Accles & Shelvoke - The last of UK's Birmingham Gunmakers:

 Would you credit that The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) is now approximately 1.5 million kilometers (roughly 1 million miles) from Earth.. and has determined that there are 2 Trillion Galaxies such as our own 'Milky Way' (- that has maybe 400 billion stars) - currently counted in our Universe.

That's a LOT of stars (2 Trillion x 400 Billion).. and I'm spending my evening hours pissing about with old obsolete tools like these and worrying about Israeli nukes ..

Accles & Shelvoke - (and Westley Richards & Co) - are still in Birmingham.

My first collected Accles & Shelvoke product was a CAPTIVE BOLT PENETRATING STUNNING TOOL - a .22" blank cartridge powered, and a very heavy piece. It seems that this maker is still active in UK making versions of this abbatoir tool, and an Electric Power CABLE SPIKER. - My second item is their postwar ACVOKE air pistol ..

This 'Butcher's Stun Gun' has an interesting breach-hammer interlock design - that if some effwit pulled the trigger with the breach open after loading the power cartridge - the hammer would spring forward but drops into a safety shelf on the open breachblock and safely locks the action.

"SUPERCASH" stunner Open for Charging ..

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Designed by John Basil Arrowsmith - The ACVOKE Air Pistol (Ser. No. 16974) has many commonalties to a German designed Tell II pistol - and it was copied made by Accles & Shelvoke in post-war Birmingham between 1946-56 - to compete with the Webley air pistols.

When Germany was occupied and split, from 1945 by the victorious allies after WW II - the WINNERS TOOK ALL and they stripped Germany's industrial base of everything that moved, as 'war reparations' - that included intellectual property such as V2 Rockets (Mittelwerk GmbH) technology, and this ACVOKE airgun (Tell), the BSA Bantam motor-bike (DKW), and the Bristol 400 car (BMW).

The English Birmingham Gun Quarter - home of Beumont-Adams, BSA, Tranter, & Webley - and other renowned makers, - is no more. - The area was mostly demolished and cleared in the 1960's for the Inner Ring Road to go through.

These "powerful" but small ACVOKE .177" airguns have a concentric spring piston & barrel - that is cocked by the grip being released to be pivoted forwards.

In prime condition these guns are capable of driving a skirted lead pellet at 500 feet per second - and were sold for an advertised price of 3 Deutchmarks Pounds and 18 Shillings.

Cocked Open For Loading - A basic but Adjustable Rear Sight:

THIS air pistol doesn't seem to lock down tight & seal properly at the breach, but it's piston seal seems OK - yet it doesn't have enough wind to even push the pellet up the barrel. - Plus someone has sandpapered or wire-brushed the rust from the outside of the barrel leaving a scratched steel finish. - Something to do eh .. it might be fun.

IN THE INTEREST OF PUBLIC SAFETY - WE MUST INSIST THAT ALL NZ POLICE EMPLOYEES QUALIFY FOR, & OBTAIN, AND MAINTAIN THE SAME STANDARD NZ FIREARMS LICENCE in exactly the same way that we citizens are required to. - How can NZ police claim to be well trained without achieving a Firearms Licence?

Marty K.

TASMANIAN TURNOVER Two Barrel Percussion PISTOL:

New Zealand was just ranked 4th Least Corrupt Country by Transparency International behind Denmark, Finland & Singapore ..

In contrast - UK is ranked 20th, - USA is ranked 30th.

This is Made in Birmingham, England - retailed in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land):

Antique, As Bought ..

 Did you know that back in 1856, Van Diemen's Land was renamed Tasmania - to distance the island from its history as a harsh British penal settlement? - I guess the locals back then had no idea that a few years later 'Transmaniacs' would be mincing about Sydney wearing pretty shoulder-bags, crutchless leather jockstraps & fishnet stockings ..

E.I. HAMPTON operated as a Gunmaker and Cutler in Elizabeth Street in Hobart Town's CBD during this early period.

'HOBART TOWN'

This 'Turnover' two barrel Percussion Pistol - while imported from the Birmingham Gun Trade in England - may have been engraved or enhanced in the Hobart Town premises, which was renowned for their quality engraved goods. - As obtained, my 'Twister' is fully functional - but the detent sprung indexing system is a bit uncertain .. observe the subsequent minor damage to the hammer nose .. (I will take a look at it, when I get a round Tuit)

This Slight Damage shows that this antique revolver was used

.. (does anyone else like PROMITE?)

"Twister" has a steel hinged-lid CAP BOX in the butt and two frozen turn-off barrels (no key). This blackpowder gun is a survivor of a tumultuous 175 year working life in the colonies .. both Australian and New Zealand gold rush periods. 1850-1900ish.

Just to clarify matters .. this 'Turnover pistol' may also be referred to as a 'Twister Pistol' because a rapid second shot is facilitated by hand revolving the lower barrel into the upper location for access by the hammer .. AND it's (screw barrel) turn-off barrels may be removed to enable breech-loading with ball & powder, - and can be called by some, TWIST-OFF BARRELS. This particular kind of two barrel pistol, having one only ignition system, has been considered by some experts to be an early type of REVOLVER. - Despite that .. this gun remains a Muff Pistol - named for it's ability to be hidden in a woman’s hand-warmer.

I've only just started playing with working on this fresh antique - but have noticed that the original nipples have machined 'friction grooves' that would have served to increase the stiction between the cones and the percussion caps when the barrels are revolved ..

So far I have been cleaning rust from the surfaces using fine 0000 steel wool and Oil of Wintergreen. The 'graved' decoration and lettering needed rust to be chased from the bottom of those cuts to 'sharpen and redefine the art. - During recent days I've developed my technique of BURNISHING dull rust pitted porous surfaces using a hard steel tool to smooth and shine without removing metal by cutting or scratching. - Burnishing is a non-abrasive process that uses friction and pressure.

"Rust scabs"—thick, flaky, or blistered rust—on antiques indicate advanced, active corrosion that, if left untreated, will continue to destroy the underlying metal. - Removing these, especially on delicate or collectible items, requires balancing the need to halt decay and improve the condition with the desire to preserve the historical patina.

- How the pistol arrived in the South Island of New Zealand might have been in the hands of a colonial gold miner ex Australia, trying his luck in the Otago cold river waters.

I need to make a 'key' to fit into the muzzles and get them unfrozen .. maybe a converted Allen key.

One hammer, two hand-rotated, 21/2 inch long .38 inch bore barrels. One trigger

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And now for something completely different ..

Video of Hand Grenades detonating at 5 Million Frames per Second slomo.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oBNLgvr8wVo

IN THE INTEREST OF PUBLIC SAFETY - WE MUST INSIST THAT ALL NZ POLICE EMPLOYEES QUALIFY FOR, & OBTAIN, AND MAINTAIN THE SAME STANDARD NZ FIREARMS LICENCE in exactly the same way that we citizens are required to. - How can NZ Police claim to be SAFE & well trained without achieving a Firearms Licence?

Under the New Zealand Firearms Act (specifically the Arms Regulations 1992 and updated 2025 amendments), a holder of a B Endorsement (pistol target shooting) must actively participate in scheduled pistol shooting activities at a certified club range at least 12 times each year. 

Marty K.

Old & New Pocket Pistols .. Flints to Cartridge:

I admit that I spend way too much time on-line researching "Gun Stuff" of any kind, - anything that is interesting, amusing or instructive. - Lately there has been a huge increase in Facebook images & videos that are total bullshit from the creative AI computor chips. However there are pics of perfect - unmarked & shiny original old guns that appear to be glossy 'as new' examples without history. - I fully understand that these tools may have been stored from new and dusted monthly by a servant in the palace gunroom of some minor royal for years - but REAL or ENHANCED? .. I'm finding them boring - Where are the wrinkles and scars from handling? - Where are the rust scabs, scratches, dents and wear, the borer exit holes, shrinkage, and rot?

Some handy images from my Natural Stupidity system 'NS' ..

One issue when discussing Pocket Pistols is that you can't see them when they are in a pocket ..

 But your hands also fit into your pockets so they make a useful visual scale ..

The biggest issue with concealed carry has to be that you don't want anything going-off while it is in your pocket .. Nothing else, like coins & keys in there eh.

The flintlock ignition system made covert carry possible  - but the percussion 'Caplock' system was a big step forward in the 1820's .. being more water & wind resistant with a faster lock time.

Percussion Pistols are tidier and more compact guns than flinters ..

A Small DERINGER.

Then self contained metallic cartridges became available starting from 1845ish ..

The Colt derringer .41" r/f

How about the NAA Sidewinder .22" 5 shot Revolver?

TWO CIA 9mm 'Deer Guns' from the VietNam era, 1962-64, in hand ..

The current Altor single shot 9mm pistol is similar in form ..

IN THE INTEREST OF PUBLIC SAFETY - WE MUST INSIST THAT ALL NZ POLICE EMPLOYEES QUALIFY FOR, & OBTAIN, AND MAINTAIN THE SAME STANDARD NZ FIREARMS LICENCE in exactly the same way that we citizens are required to. - How can police claim to be well trained without achieving a Firearms Licence?

Marty K.

Stay Safe and BE safe ..

M.

 

Air Guns are USEFUL TOOLS:

'kay then .. as part of a recent deal with a mate - I bought an older Gamo CFX 22 under-lever air rifle and a classic BSA Scorpion .177 air pistol.

Both non-firearms are well engineered and surprisingly weighty while employing plastics for the stocks .. I'd guess nylon.

- I'd reasonably expect both guns to be pushing-out around 500 + ft.per.sec velocities with lead pellets - but naturally the bigger heavier .22 projectile would be more impactful from the rifle. There are so many different pellets available as VARIABLES, that if you disagree, I have no hesitation in accepting that you are correct. The CFX22 reminds me of my Webley Mk3 that I owned as a teenager nearly 70 years ago.

There are rabbits around within walking distance and there certainly are plenty of cute California Quail who call 'where are you'  to each other in my location.

A decent airgun makes a most useful survival tool being fun, quiet and cheap to shoot.

I did some "ballistic testing" into plasticine a few months back - comparing a toy Wang Peng slingshot rifle to a .22 L.R

https://flicense.blogspot.com/2025/11/chinese-slingshot-rifle-300-fps-toy.html

Lead versus Steel 8mm Ball from Slingshot "rifle":

* If one was to compare the airguns' pellets with the heavier slingshot balls - I'd suggest both are capable tools..

- Well here's a go with these two airguns ..

.177" pistol  versus  .22" rifle

It's very obvious that the bigger, heavier rifle pellet penetrated further .. around twice as deep into the dense plasticine .. but I don't say this proves anything ..

Note: All this plasticine clay shooting is at close range and ambient temperature. Larger, heavier pills will retain more energy down range.

Both rabbits and small game birds are easy to dispatch - all you've got to do is HIT THEM.

Hunting is useful healthy exercise and good fun while the harvested wild meats are very tasty & nourishing - no question about that.

Back in the '80's I kept 'New Zealand White' rabbits for meat - and I assure you that my caged system produced lot's of delicious protein for a family of four, plus guests, who chose to believe they were eating chicken with flaky pastry rather than bright-eyes-bunnie.

IF you are carniverous .. don't lie to yourself eh .. Meat is dead animal.

Now I came across this NZ Medical Journal anti-gun Article .. where the writers are testing a Gamo nitro-piston air rifle on pig cadavors. Worth reading to learn exactly what inaccurate prejudice is ..

https://nzmj.org.nz/media/pages/journal/vol-137-no-1591/children-s-toys-no-longer-a-porcine-model-study-of-the-lethality-of-modern-air-rifles/dcf42157e3-1709520345/6378.pdf

These scientific authors are promoting their PC anti-gun sentiments via costly medical research. - They call the test air rifle a "spring loaded weapon" and a lethal "firearm" - but it is an IGT pneumatic nitro gas piston tool ..

IN THE INTEREST OF PUBLIC SAFETY - WE MUST INSIST THAT ALL NZ POLICE EMPLOYEES QUALIFY FOR, OBTAIN, AND MAINTAIN THE SAME STANDARD NZ FIREARMS LICENCE in exactly the same way that we citizens are required to. - How can police claim to be well trained without achieving a Firearms Licence?

Marty K.

A Stuffed Trigger:

Movie Cowboy Roy Rogers' very smart horse was called TRIGGER - and indeed he was stuffed and mounted when he died (The horse - not the yodeler). Sadly this palomino stallion NEVER served at stud ..

 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trigger_(horse)#:~:text=Trigger%2C%20originally%20named%20Golden%20Cloud,a%20grandson%20of%20Trigger%20Jr.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roy_Rogers

Roy Rogers (real name SLYE ), was "The King Of The Cowboys" and the original "White Hat" good guy while the 'Baddies' always had black Stetson hats in Hollywood movies.. He was an interesting joker and enduring performer in real life .. worth a read.

TRIGGERS:

This is the typical curved trigger in it's guard..

But around 44 years ago Glock Ges upset that image by putting a "safety" in theirs ..

BUT things were not always done that way ..

There used to be something called a SPUR TRIGGER on some single-action revolvers

Pocket Pistols are sometimes built with HIDDEN (drop down) TRIGGERS to smoothly reduce the gun's profiles .. They spring down when the hammer is cocked.

Never overestimate the IQ and knowledge of strangers, - as I once passed around that lovely two barreled gun at my Pistol Club AGM only to hear one new member comment "That's rubbish - it hasn't even got a trigger"

Among other mysteries in life are .. Why do I always say "Bloody Hell" every time I can't open the lid on a jar? - or, why do I always need to have a pee whenever there is something I must listen to on the news??

- There are similar FOLDING TRIGGERS that work as a sort of 'safety' because they have to be levered down into position for use ..

Everything on my Unwin & Rodgers Knife-Pistol has to be pulled into position for use - including the nicely weighted folding trigger ..

but at least my trigger won't corkscrew your hand like this French BERTHOD example might ..

Tranter patented his special "double trigger" system in 1856 - whereby his revolver was cocked by the bottom external trigger but fired by the smaller one inside the guard ..

I love the elegant and simple percussion trigger system on this  J Rock Cooper pistol with a RING TRIGGER ..

Some pistols claimed to be "hammerless" .. how about 'Triggerless'?
Such as a CHICAGO SQUEEZE COCKER PALM PISTOL?

https://flicense.blogspot.com/2018/06/squeezer-palm-pistols-antique-modern.html

or this wee beaudy?

The recent ALTOR low-cost single shot 9mm pistol uses a ramp that sweeps the trigger finger from the simple striker-trigger as it is pulled rearwards to fire ..

There are SET TRIGGERS and electronic triggers and allsorts out there - even some old s/a revolvers that are fired by fanning and have had their triggers extracted

Former Texas Ranger-turned-Deputy U.S. Marshal Bass Outlaw modified his Colt Single Action with a shortened barrel and had the trigger removed. The rear portion of the trigger guard was left intact to allow for a firm grip, since the gun could only be fired by thumb cocking or by “fanning” it. Unfortunately for Outlaw, this proved to be his undoing in a gunfight with El Paso Constable John Selman on April 5, 1894, when, in a drunken stupor and after killing a Texas Ranger, Outlaw rapidly fired this six-gun several times at Selman, but only succeeded in wounding the lawman in the leg. Selman got off an accurate shot that proved fatal to the gunman. (Spangenberger, “Hideout Hijinks,”

USE THE SIGHTS - USE THE TRIGGER ..

Going wayback into ancient times .. some early matchlock or tinderlock 'arquebuses' used a simple pivoting iron SERPENT to lower the smoldering igniter to the touch hole (vent) ..

Flash Eh

IN THE INTEREST OF PUBLIC SAFETY - WE MUST INSIST THAT ALL NZ POLICE EMPLOYEES QUALIFY FOR, & OBTAIN, AND MAINTAIN THE SAME STANDARD NZ FIREARMS LICENCE in exactly the same way that we citizens are required to.

How can police claim to be well trained without achieving a Firearms Licence?

Under the New Zealand Firearms Act (specifically the Arms Regulations 1992 and updated 2025 amendments), a holder of a B Endorsement (pistol target shooting) must actively participate in scheduled pistol shooting activities at a certified club range at least 12 times each year. 

Marty K.

Dodgey Old DOGE .. Liked his Gun Bibles.

 All of life can be found in the pages of books ..

A gun hidden within a bible, made for Francesco Morosini, Doge of Venice (1619-1694). The owner of the bible could shoot the gun by pulling the silk bookmark cord while the book was still closed. Now on display at the Museo Correr in Venice

If you feel that you are at risk - always seek the advantage ..

- Here comes another one .. Just like the other-one ..

There are videos that present such cleverness to Youtubers .. ..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aEKIh5_drqM

This linked video is how "John" made one for his bookshelf ..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aq5_s_ARmYw

BUT, But but .. There is even a business that sells custom prepared secret storage online ..

https://freehollowbooks.com/books/control.php

This one, -  for a Ruger LC9 can be YOURS for only $55.00

I started down this rabbit hole when I bought an old 19th century, leather bound antique book of plays intending to hack-out it's internals as a novelty boxed set - intended to be a little like this one .. which sold at auction a few years back for just 300. pounds

This one went for 500 euro ..

But maybe the concept is a little hackneyed .. .. worked-to-death already?

__________________

Smuggled pistol, Dublin, 1920-21

This book, a French Dictionary, was left at the Gresham Hotel wrapped in brown paper with the instruction "Miss K. Mullen c/o Mr. P. Kingsbury (To be held"). Inside the book is an automatic pistol concealed in a hollow cut out of the pages. The package was never collected from the Gresham, and came into the possession of an employee of the hotel whose son donated it to the National Museum.

Miss K. Mullen, very probably a false name, was likely to have been a member of Cumann na mBan smuggling weapons and ammunition for use during the War of Independence. Women undertook these dangerous jobs of moving weapons and communications around the city as they were less likely to be searched by the police. However, if ‘Miss Mullen’ had been caught with this package containing a hidden firearm, she would have been subjected to the same violence suffered by many Irish women during this time.

So - how about an interesting antique pistol housed inside a correct period antique book?

Maybe I will - Maybe I won't

FIREARMS LICENSES ARE ESSENTIAL FOR NZ POLICE TO ENSURE THAT THEY DONT ENDANGER THE PUBLIC.

Marty K.