World’s First Automatic Handgun

posted on November 25, 2015
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
legends-from-print.jpg
Michael Ives

As titled by imaginative artist John Belli, this steam-powered wonder challenges tactical limits with brass gauges for trigger pull, shots per second and even reloads. Could Sherlock Holmes have used such armament to fend off the evil Professor Moriarty? We may never know, but those with a keen eye can easily spot the reproduction Remington percussion revolver or the brass doorknob at the heart of this apparatus. Yes, it’s a piece in a museum. 

NRA’s National Firearms Museum is showcasing “Steampunk Guns,” a whimsical, goggles-clad look at fantasy and reality, embodied in firearm designs drawn from past and future. From 19th-century technology that might have been, our curators have opened the doors to an exhibit where it may be hard to tell what can actually shoot. Victorian science fiction themes and popular culture collide in the steampunk genre, and this temporary exhibition encompasses an exotic mix of dirigibles, corsets, rocket ships and ray guns. You’ll want to see this unique gallery soon, before it slips into an alternate reality. 

The NRA National Firearms Museum at NRA Headquarters in Fairfax, Va.; the NRA National Sporting Arms Museum at Bass Pro Shops in Springfield, Mo.; and the Frank Brownell Museum of the Southwest at the NRA Whittington Center in Raton, N.M.; each have fine selections of historic arms on display. Admission to each is free, and donations are gratefully accepted. For more information, visit nramuseums.com, phone (703) 267-1600 or email [email protected].

Latest

47998130182 A28d32f2e7 K
47998130182 A28d32f2e7 K

Gavin Newsom’s Latest Laughable Claim

The California governor’s comments stand in direct contrast to the policies he has pursued and the comments he has made over the years.

New NRA Partners For Hearing Health

Start Hearing and SoundGear, divisions of Starkey, have partnered with the NRA to promote hearing health among members.

Important Notice To Members: Exercise Your Rights, Assist In The Nomination Of Directors

The NRA Bylaws provide for the election of one-third of the members of the Board of Directors each year. This means that the terms of office of 25 Board members will expire at the 2026 Annual Meeting of Members next year.

NRA Media’s New Executive Director

NRA Media is proud to introduce Mike Sanford as executive director of NRA Media.

The Armed Citizen® July 11, 2025

True stories of the right to keep and bear arms

5 Reasons the Second Amendment Should Not Be Political

The right to keep and bear arms is enshrined in the U.S. Constitution. It is not a tool of one political party but rather is a right for all Americans, regardless of their background, income or voting history.



Get the best of America's 1st Freedom delivered to your inbox.