Apache Revolver
L. Dolne a Liege · Pistol · Out Of Production · 1869
Also known as: Apache Pinfire Revolver, Dolne Apache, Knuckle-Duster Revolver
Overview
The Apache revolver is a 19th-century combination weapon attributed to Belgian gunmaker Louis Dolne of Liege. It merges a six-shot 7mm pinfire pepperbox revolver with a folding brass knuckle-duster grip and a foldout double-edged dagger blade, all in a single pocketable frame. Having no barrel, it was lethal only at point-blank range, but its triple-threat design made it infamous as the favored weapon of the Parisian 'Apache' criminal gangs from whom it takes its name.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 385 g (13.6 oz) |
| Overall Length | 200 mm (7.87") |
| Folded Length | 105 mm (4.13") |
| Action Type | Revolving |
| Firing Mechanism | Double Action Only |
| Trigger Type | Double Action |
| Magazine Capacity | 6 rounds |
| Magazine Type | Rotary |
| Muzzle Velocity | 180 m/s (591 fps) |
| Muzzle Energy | 95 J (70 ft·lbf) |
| Effective Range | 3 m (3 yd) |
| Barrel Rifling | None |
| Frame Material | Steel |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Stock Material | Steel |
| Finish | Blued |
Calibers
- 7mm Pinfire (Lefaucheux) · primary — also known as 7mm Lefaucheux, 7mm a broche
Features
- Firing modes: Repeating
- Feed systems: Pinfire Cylinder
- Features: Folding Knuckle Duster Grip, Folding Dagger Blade, Barrel Less Cylinder, Pinfire Ignition, No Sights, Folding Combination Weapon
Service history
Operators
- Parisian street gangs (Les Apaches)
Production
Production years: 1869-1900
Produced by Louis Dolne and copied by numerous Liege gunsmiths; exact totals unknown.
Origin
Country of origin: Belgium
Designer: Louis Dolne
Discontinued: 1900
Notes
The cylinder has no barrel, so accuracy and range are negligible and the gun is dangerous mainly in a brawl. Folding the grip and blade allowed it to be carried discreetly in a coat pocket. 7mm was the most common chambering; 5mm pinfire examples also exist.
Background
The weapon lent its name to the Apaches, the violent Parisian street gangs of the Belle Epoque, who in turn took the name from sensationalist newspapers comparing their brutality to that of the Apache Native Americans.