Apache knuckleduster pistol 1860s France

Jim McDougall · 7th February 2021, 10:18 PM

In the late 1950s I recall becoming aware of a bizarre French dance in a movie where the 'tough guy' would pretty much toss the girl partner around like a rag doll, sort of a full contact tango/fight. My dad called it 'apajjjjjj'. I did not see the connection until many years later when I was given a book titled "Firearms Curiosa" by Louis Winant. In this were strange combination weapons, one of which was a combination brass knuckles, pistol and bayonet, and called an 'Apache' pistol.

Apparently these 'Apaches' were a kind of street subculture in the big cities in France, most notably Paris and Marseilles. These were sort of the French version of 'gangs of New York', and were basically thugs and pimps around the turn of the century. They spoke a slang of their own called 'jare', and the strange, rough dance was called 'the savate'.

In the earlier beginnings of this 'subculture', in Liege a gunsmith named Louis Dolne, in 1860, designed these bizarre 'knuckleduster' weapons.
The pistol was really just the cylinder of a 7mm Lefaucheaux pinfire revolver, with a dagger/bayonet of 1.5 to 2.5 " (often wavy) and brass knuckles as the handle/grip.

French youths had become enamoured with the American wild west from the Buffalo Bill Cody performances that traveled in Europe, and were attracted to the rugged characters, both cowboys and Indians. These evolving gangs in the cities were described by one journalist Victor Moris , as 'apaches' with allusion to the savagery image portrayed in those times.

While these pistols appear to have had only around 7000 made through the 1860s, there were versions by DELHAXHE being made around 1880s.

These are most unusual oddities, but one wonders just how effective these could have been as a weapon. The cartridge was only of any use at point blank range without barrel, and pity the fool who did not keep it carried n an empty chamber. The 'bayonet' of such short length was of little use, so the only real viable weapon was the brass knuckles.

These seem quite rare, and an unusual topic, but thought maybe out there you guys might have seen these, or even have examples.

7th February 2021, 10:18 PM	#1
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 9,943	Apache knuckleduster pistol 1860s France In the late 1950s I recall becoming aware of a bizarre French dance in a movie where the 'tough guy' would pretty much toss the girl partner around like a rag doll, sort of a full contact tango/fight. My dad called it 'apajjjjjj'. I did not see the connection until many years later when I was given a book titled "Firearms Curiosa" by Louis Winant. In this were strange combination weapons, one of which was a combination brass knuckles, pistol and bayonet, and called an 'Apache' pistol. Apparently these 'Apaches' were a kind of street subculture in the big cities in France, most notably Paris and Marseilles. These were sort of the French version of 'gangs of New York', and were basically thugs and pimps around the turn of the century. They spoke a slang of their own called 'jare', and the strange, rough dance was called 'the savate'. In the earlier beginnings of this 'subculture', in Liege a gunsmith named Louis Dolne, in 1860, designed these bizarre 'knuckleduster' weapons. The pistol was really just the cylinder of a 7mm Lefaucheaux pinfire revolver, with a dagger/bayonet of 1.5 to 2.5 " (often wavy) and brass knuckles as the handle/grip. French youths had become enamoured with the American wild west from the Buffalo Bill Cody performances that traveled in Europe, and were attracted to the rugged characters, both cowboys and Indians. These evolving gangs in the cities were described by one journalist Victor Moris , as 'apaches' with allusion to the savagery image portrayed in those times. While these pistols appear to have had only around 7000 made through the 1860s, there were versions by DELHAXHE being made around 1880s. These are most unusual oddities, but one wonders just how effective these could have been as a weapon. The cartridge was only of any use at point blank range without barrel, and pity the fool who did not keep it carried n an empty chamber. The 'bayonet' of such short length was of little use, so the only real viable weapon was the brass knuckles. These seem quite rare, and an unusual topic, but thought maybe out there you guys might have seen these, or even have examples. Attached Images