The most unusual firearms. The strangest deadly weapon in the history of mankind The most unusual small arms

Edged weapons have always accompanied great warriors in their battles. Each country has its own national weapon with centuries-old history. Cold steel and a sharp blade can both cause fear and become a faithful defender on the battlefield. As long as history has existed, weapons have existed for as long.

Urumi

Let's start with the unusual edged weapons of India, and first of all, this is the urumi. The exact date of appearance of this sword is unknown, but presumably it began to be used during the 9th century. BC e. This is a long, double-edged sword made from flexible steel. The length was 6 meters.

In the past, it was used by assassins who carried the weapon concealed on a belt wrapped around their torso. Thanks to the combination of the effect of a sword and a whip, they could deliver slashing and lashing blows. It has earned the reputation of being the most dangerous weapon in India.

Pata

Pata also comes from India. Initially, this bladed weapon was used by the ancient warrior caste - the Marathas. This sword was attached to a plate gauntlet, the design of which made it possible to protect the warrior’s arm up to the elbow. The warrior's wrist remained motionless, and all actions with this weapon had to be performed from the elbow.

From the memoirs of one British officer it is known that the technique of working with pata involves rotational strikes with constant movements, and only a few could skillfully wield this weapon. Most often it was used by horsemen. The length of this weapon ranges from 60 to 100 cm, weight - 1.5-2 kg.

Skissor

Scissor is an exotic, little-studied edged weapon of the Roman gladiators of the same name, which protected the warrior’s arm up to the elbow, just like the stata. In addition, it was quite effective in battle, because it simultaneously dealt serious blows to the enemy and blocked counter-attacks.

The length of the scissor reached 1.5 meters, the weight did not exceed 3 kilograms.

Lantern shield

This peculiar edged weapon dates back to the era early Middle Ages. The shield had a round shape, was made of wood and upholstered in leather. A glove with blades was attached to a small round shield, and in the center there were long spikes and a lantern.

It is known that not a single shield was released by the master until it had passed the bulletproof test. To do this, a test shot was fired at him from an arquebus as an experiment. It was used in fights and as a means of protection against criminals on dark streets.

Khopesh

Khopesh is one of the types of edged Egyptian weapons, which was originally made of bronze, later - of iron. It had a sickle-shaped structure and a wooden or metal handle.

Due to the specific shape of the blade, they could disarm the enemy, stab or chop. Only the outer edge of the blade had sharpening. Khopesh is a symbol of the New Kingdom, many pharaohs were depicted with it in their tombs, including Tutankhamun.

Macuahutl

Macuahutl is an ancient Aztec melee weapon, the exact origin of which is still unknown. Its shape resembles a club with spikes; its length did not exceed one meter.

The base of the macuahutla was made of wood, and sharp pieces of volcanic glass were attached along it. The wounds inflicted by these weapons were terrible: it was possible to decapitate the enemy and deprive him of his limbs with one blow.

Kpinga

Throwing edged weapon of the peoples of Africa with several blades. It was used in war and hunting. Symbolized power, human status and goodness financial position. Several blades increased the area of ​​damage inflicted on opponents. The weapon was thrown horizontally and could kill several opponents at a time.

The length of the kpinga was about half a meter. There were many variations of weapons, and the shapes could vary.

Tekko-kagi

These are the edged weapons of secret ninjas, thanks to which warriors easily ran up steep walls with the help of claws like a wolverine, or knocked out blades from the enemy. Its sharp claws protruded from 10 to 30 cm.

Melee weapons caused unhealed wounds and left scars on the body.

Shuko

Shuko is a bladed weapon of ancient Japanese ninjas. It looks like a ring with spikes. They wore it one or two at a time, with the spikes inward or outward.

Intended to deliver shocking blows and subjugate opponents. Such a weapon could easily kill, especially if smeared with poison. Shuko was often used by female ninjas.

Odachi

Odachi is long japanese sword. The length of the blade was 1 meter 80 centimeters. These blades are very rare, as they went out of use back in 1615.

At that time, it was officially forbidden to carry swords of a certain length in Japan. Odachi could be used as an offering to a temple or for ceremonial purposes.

Below is a video that talks about the most unusual species edged weapons:

People - strange creatures: we know how, with equal strength, to love and wish death for those just like us. We create something that makes you shiver just by looking at it. But sometimes something goes wrong, and the gun is a gun! - can make you laugh, but not drive you into a cold sweat. Are you ready to add information about a moped rifle, acoustic cats and a harmonica pistol to your treasury of unnecessary knowledge?

Let's start with the last lethal means: here it is, below. So called because of the horizontal magazine. This “elegant” little thing was invented by someone J. Jarre. This happened between 1859 and 1862.

Operation Acoustic Cat, a CIA project worth as much as 20 million dollars! It started in 1960 and ended ingloriously in 1967. Here is a quote from one media outlet from the 60s (probably something like our lobotomized MK, which discovered Lem’s Solaris on Enceladus today): “In just an hour veterinarian turned the fluffy cat into an elite spy by implanting a microphone in her ear canal and a small radio transmitter at the base of her skull, and sewing a thin wire antenna into her gray-white fur. The goal is to turn the cat into a living observation machine. The first task of the feline spy was this: to record a conversation between two men sitting on a park bench where the cat was taken by CIA officers. Instead, the fluffy one was just wandering around the park, and then suddenly rushed into a busy street and was crushed by a taxi."

Heavy guns “Gustav” and “Dora”, the largest in caliber (800 mm!) and with the heaviest shells (7 tons!). Designed and built by the notorious Krupp company in the late 1930s to destroy the main forts on the Maginot Line.

What do you think of this flashlight-gun, made for secret North Korean agents?

Every hole you see in the photo is actually... a barrel. And the flashlight fires at the press of a button.

Dogs trained to carry explosives under tanks or military installations were used in Soviet and Russian army from 1930 to 1996, in the US Army in 1943 and with the Iraqi insurgents in the 2000s. I certainly feel sorry for the dogs (and also the dolphins). There is no army.

This is what Chris Bishop writes in his “The Encyclopedia of Weapons of World War II”: “A serious error in dog training was already revealed in combat conditions. The dogs were trained using Soviet diesel tanks, and German tanks ran on gasoline. The result was sad: the dogs ran towards the familiar-smelling Soviet cars.”

And here is another example of a mini-weapon: a Dyson LePetit six-shot ring protector (22 gauge).

“Tsar Tank” (also known as “Bat”, “Bat”, Lebedenko’s tank, Lebedenko’s car; sometimes the “Mammoth” or “Mastodon” variant is also found).

The biggest and perhaps the strangest armored vehicle ever built! Appeared in 1914 in Russia. Born by a Twilight genius named Nikolai Lebedenko. The tank had the good old tricycle shape. Two large wheels 8.2 m high, and there were also two engines, namely aviation carburetor high-speed Maybachs with 240 hp. With. The large wheels were too heavy, so the tank often got stuck. After several tests, the car remained somewhere in a field and stood there for eight years (!) - until it was dismantled. The photo shows a recently recreated layout.

Vespa 150 TAP is an American-made moped with a 75 mm M20 rifle without recoil. True, mopeds were assembled in France because they were intended for French paratroopers. After the presentation of this hybrid in 1956, nothing was heard about it.

Bomb with... bats inside. This outlandish weapon was created during World War II through the efforts of the US Air Force. Inside were a dozen small incendiary bombs, attached to the tails of Brazilian folded bats (a species of bat).

Bats hibernated in canisters and woke up in a falling bomb. At a height of 330 meters the bomb opened.

"Bulgarian Umbrella", developed by the Bulgarian Secret Service and the Soviet KGB. It was used to assassinate Bulgarian dissident writer Georgi Markov in 1978 on Waterloo Bridge in London (UK).

The umbrella had a tiny built-in gun that fired a metal capsule containing ricin. Markov, who felt a bee sting, died three days after the shot.

Project Babylon was a secret Iraqi weapon developed between 1988 and 1990.

Among other good deeds, Saddam Hussein wanted to build the world's largest weapon. “Big Babylon” was supposed to have a barrel 156 meters long, and its projectiles were required to reach all the way to orbit. In a strange irony, the parts for this thing were made in Europe. In the photo you see only two sections connected together. They are exhibited at the Portsmouth Museum (UK).

"Who? I?". Chemical weapon with such an extraordinary name was created by the Americans for the French resistance during World War II. The idea was as follows: a fighter would quietly sneak up on the fascist occupier and spray the contents of the can around him. Do you think that after a while the German fell and died in convulsions? Not at all. The can only sprayed the smell of feces. Oh, those heartless French! They always hit where it hurts the most!

“Kiss of Death” is a 4.5 mm lipstick pistol created by the KGB of the USSR during a “very cold time.”

Throughout history, firearms have undergone a wide variety of modifications. Sometimes the result of engineering research was very unusual specimens. We have collected the 10 most unique models firearms of the past.

Shooting organ

The birth of artillery is associated with the appearance in the 14th century of weapons that allowed continuous fire. It was a multi-barreled gun, called the “Organ” due to its similarity with the one of the same name. musical instrument– the trunks were arranged in a row, like organ pipes. Such installations had a much smaller caliber. They shot from all barrels simultaneously or in turn. The largest gun of this class was the organ with 144 barrels. They were located on three sides of the horse-drawn carriage. Such weapons were used both against infantry and armored cavalry. The main disadvantages of weapons were their heavy weight and long charging time.

Periscope rifle

In 1915, British Army Corporal W.C. Beech invented a periscope rifle. It was assumed that a soldier firing such weapons from a bunker or trench would not be in danger. All Beach did was attach a board with two mirrors to the rifle, positioning them like a periscope. After the appearance of the “made on the knee” rifle, many countries began to develop their own prototypes. One of the most advanced examples was the Guiberson rifle. The periscope sight was removable, and when there was no need to shoot from cover, it could be easily removed and folded into the butt. The main disadvantage of this weapon was its bulkiness. And besides, the development appeared at the very end of the First World War, so it remained unclaimed.

Pistol press

The press pistol could be concealed in the palm of your hand, was shaped differently from a traditional pistol, and still held more ammunition. Several models of pistol presses are known. For example, the Mitrailleuse pistol was shaped like a cigar, and to fire it you had to press the back cover. The Tribuzio pistol had a ring that had to be pulled out to fire the shot.

Disposable pistols

The Liberator pistol was designed for use by the Resistance during World War II. The design was simplified to the extreme to keep the pistols small and easy to conceal. If necessary, the pistol could be turned into a pile of useless pieces of iron in a matter of seconds. There was no groove in the barrel, and therefore sighting range was about 7.5 meters. In the USA, such pistols were sold for $1.72.

Another pistol of this class, the Deer Gun, was developed by the CIA in 1963. The pistol was made of aluminum casting, and only the barrel was steel. To load this weapon, you had to unscrew the barrel and load ammunition inside. This pistol costs $3.50.

Pistol-knife

Victorian era became the era of flourishing of various inventions. The British company Unwin & Rodgers, which produced pocket knives, proposed an unusual device for protecting a home from burglars - a knife with a built-in pistol. The trigger of the pistol was screwed into the door frame, and the shot was fired automatically when the door was opened. The knife pistols used 0.22 caliber bullets.

King Henry VIII's shooting cane

King Henry VIII was famous for his many failed marriages and a weakness for exotic weapons. In his collection there was a cane with a morning star on the handle, in which three pistols with a wick fuse were hidden. Today the shooting cane Henry VIII can be seen in the museum in the Tower of London.

Gun on glove

During World War II, a naval construction battalion was tasked with building airfields on the islands Pacific Ocean. The work was carried out in the jungle, and enemies could be hiding there. It was then that US Navy Captain Stanley Haight invented the Hand Firing Mechanism MK 2 pistol, which was attached to a glove and loaded with just one .38-caliber bullet.

Overhead firearms

Before the invention of weapons with clips, inventors worked for a long time to ensure that the weapon could fire several times in a row. One of the most dangerous decisions was overhead loading of rifles. Such weapons did not become widespread because random error or a contaminated barrel caused the weapon to explode in the hands.

Dirk pistol

The Elgin was the first percussion pistol and the first pistol/dirk hybrid to enter service. American army. Essentially it was bowie knife with single shot capability. 150 units of such weapons were issued by the US Navy for participants in the expedition to Antarctica. True, dirk pistols did not become popular among sailors because of their bulkiness.

Pistol-brass knuckles

Brass knuckle pistols emerged in the late 1800s as weapons that could be used for both long and close combat. Such weapons were produced as a means of self-defense for ordinary citizens, but they gained particular popularity among street bandits. The most famous models The brass knuckle pistols were the French Apache and Le Centenaire, as well as the American “My Friend”.

At the end of the last century, weapons began to appear that could stop a person, saving his life. In one of the previous reviews, we talked about it, which can be used both in the fight against terrorists and as a means of self-defense.

Men's fun!

Good whiskey, a Cuban cigar and a sports car in the garage are not paramount, but very important things in the life of any man. In some countries, the list is also supplemented by exclusive unusual weapon. And the more unusual, the better. Quite recently, the first “smart” pistol appeared on the market, firing only in the hands of the owner. This got us thinking about other types of strange, almost collectible weapons.

Smart pistol

Armatix iP1

Firearm safety is an important matter, especially for a country where weapons are freely sold. New pistol Armatix iP1 is designed to solve exactly this problem: the weapon fires only when it is next to a special watch (which, by the way, is sold separately).

The company that makes the smart gun uses a special RFID chip inside the watch. The Armatix iP1 is a small 0.22 caliber weapon that can only be purchased in California for now.

Three-barreled shotgun

Triple Threat

The Italian manufactory Chiappa has long been firmly established in the arms market: in certain circles the name sounds as common as Beretta. New development Italian gunsmiths - a three-barreled shotgun, has truly lethal power.

Triple Threat surprises with its rate of fire: all three shots can be fired almost simultaneously. It is unclear what exactly the engineers from Chiappa were preparing their brainchild for, however, the shotgun, among other things, has a pistol butt.

Twin Colt

AF2011-A1

The world's first automatic pistol with two barrels recently went on sale. In the AF2011-A1 (this uber-gun received such a pleasant name), you can hardly recognize the legendary Colt 1911, on the basis of which the model is built.

The AF2011-A1 is equipped with two magazines, each containing 16 0.45 caliber bullets. The creators claim that each of these metal pranksters is capable of knocking down a bull - don’t believe me, try it yourself.

Slingshot bow

Falcon Slingbow

This weapon looks like a real embodiment of any boy's childhood dream. Maybe the creator of the Falcon Slingbow was actually inspired by this: the formidable weapon looks like a mutated slingshot that shoots arrows.

Despite all the childish allusions, the weapon turned out to be very formidable. By default, the Falcon Slingbow comes with an elastic band with an 18-kilogram tension force - this accelerating torque is enough for successful hunting and shooting at a target.

Pocket Shotgun

Heizer Defense PS1

The creators of the shotgun simplified the mechanism to the limit - so that any civilian could easily operate it. In fact, the Heizer Defense PS1 was created with these customers in mind: an effective, lethal melee weapon. Externally, the gun looks like an ordinary pistol, and of a small caliber.

There are also a couple of drawbacks: the need to reload after each shot and only two cartridges in the clip.

Here are ten of the strangest weapons created by human hands. Sometimes a device is so unusual that it is difficult to imagine how to use it.

The organ was born due to attempts to obtain a weapon that could fire continuously at the enemy. It was used in the 14th and 15th centuries. The organ received its name due to its resemblance to the instrument of the same name. He was big smaller gun, but was larger than conventional guns, which made it indispensable in artillery attacks. It was intended for heavy fire; the largest examples of the organ were transported on horse-drawn carts. A total of 144 guns were used during the battle, and their heaviness often affected the maneuverability of the battery. Reloading the weapon also took a lot of time.

Pistols with funny name appeared in the 19th century. They were distinguished from their brothers by the presence of several trunks facing in one direction. The four trunks were fixed in such a way that they resembled a duck's foot, which influenced the name. The unique design of the pistol helped the shooter hit several targets at once. This property has made the duck-billed pistol indispensable among people who often encounter criminal gangs, for example, among prison guards or couriers. But this pistol also had its drawbacks: it was heavy and had high recoil, which affected the effectiveness of aimed fire.

The weapon, which became the prototype of the grenade launcher familiar to us, was used in the 16th-18th centuries. Unfortunately, it cannot be called reliable, since the use was dangerous even for the shooter. Either the grenade got stuck in the barrel and exploded, or the fuses burned out ahead of time, which also led to sad consequences.

Six barrels, a couple of which had locks - wheel and matchlock; the remaining parts had to be set on fire using handy means.

Henry VIII, like many men, had a love for the fair sex and outlandish weapons in his genes. My favorite was the traveling staff. It was a cane with a knob in the shape of a morning star, which served as a kind of hiding place for three firearms.

An unusual symbiosis of forks, spoons and knives with weapons for protection.

Despite its apparent purpose, this weapon was not created at all to shoot from around corners. The creators wanted to reduce the size and vulnerability of the part of the machine gun installation visible to the enemy.

With the help of this weapon it was possible to shoot at the enemy without any fear for one’s life.

The most big gun ever created. It was first used in 1918, when german army decided to strike fear into the population of Paris. The Parisian cannon's barrel is about 28 meters long and has a firing range of almost 75 miles. Despite the fact that the destruction caused by the use of this impressive weapon is not so great, the appearance The Parisian cannon could scare anyone.

3D printed weapon – Liberator

The world saw weapons made from a 3D printer for the first time in 2013. It was a Liberator pistol worth about ten dollars. For this ridiculous amount, the buyer could purchase a weapon that was capable of only one shot. On this moment Liberator's schemes are no longer available, its printing and distribution are illegal. But, despite the ban, files with modified Liberators can be found on the World Wide Web.