Gun hybrids

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According to the book "Weaponry An Illustrated History" by Chuck Wills, in the late 16^th century until the advances in the repeating firearms in the mid 19^th century, blades or clubs were often fitted onto guns, because only one shot could be fired from the gun, so, without a melee weapon attachment, they became useless at close range. Some of the first included the German Ax-Pistol, made in the central European region of Silesia, this weapon combined a flintlock pistol with a battle ax. Later, a Pistol-Sword combination formed in the mid 18^th century, was apparently used mainly by marines and naval officers in boarding engagements at sea. Also, Dumonthier & Sons produced several knife pistol combinations. Pocket knives with zip guns inside were built by Unwin & Rodgers, and an Indian gun smith fitted a percussion cap gun to a mace in the 19^th century. Even some shields were fitted with barrels, sometimes designed to look like a spike, and other times placed in cleverly concealed holes.

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