back to the Space 1889 Index

     In their quest for dominance over "them what wears not the trousers", explorers may wish to read this advice on choosing weapons with which to impress and destroy the locals. Updated to 1898.

Pistols

     The Webley Mark 3 has much to recommend it: good damage, and rapid fire. The Smith and Wesson 'Russian' revolver is slightly more powerful, but is alas not 'double action' and so cannot be fired rapidly without careful training. Both can be reloaded quickly. The possession of a Remington 'Double Derringer' hidden about ones person might also be recommended, particularly to the fair sex.

     Some British officers and journalists recommend the new Mauser self-loading C/96 pistol; it is capable of quite good accuracy, especially if fitted with a shoulder-stock.

     The use of howdah pistols is most often sadly necessary when other firearms have failed, by want of accuracy skill cartridges or power, to bring down some onrushing beast intent on viewing and possibly digesting an adventurer's most private and vital organs. Except for the Lancaster howdah in .577 Boxer calibre, only the strongest men can effectively wield these weapons.

Rifles

     Persons of even slight stature might find the Winchester Model 1876 in 45-75 Winchester calibre a useful tool against any but the largest opponents; its magazine holds 8 cartridges. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police certainly find them useful in 'getting their man'!

     Among the bolt-action rifles, the Remington-Lee Sporter might be considered for being both hard-hitting and easily-reloaded: the manufacturer offers additional five round detachable magazines at a cost of a few shillings each; these might be carried about in a pouch by the gunner, to be quickly exchanged with the empty magazine in the weapon. The adventurer choosing the Mauser Gewehr 1888, also known as the 'Kommission-Gewehr', cannot fail to be pleased by its accuracy, power, and speed of reloading (using en bloc clips, which are simply pushed into the action along with the five rounds which they contain).

     For heavy game, the heaviest double or cape gun that can be managed by the traveller is recommended.

Shotguns

     The new Winchester Model 1897 shotgun combines capacity (5 shells) with speed of shooting.

See also our page on ammunition.