Protector Palm Pistol
Chicago Fire Arms Co. · Pistol · Discontinued · 1883
Also known as: Chicago Protector, Minneapolis Protector, Turbiaux Protector, The Protector
Overview
The Protector Palm Pistol is a 19th-century squeeze-fired turret pistol designed to be concealed in the palm of the hand. Based on Jacques Turbiaux's 1882 French patent, it was produced in the United States from 1883, first by the Minneapolis Firearms Company and later by the Chicago Fire Arms Company and the Ames Sword Company. The flat, circular body resembles a pocket watch; cartridges are held in a revolving turret magazine arranged around the central axis, with the short barrel protruding between the user's fingers. Gripping the weapon in a clenched fist and squeezing a lever at the rear rotates the magazine and fires a round. Chambered for the diminutive .32 Extra Short rimfire cartridge, it was a low-powered, last-ditch defensive arm with no sights and a range of only a few feet.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 298 g (10.5 oz) |
| Overall Length | 114 mm (4.49") |
| Barrel Length | 44 mm (1.73") |
| Action Type | Double Action |
| Firing Mechanism | Hammer Fired |
| Trigger Type | Double Action Only |
| Magazine Capacity | 7 rounds |
| Magazine Type | Revolving Cylinder |
| Muzzle Velocity | 198 m/s (650 fps) |
| Muzzle Energy | 69 J (51 ft·lbf) |
| Effective Range | 3 m (3 yd) |
| Frame Material | Steel |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Stock Material | Hard Rubber |
| Finish | Nickel Plated |
Calibers
- .32 Extra Short · primary — also known as .32 Rimfire Extra Short, .32 Protector, .32 Short Rimfire (Protector)
Features
- Firing modes: Repeating
- Feed systems: Revolving Turret Magazine
- Features: Palm Squeeze Actuation, Turret Revolving Magazine, Concealable Pocket Watch Form, No Sights
Service history
Operators
- Civilian self-defense market
Production
Estimated total produced: 15,800 · Production years: 1883-1910
Approximately 3,000 built by Minneapolis Firearms Co. and about 12,800 by Chicago Fire Arms Co. / Ames Sword Company.
Origin
Country of origin: United States
Designer: Jacques Turbiaux
Discontinued: 1910
Notes
Often called the Chicago Protector or Minneapolis Protector. Most examples were nickel-plated to resist corrosion from being carried in close contact with the body and shipped with hard rubber grip inserts.
Background
The Protector's pocket-watch silhouette let it ride discreetly on a watch chain, and it was marketed to ladies and gentlemen as a genteel last-resort defense. Its squeeze-to-fire turret mechanism made it one of the most distinctive concealed handguns of the Victorian era.