices whose purpose is hidden wearing, unlike, for example, police service weapons. Such small-caliber pistols include weapons under the .25 ACP cartridge, whose muzzle energy is 20% of the standard parabellum (9x16 mm).
Pocket weapons are mainly used for two purposes: self-defense of citizens and a spare pistol for law enforcement officers and special services. The second option is the reason that the ladies' small pistols use the same types of cartridges as for the main service weapons of police and military.
The first pocket pistols appeared in the 19th century - their ancestor is the Derringer (the name comes from the name of the creator of this type of weapon - G. Derringer). Because of the short trunk, they were given the nickname "Bulldogs". The device quickly became popular in Europe and the USA due to its simplicity, reliability, portability and high power. By the way, even today the silent models of the Derringers regularly serve the employees of the Russian special services and intelligence.
Features of pocket pistols
Let's touch on the main distinguishing features of small-caliber pistols:
- Ergonomics The shape of such a weapon is always smooth, devoid of protruding elements - the gun will be useless if it gets stuck in your pocket or hooks on the floors of clothes. Platoon triggers and levers are replaced with buttons, fuses are moved to places where it is difficult to accidentally touch them, or are completely absent - the pistol is self-cocking.
- Using cartridges of the same caliber as official weapons. Such an increase in the power of a lady’s pistol does not give any reason to consider it a toy.
- Miniature mechanism. This feature leads to obvious inconvenience - the handle is sometimes difficult to hold with the little finger. Manufacturers solve this problem in different ways - they lengthen the store, move it forward and down under the chamber.
Walter
Ladies pistol "Walter" - a classic of small-caliber weapons. The company "Karl Walter Waffenfabrik", founded in 1886, began to produce such devices in 1911. And it was pocket guns that brought the company worldwide fame.
In total, five Walter mini-revolver models were released:
- The first was compact and light, had an open shutter-casing, shock type mechanism. The store housed 6 rounds of 6.35 mm.
- The next version, patented in 1913, had a hidden trigger, and its rear sight served as an indicator of the presence of charges in the chamber.
- The third version of the small Walter pistols was rare (only 3,500 units were produced). It was distinguished by an increase in caliber to 7.65 mm and had an unfortunate drawback: the cartridges ejected through the side window fell into the shooter's field of view, distracting him.
- The fourth version was an eight-cartridge analogue of the third; it was distinguished by a more simplified disassembly and an increased barrel.
- The latter model is an improved version of the second release, but only with a fixed whole and four rifling in the channel of the pistol barrel.
"Vesta"
The popular small-caliber Spanish pistol Vesta belongs to the Eibar type (Eibar is a Spanish city that used to be the real weapons capital of the 20th century). This automatic device had a caliber of 6.35 mm or 7.65 mm, a store for 6 charges.
The main difference of Vesta was the location of the fuse above the trigger in the middle. In all other respects, the gun resembled the legendary Browning, which will be discussed later.
Browning
The design of the Belgian John Moses Browning was a real breakthrough in the industry of women’s weapons at the beginning of the XX century. "Browning Baby" was released in 1906. The length of the miniature pistol was 114 mm, the caliber was standard for such weapons - 6.35 mm. Ladies' Browning pistol was used until the 1930s by the Red Army until it was replaced by a similar Soviet Korovin.
Series production of Browning revolvers ended by the start of World War II. By that time, about a million weapons were fired. The model became the prototype for many developments of gunsmiths from the USA, Spain, Germany and other countries.
Modern compact pistols
Consider the top ten most popular ladies' pistols of the present:
The Ruger LC9s is a slightly over 15-centimeter pistol, weighing 487 grams, with a 9 mm caliber. In his store fit 7 + 1 rounds.
Glock 42 is a polymer pocket weapon with a three-point sight for .380 caliber cartridges. Designed for 6 + 1 rounds.
The Springfield Range Officer Compact is considered a premium pistol. For its production, hydrocarbon steel, aluminum alloy is used. The front sight of the weapon is made of fiber optic. The gun fits 6 + 1 charges .45 ACP.
The M&P Bodyguard 380 Crimson Trace is the model of the manufacturer with the richest line of pocket pistols - Smith & Wesson. This self-cocking weapon with a 6 + 1 magazine is considered one of the safest, and its handle with notches for the fingers and a fish scale cover is the most convenient.
The M&P Bodyguard 38 Revolver Crimson Trace is a self-cocking with a 5-round drum. Manufacturers assure that this 16.7-cm revolver is as powerful as the classic ones.
Kimber Solo Carry - a high-quality pistol for cartridges of 9 mm caliber, with a capacity of 6 + 1 rounds. The length of the device is only 14 cm. Its distinguishing feature is the body, covered with diamond-like spraying, making the gun almost invisible.
The Taurus 85VTA View is simply a beautiful 5-shot revolver with a transparent side frame, a gold-plated trigger and a chrome trigger. This weapon needs .38 Special caliber cartridges.
Desert Eagle 1911U - the pulling force of its hook is measured only 1.5 kg. The magazine holds 6 + 1 rounds of .45 ACP rounds.
Walther CCP - a combination of classic and innovation in a one-color or two-color case solution. The magazine capacity of this 16-cm gun is 8 + 1 charges of 9 mm caliber.
Sig Sauer P238 Extreme - a model that is quite popular with law enforcement officials. It also differs in its convenient fuse location. Length - only 14 cm with a magazine capacity of 7 + 1.
Ladies' pistols continue to be popular today. The reason for this is that modern technologies have endowed them with a number of capabilities that allow these devices to be as powerful as larger weapons.