Anybody know what this is?

[Scumpup]

Mysterious somewhat gun-like object. I don't know what it is at all, and none of the gun enthusiasts at another site can say either.

[The Librarian]

Do you have pictures in other angles?
With a scale or indication of scale?
Other facts? weight/location/etc.

With only this picture (of something I don't recognise) to work with I'd say a lighter or some part of a bigger thingy.

[Mangetout]

I can't find anything exactly the same, but it has the look of an abattoir bolt gun.

[Phlosphr]

It looks photoshopped to me. I'd like to know what it is though if it is real.

[Scumpup]

Sorry, no other pictures or any information. Only this single photo.

[Scumpup]

Anybody?

[Shagnasty]

The body itself looks really similar to a Derringer to me. Check out the types on the link under Special additions. I have no idea with the thing on the end is however.

http://www.amderringer.com/guns.html

[toadspittle]

Looks to me like a 9mm with a preposterous lock on it--one covering the muzzle and inserting some doohickey into the chamber to prevent firing ... though I'd think a trigger lock would have been sufficient.

It looks like someone had too many unpaid range fees and their handgun got "booted."

[Martini Enfield]

It looks European- the handgun action appears to be a 7.62 or 7.65mm "pocket pistol" type semi-auto. No idea what the thing on the end its, though.

[Mister Rik]

Somebody has invented a better mousetrap. You see, the front end of that thing has a door that is held up by the lever thing on top. The chamber is baited with cheese or bacon or what have you, and when a mouse enters the chamber to take the bait, the door slams shut. Then, the user can shoot the mouse at his or her leisure. As the mouse will be trapped in the chamber, the shooter simply can't miss, thus insuring a clean, quick, humane kill.

Other than that, I gots nuttin'.

[Mister Rik]

Also, I've sent the pic to my retired police officer and gun enthusiast dad, to see if he can ID it.

[Scumpup]

Additional photos and a little bit of information about the guy who invented/built it, but still no substantive ideas on what it does.

[commasense]

Originally Posted by Scumpup

...but still no substantive ideas on what it does.

That's the beauty of it! It doesn't do anything!

[tomndebb]

Originally Posted by Scumpup

Additional photos and a little bit of information about the guy who invented/built it, but still no substantive ideas on what it does.

Like several posters on the linked message board, my first thought was of some sort of industrial application.

Having seen the other photos (and still with no ida what it is) I have a couple of observations.
Several of the posters on that thread talked about it being a modified 1911, but i think that is a red herring. The barrel looks, to me, as though it breaks in the manner of a single shot shotgun, hinged just behind the trigger. It does not actually look as thought it could be cocked in the manner of a 1911 and the base of the grip does not seem to have a door to accept a clip.

The odd handle looking device on the top does not actually appear to be able to be moved, giving me the impression that if one broke the barrel down to insert a round, the arm extending out over the box would be held still (although allowed to pivot), thus drawing the "door" at the front of the device back from the "muzzle." (Actually, the "barrel"/box does not seem as though it could break down (like a shotgun) but would break up. Since the "door" at the front of the box is currently open, it would seem that breaking the action to load it would effectively close the "door" as the barrel would swing up and the pivoting arm would be thrust forward. (For that matter, the "handle looking thing" could actually be a handle used to break the barrel in an upward direction while the pivoting arm forced closed the mouth of the box.).)

The other odd thing (to me) is the appearance from the front that the "muzzle" of the box contains a knife blade. I have no speculation as to what it would be for. I cannot imagine the point of slcing a bullet in half as it leavesthe barrel--particularly since I would think the very nature of placing an object in the path of the muzzle blast would make it ripe for in-the-hand explosions. Rather than slicing a bullet in two, it would make more sense (and be much safer) to simply design the device with two separate (smaller, if necessary) barrels, each with its own round.

[Robot Arm]

Some sort of bizarre flash suppressor, maybe? As the action cycles, the little flap opens just long enough to let the bullet out, then closes to contain the flash and vent the gasses out those little round vents.

[Staggerlee]

A Gun Sharpener? Doubly dangerous.

[Mangetout]

Do not run with gun sharpeners!

I dunno. I still think it looks like something that is designed to be used two-handed and at point-blank range, such as for execution, in slaughterhouses, or for euthanising horses, something like that.

[Sapo]

Maybe you just put blanks and it uses the power for something else that has nothing to do with shooting people. If that is a blade in the front, maybe it cuts something really tough using the power of the detonation. The only thing that appears clear to me (a non gun guy), is that bullets don't come out of that thing.

[Swallowed My Cellphone]

The photo where you see the front of it is truly baffling. Someone on the board where it's posted WAGged that it's some kind of mount for an armoured vehicle. Perhaps the "box" is to help hide muzzle flash so you're not as much of a target t night.... maybe?

[Swallowed My Cellphone]

I found this about the manufacturer (from one of the the other good pics). From a 2002 vintage gun message board:

R. F. Sedgley, inc. Philadelphia, Paserial #6pat appl for Have had a drum style magazine in cal. 22 that holds 50 rounds .22 lr. It is spring loaded and appears very similar to an Auto-ordnance Thompson magazine. It is blued and well finished and functions. Also have a brass & steel prototype of a similar configuration. Any idea what it was used for, conversion unit or ?

Answer:
Richard- No idea what that might be. Sedgley made a lot of gun related parts and even complete guns, some under military contract (often for the U.S. Marine Corps) and for various makers and retailers. They also assembled some guns on their own, largely based on the M1903 Springfields. I do not know much about Thompsons (among other topics) but vaguely recall something about Sedgley making some parts for Thompsons. Tracie Hill has written a superb history of the Thompsons, and it may provide the answer. If what you have is actually a prototype, then it probably has some collector interest and value.

A bit more googling shows this manufacturer also made signal guns and all sorts of gun-related odds and ends.

[Slithy Tove]

It's a mousetrap for people who really hate the little fuckers

[Loach]

This site calls it a powder tester .

[Phlosphr]

Gave the photo to my Father and he has this to say:

In the late 50's on diesel subs we had several varients of flare/signal guns. Some like the photo were built on a 1911 frames. They were used by officers in lieu of photo signaling, because the light emitted was short and acute. Think rudamentary laser flashes, without the long distance application. Laser is probably not the right word, but nontheless we had flare/signal "units" that looked very similar to that contraption. The trigger was pulled and (2) windows opened from the top of the metal box, flashed for a fraction of a second. We has 6 "rounds" to fire off, the "rounds" were held in a drum type magazine.

Hope this helps. Neat looking contraption no question, and I wouldn't say it was a prototype, I'd say is was simply out dated military machinery.

[Scumpup]

It doesn't look completely unlike some blackpowder era powder testers I've seen, but those basically worked by using the explosive force of the powder to move a gauge of some kind like the one on this page. Mr. Thingy doesn't seem to have any such mechanism.

[Loach]

If you use my link you can buy it for $1850. Test it out all you want.

[FRDE]

I am no expert on guns
- but it looks like a modified Browning

I can't see a break, so it is not a form of shotgun - actually it looks more like a cut down machine pistol

The stuff at the front looks like an experimental silencer, but the two cuts look as if somebody was modifying something built by an engineer, but used and modified by a yahoo - which would explain the non anal line up of the screw heads. Engineers and craftsmen like neat lines.

To the left of the trigger there is a 0,1,2,3 go slot, which makes me suspect a Kalashnikov or a German precursor.

The top bit looks like a well engineered piece of metal, slotted into sights sockets.

Basically I think you have a German machine pistol that has been modified to reduce sound, at that point a complete moron has tried to improve it.

Basically it looks like an experimental single shot automatic with a mechanical silenser

[lieu]

Looks like a helluva entertaining way to split firewood.

[Loach]

Originally Posted by FRDE

I am no expert on guns
- but it looks like a modified Browning

I can't see a break, so it is not a form of shotgun - actually it looks more like a cut down machine pistol

The stuff at the front looks like an experimental silencer, but the two cuts look as if somebody was modifying something built by an engineer, but used and modified by a yahoo - which would explain the non anal line up of the screw heads. Engineers and craftsmen like neat lines.

To the left of the trigger there is a 0,1,2,3 go slot, which makes me suspect a Kalashnikov or a German precursor.

The top bit looks like a well engineered piece of metal, slotted into sights sockets.

Basically I think you have a German machine pistol that has been modified to reduce sound, at that point a complete moron has tried to improve it.

Basically it looks like an experimental single shot automatic with a mechanical silenser

If you would look at all the pictures you would see it is on a M1911 frame. The parts in question were manufactured by R.F. Sedgley of Philadelphia. Not German or Russian. Built by a legit company, not some moron with a machine shop in his garage.

[CalMeacham]

Googling "powder Tester" turned up a lot of hits, including tjhis similarly bizarre-looking contraption (and its attacxhed explanation):

http://www.ken-drake.com/parker_powder_tester.htm

[Loach]

The company selling the powder tester has an email address for request of information. I just asked for some help. Lets see what happens.

[Loach]

And here is the reply:

Dear Sir,



From what I have gathered, this is a powder tester for cartridges to be used in the 1911 pistols. A loaded, crimped cartridge was placed in the tester and fired to determine if the pressures were sufficient for this pistol. We do not know how many were made nor do we know the stock number from the company. If you have any further questions, please contact us toll free at 1-877-214-9327 and ask for Wayne C. We appreciate your interest.



Best regards,


Collectors Firearms

[Swallowed My Cellphone]

Nifty.

[Nature's Call]

I sent this to an ex-military buddy of mine, who passed it amongst some people he knows. Here's his reply to me...

Originally Posted by My buddy

according to a small arms expert this is a M-1911 45 cal pistol.

The attachment is probably a pistol port to enable the crew to shoot at the enemy while buttoned up inside an armoured vehicle. The handle on top controls the outside flap. It's normally in the closed position as shown so that the bad guys can't shoot in. Pistol ports proved almost useless as you couldn't see very much and were quickly dropped. They were also a weak point in the armour.

[Loach]

Originally Posted by Nature's Call

I sent this to an ex-military buddy of mine, who passed it amongst some people he knows. Here's his reply to me...

That sounds ridiculous. Without a cite I maintain that it is ridiculous. It is a powder tester. That answer came from someone who has one. And you can own it too if you follow my link about and pay $1850.

[Ludovic]

Ahhhh, it's a 1920's-style "Death Ray".

[Loach]

Originally Posted by Ludovic

Ahhhh, it's a 1920's-style "Death Ray".

1911-style "Death Ray". It was the prototype.

[Harmonious Discord]

It looks like a better mouse trap. Once it's in the box, you shoot it.

I was going to guess something along testing primers, but I see it's resolved. I obviously would not be safe to check ammo with a slug still in it.

[Scumpup]

Originally Posted by Loach

That sounds ridiculous. Without a cite I maintain that it is ridiculous. It is a powder tester. That answer came from someone who has one. And you can own it too if you follow my link about and pay $1850.

Owning it doesn't, in and of itself, prove he knows what it is. Other than, perhaps the guy who sold it to him telling him so, how does he know what it is? How many owners did it pass through between Sedgley and him?

I've seen too many misidentified gun-related items for sale to trust he knows what it is just because he has it.

[Loach]

Originally Posted by Scumpup

Owning it doesn't, in and of itself, prove he knows what it is. Other than, perhaps the guy who sold it to him telling him so, how does he know what it is? How many owners did it pass through between Sedgley and him?

I've seen too many misidentified gun-related items for sale to trust he knows what it is just because he has it.

No doubt. But much more likely than a shoot from a tank gun. Especially without cites. I'm not 100% sure of the answer but it does seem to be the likely answer.

The only way to be sure is for someone to put out the $1850 and run some tests. I'm a little short right now.....

[Bosda Di'Chi of Tricor]

A Forensics tool?

The box is detatchable, & you fire a round into it to get a slug for ballistics comparison purposes?

No, I don't want forensics TV.

[Lanzy]

No idea but the front of it looks like it can be inserted into another object of some kind. Threre are two straight objects that look like a locking mechanism of some type to secure it. The holes on the side are probably to allow the charge to escape without blowing it up.
So, insert into other thing, release cap, blast something.