# Any magical...\*guns,\* in fiction? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 14, 2003, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-magical-guns-in-fiction/201637 "2003-09-14T22:52:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2003, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-magical-guns-in-fiction/201637/1 "2003-09-14T22:52:38Z")
Mythology, ancient and modern, is filled with all manner of “magical” weaponry. King Arthur’s Excalibur, for example. But…are there any magical firearms, _guns_ in fiction, that anyone can recall? Now, of course, there aren’t going to be any ancient legends about Beowulf’s enchanted flintlock. But surely in modern works—like comics, movies, RPGs, etc.—there’ve been at least a couple, right? And, if so, what were these weapons, and what was “magical” about them? ---
**Author:** ![BraheSilver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ecccb3/32.png) [@BraheSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BraheSilver)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2003, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-magical-guns-in-fiction/201637/2 "2003-09-14T23:26:00Z")
In the “Rifts” RPG, there is a class of magic called techno-wizardry that does just that. Guns with “limitless” magazines or that fire lightning? No problem. The standard “TK-gun” just fired little bits of telekinetic power, and was reloaded by channeling some energy into it. Replace your car’s battery with a couple charged crystals and it’ll run forever! A flashlight that actually makes sunlight - useful for vampire encounters. Unfortunately, the focus went from “tinkerer with some magic powers” to “magician with some mechanical aptitude” and it got pretty goofy (in my opinion). The game “Serious Sam” has a magic cannon that fires uranium-filled cannonballs. I guess the magic is what lets you carry the damn thing and fire it without being turned to salsa. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Bravo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_bravo/32/493_2.png) [@Johnny\_Bravo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Bravo)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2003, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-magical-guns-in-fiction/201637/3 "2003-09-14T23:31:02Z")
In Shadowrun, you specificially _couldn’t_ magically imbue firearms. I don’t remember the reasoning behind it, though. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2003, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-magical-guns-in-fiction/201637/4 "2003-09-14T23:36:56Z")
A story line in the comic book Hitman featured a magical Winchester rifle that was the only thing that could kill a particularly nasty demon. ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2003, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-magical-guns-in-fiction/201637/5 "2003-09-14T23:45:46Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Johnny Bravo \* > \*\*In Shadowrun, you specificially _couldn’t_ magically imbue firearms. I don’t remember the reasoning behind it, though. \*\* Because it would be silly to mix technology and magic in the same setting. Wait a second, this is Shadowrun we’re talking about. Marc ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2003, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-magical-guns-in-fiction/201637/6 "2003-09-14T23:49:56Z")
The thing with firearms, is that in fiction/fantasy, specially vis-a-vis bows, spears, swords etc., they tend to be viewed as, for lack of a better term, “less noble”. (How’s that for abuse of commas?) As **BraheSilver** mentions, the temptation with a gun will be towards technologizing the “magic”. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2003, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-magical-guns-in-fiction/201637/7 "2003-09-14T23:56:50Z")
Closest thing I can think of are the “Lazy Guns” described in Iain M. Banks wonderful novel [_Against a Dark Background_](http://www.geocities.com/~banksp/Rec/IainMBanks/DarkBckgrnd.html). The Lazy Guns are immensely powerful and act more or less based on a person’s thoughts, but in highly unpredictable ways that make them as much a danger to the operator as they are to the target, and which give them, in effect, magical properties. ---
**Author:** ![Murcielago](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/da6949/32.png) [@Murcielago](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Murcielago)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2003, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-magical-guns-in-fiction/201637/8 "2003-09-15T00:04:05Z")
The “Saint of Killers” from the Garth Ennis _Preacher_ series had a spiffy set of pistols. Forged from the sword of the Angel of Death (IIRC), they never ran out of bullets, never missed, and never failed to deliver a kill shot. Good enough to take out Satan, the Heavenly Host and The Big Boss himself. ---
**Author:** ![boobah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/46a35a/32.png) [@boobah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boobah)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2003, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-magical-guns-in-fiction/201637/9 "2003-09-15T01:31:17Z")
Terry Pratchett’s _Men at Arms_ There is a “gonne” that evidently can control whoever holds it, forcing them to kill. The “Gonne” was the villain of the piece. Don’t know if that’s magical, or anthropomorphism. ---
**Author:** ![Mearl\_Dox](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/65b543/32.png) [@Mearl\_Dox](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mearl_Dox)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2003, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-magical-guns-in-fiction/201637/10 "2003-09-15T01:35:34Z")
The gun used by Clive in the _Suikoden_ video games supposedly had an elemental spirit or something in it, although I don’t remember the exact situation very well. ---
**Author:** ![JThunder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e95f7d/32.png) [@JThunder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JThunder)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2003, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-magical-guns-in-fiction/201637/11 "2003-09-15T01:37:30Z")
There is a current storyline in DC’s _JSA_ comic where the new Crimson Avenger has a pair of mystical pistols. Their origin has yet to be explained. ---
**Author:** ![Balance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ccd318/32.png) [@Balance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balance)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2003, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-magical-guns-in-fiction/201637/12 "2003-09-15T02:52:18Z")
Some of Barbara Hambly’s books (the Windrose books, I think) featured some firearms that were described as “metaphysically dead” and immune to magical influences. They were inscribed with runes and sigils to make them that way because using them against mages was suicidal otherwise–a wizard could just make it misfire or even explode. I suppose that could be counted as “magical”. It was implied that weapons could be imbued with other magic, but such uses of magic were highly illegal. Some computer/console RPGs feature firearms and ammunition that are clearly magical, mostly because of the special types of damage they do. You might have blessed ammunition that does extra damage against undead, or a pistol that inflicts cold damage, or any number of other odd things that you wouldn’t expect out of a standard firearm. Then, of course, there’s [this one](http://www.adventurers-comic.com/d/20020402.html) and [this one](http://www.adventurers-comic.com/d/20030110.html). 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2003, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-magical-guns-in-fiction/201637/13 "2003-09-15T02:58:19Z")
How many ways _can_ a gun be magical anyway? I can think of: **Blessed/Cursed** : Doesn’t function magically but possessing or holding it has an effect on the wielder. **Limitless Magazine** : how all guns ought to be, somehow. **Perfect Aim** : always hits what the shooter intends it to , even if the shot has to go around corners or home on a moving target. **Bullets of Death** : even the slightest nick is fatal. **Silver Bullets of Death** : destroys creatures that are normally immune to physical attack (vampires/werewolves, etc.) **Irresistable Missile** : bullets penetrate steel armor, concrete walls, warding spells, force fields, neutronium, etc. **Infinitely Configurable Ammo** : The shooter can charm the bullets to do whatever they want them to: armor piercing, explosive, incendiary, signal flare, smoke grenade, poisoned, etc., etc. Any others? ---
**Author:** ![Hometownboy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/5e9695/32.png) [@Hometownboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hometownboy)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2003, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-magical-guns-in-fiction/201637/14 "2003-09-15T03:10:09Z")
In Phil Foglio’s SF graphic novel “Buck Godot, Zap Gun For Hire,” an acquaintance of the title character, known as The Rat, has two **sentient** and articulate guns, “Smith” and “Wesson.” BTW, the graphic novel is a hoot - great art, lots of humor, and hijinks. ---
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2003, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-magical-guns-in-fiction/201637/15 "2003-09-15T03:14:37Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Lumpy \* > \*\*How many ways _can_ a gun be magical anyway? I can think of: > > **Blessed/Cursed** : Doesn’t function magically but possessing or holding it has an effect on the wielder. > > **Limitless Magazine** : how all guns ought to be, somehow. > > **Perfect Aim** : always hits what the shooter intends it to , even if the shot has to go around corners or home on a moving target. > > **Bullets of Death** : even the slightest nick is fatal. > > **Silver Bullets of Death** : destroys creatures that are normally immune to physical attack (vampires/werewolves, etc.) > > **Irresistable Missile** : bullets penetrate steel armor, concrete walls, warding spells, force fields, neutronium, etc. > > **Infinitely Configurable Ammo** : The shooter can charm the bullets to do whatever they want them to: armor piercing, explosive, incendiary, signal flare, smoke grenade, poisoned, etc., etc. > > Any others? \*\* Pretty much anything you can imagine. Could cause sleep, or insanity, or healing, or anything. Some would be silly, but that’s magic for you. ---
**Author:** ![Koffing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/898d66/32.png) [@Koffing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Koffing)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2003, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-magical-guns-in-fiction/201637/16 "2003-09-15T03:21:31Z")
Both _Dragonstar_ and _D20 Modern_ have rules for magical firearms. You can put the same enchantments on guns and bullets that you can put on other projectile weapons and their ammo in the Dungeons & Dragons world. ---
**Author:** ![DreadCthulhu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/db5fbb/32.png) [@DreadCthulhu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DreadCthulhu)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2003, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-magical-guns-in-fiction/201637/17 "2003-09-15T03:24:36Z")
The web comic [College Roomates From Hell!](http://www.crfh.net/d/20000423.html) has the “Miracle Shotgun” which one of the charactors shoots Satan with, driving him away. The Miracle part is that the shotgun wasn’t loaded. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![BraheSilver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ecccb3/32.png) [@BraheSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BraheSilver)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2003, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-magical-guns-in-fiction/201637/18 "2003-09-15T03:39:38Z")
To add to Lumpy’s list, from tweaks I’ve seen and used: **Recoilless** **Silent** : no silencer, just all inner mechanisms are quiet and charms the bullet to be silent despite supersonic speed. **No muzzle flash** **Very low weight** : How else can you hold a chaingun in each hand? **"Cloud 'o Lead"** : Uses illusion to make it look as if there are ten times as many rounds heading your way. Useful to scare away bandits, especially with the aforementioned chinguns. **Resistant** : maybe considered something about the object itself, but can fire underwater, in fire, in a vacuum, etc. One character took a sentient rune dagger and made it a bayonet, but perhaps that doesn’t count. Besides, the knife kept calling him a sissy and tried to wave around while he aimed. Not a firearm, but one character had a magic 8-foot-long chainsaw that did tremendous damage, had infinite power, and was incredibly durable. ---
**Author:** ![wolf\_meister](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolf_meister/32/15202_2.png) [@wolf\_meister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolf_meister)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2003, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-magical-guns-in-fiction/201637/19 "2003-09-15T03:43:23Z")
I believe there is a thread somewhere else on the SDMB that makes reference to a type of firearm that was developed in the 1930’s (although maybe a bit earlier). Supposedly, it could emit fatal beams. Try as I may, I could not find even one posting making a literary reference for such a weapon. Has anyone else heard of these? ---
**Author:** ![Shiva418](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/77aa72/32.png) [@Shiva418](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shiva418)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2003, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-magical-guns-in-fiction/201637/20 "2003-09-15T03:43:28Z")
In Micheal Moorcock’s _Eternal Champion_ saga, Jerry Cornelius posesses a magic “needle gun.” [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-magical-guns-in-fiction/201637.md?page=2)