Would that shoot all three bullets at once or one at a time? All at once I'm guessing?
this post was submitted on 12 Oct 2025
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One at a time - there's a little 'selector' ('tap-action') for which barrel gets fired.
Oh neat, thanks!
I have to think this was some kind of subtle insult to the First Consul.
What would a weapon like this be for? It would be useless in a battle or for hunting. The only purpose is for a gambler or pimp to carry in case of a 'business' disagreement.
It says that Napoleon better have something in his pocket in case his guards get frisky.
Just a show piece, like jewelry, but more manly
I remember someone talking about the blackpowder charge in such a small gun and noting that it wouldn't even be all that worthwhile for shooting someone point-blank.
Plus, you fire a shot, move the barrel selector switch, half-cock the hammer, prime the pan from your Louis Vuitton gunpowder pouch because you're the prettiest princess, close the pan, full cock the action, and die of gangrene from the stab wounds you've been receiving this whole time from Mooks Who Jumped You 2 and 3.
You're kind of making my point.
"Here's something silly and useless. Maybe you can use it to scare a hooker, I don't know."
I mean, people love silly and useless things, though, it's not necessarily an insult so much as a demonstration of what immense wealth each party has to waste (one to give such a gift; the other to keep it).
... which might sound like an insult, but was complimentary at the time.
Look up things like flower codes and using fans to send messages.
These 'gifts' were like emojis are today; unless someone told you, you'd never know what a particular one was supposed to mean.
I was just looking and couldn't find it yet, but I can imagine a world of subtle signals
A lot was also coded into art, buildings, clothing etc. Historically most people were illiterate, so more communication happened through other media or 'material culture'.
Something tells me the "code" is more like: Napoleon's drinking with his officers, and he says: "imagine Wellington, Nelson, Alexander, and Talleyrand are together in a room with me and I only have THIS" (plunks that pistol down on the table) "Who should I shoot?"
spoiler
the answer is: "Talleyrand, three times!"