EDELWEISS
AH enthusiast
I sorta Hijacked the Backwoods Carry Gun thread with my insistences about a Howdah pistol for stopping an attack. So to clarify a Howdah Pistol got its name from the "saddle" mounted on the back of an Indian Elephant, where hunters sat while hunting Tigers. The Bengal Tiger is the largest of the Cats. It seems they quite often take exception to being hunted and often will show their displeasure by climbing up the elephant's side to get the hunter.
The Howdah Pistol began in the percussion age (Maybe flintlock but I am dubious), and reached its zenith during the side hammer cartridge period. Typically they were SxS's although O/U's do exist. Most were double barrels but some had four barrels. They fired LARGE round balls or conicals, of at least 40 caliber but typically much larger 50 and 577 were more the norm. Quite a few started as shotguns and stayed that way firing slugs.
Many of them began as Shotguns that were shortened and modified with a handgun grip, Later guns were purpose built as handguns. Generally speaking they werent holster guns, although that was possible. Most originals show a lanyard loop on the butt and were meant to be hung on the sides of the Howdah "chair" for quick access. The pistol format was chosen because it was easier to maneuver than a rifle at close range (read that arms length), during the the general chaos of the climbing Tiger and the disturbed elephant.
We are here now because Ive made a pursuit of Howdah pistols over that last few years. So far Ive found one original, a few double barreled pistols that definitely arent Howdah's but were sold as such. As well as a few reproductions. Pedersoli is responsible for the reproductions. They make a flintlock and percussion guns with 58 as well as 20 ga barrels. They also make several versions of 45Colt/410 guns with and without hammers.
I like the Pedersoli caplock; but the 45/410 guns are hardly what I would call a Howdah. Im sure they chose 45Colt because of its ability to also be chambered for 410 shot shells. Neither 45Colt nor especially 410 shot gun rounds are anywhere near a REAL Howdah cartridge. I would have much preferred 45-70 or larger. Using 45-70 Cowboy loads would have been possible. Heck one of the 50 caliber pistol rounds would have worked too. Were it not for NFA rules a 20 or 16 gauge SxS or O/U shotgun with 8-10 inch barrels and a pistol grip would be easy and near perfect.
Modern options are limited American Gun Company makes the Diablo Its a SxS In-Line muzzleloader that uses 209 primers. It has a single trigger and single hammer with a switch/lever to change barrels. Its available with 6, 8, and 11 inch barrels. My biggest grip is the grip. Its more "Gangsta" than Howdah. The only other options are from Bond Arms. They make a 6 inch barrel for their two shot derringers but again only in 45Colt/410. They also make a single shot 45-70 that they call Cyclops. Its also available in 50AE. The Cyclops is more gimmick than Howdah. Perhaps if they made it with TWO shots and a longer barrel ....
The Howdah Pistol began in the percussion age (Maybe flintlock but I am dubious), and reached its zenith during the side hammer cartridge period. Typically they were SxS's although O/U's do exist. Most were double barrels but some had four barrels. They fired LARGE round balls or conicals, of at least 40 caliber but typically much larger 50 and 577 were more the norm. Quite a few started as shotguns and stayed that way firing slugs.
Many of them began as Shotguns that were shortened and modified with a handgun grip, Later guns were purpose built as handguns. Generally speaking they werent holster guns, although that was possible. Most originals show a lanyard loop on the butt and were meant to be hung on the sides of the Howdah "chair" for quick access. The pistol format was chosen because it was easier to maneuver than a rifle at close range (read that arms length), during the the general chaos of the climbing Tiger and the disturbed elephant.
We are here now because Ive made a pursuit of Howdah pistols over that last few years. So far Ive found one original, a few double barreled pistols that definitely arent Howdah's but were sold as such. As well as a few reproductions. Pedersoli is responsible for the reproductions. They make a flintlock and percussion guns with 58 as well as 20 ga barrels. They also make several versions of 45Colt/410 guns with and without hammers.
I like the Pedersoli caplock; but the 45/410 guns are hardly what I would call a Howdah. Im sure they chose 45Colt because of its ability to also be chambered for 410 shot shells. Neither 45Colt nor especially 410 shot gun rounds are anywhere near a REAL Howdah cartridge. I would have much preferred 45-70 or larger. Using 45-70 Cowboy loads would have been possible. Heck one of the 50 caliber pistol rounds would have worked too. Were it not for NFA rules a 20 or 16 gauge SxS or O/U shotgun with 8-10 inch barrels and a pistol grip would be easy and near perfect.
Modern options are limited American Gun Company makes the Diablo Its a SxS In-Line muzzleloader that uses 209 primers. It has a single trigger and single hammer with a switch/lever to change barrels. Its available with 6, 8, and 11 inch barrels. My biggest grip is the grip. Its more "Gangsta" than Howdah. The only other options are from Bond Arms. They make a 6 inch barrel for their two shot derringers but again only in 45Colt/410. They also make a single shot 45-70 that they call Cyclops. Its also available in 50AE. The Cyclops is more gimmick than Howdah. Perhaps if they made it with TWO shots and a longer barrel ....
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