The Mars Pistol

conehammer · 01-16-2011, 06:36 PM

Have there been any good publications written about Hugh Gabbet-Fairfax and the development of the Mars Pistol? Such a fascinating pistol for, especially for its day. I find the comments about the Mars Pistol, as per the Wiki site: ""No one who fired once with the pistol wished to shoot it again". Shooting the Mars pistol was described as "singularly unpleasant and alarming"."

That alone warrants further investigation!

I know Mars Pistols are among the most rare of any pistol, specifically the early automatics, so most of us will never get to see one up close so reading is the next best thing.

Jerry

Curly1 · 01-17-2011, 10:52 AM

There is a 4 page section with 2 pics and some diagrams devoted to it in Ed Ezell's Handguns of the world.

Here is one for your viewing pleasure http://www.horstheld.com/0-Mars.htm

conehammer · 01-17-2011, 08:01 PM

Yep, I've seen Mr Held's site. He has some nice specimens in his collection. I once acquired a C96 from him. Jerry

sheepherder · 01-17-2011, 08:15 PM

There's about 3/4 page in Hogg's Pistols Of The World, plus a couple B&W pics...

sheepherder · 04-16-2011, 09:17 AM

Forgotten Weapons has a PDF manual and a couple paragraphs + pics of a Mars pistol...Interesting/amusing comment - "...the extreme cycling of the weapon (the bolt would pass halfway over the firer’s forearm), and the overly complicated design doomed it to be rejected."

Yes, that would convince me...

http://www.forgottenweapons.com/mars-pistol

Wilhelm · 04-16-2011, 11:09 AM

I remember reading about these in a book when I was a kid. Even then I thought "WoW!"

Vlim · 04-16-2011, 11:18 AM

It's a sort of hand held field artillery gun. I'm sure that whoever was put forward for testing it would not have done it at a voluntary basis

sheepherder · 04-16-2011, 12:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vlim

i'm sure that whoever was put forward for testing it would not have done it at a voluntary basis

... :d ...

01-16-2011, 06:36 PM	#1
conehammer User Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 116 Thanks: 1 Thanked 55 Times in 21 Posts	The Mars Pistol Have there been any good publications written about Hugh Gabbet-Fairfax and the development of the Mars Pistol? Such a fascinating pistol for, especially for its day. I find the comments about the Mars Pistol, as per the Wiki site: ""No one who fired once with the pistol wished to shoot it again". Shooting the Mars pistol was described as "singularly unpleasant and alarming"." That alone warrants further investigation! I know Mars Pistols are among the most rare of any pistol, specifically the early automatics, so most of us will never get to see one up close so reading is the next best thing. Jerry

01-17-2011, 10:52 AM	#2
Curly1 User Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Upstate New York Posts: 1,247 Thanks: 125 Thanked 717 Times in 374 Posts	There is a 4 page section with 2 pics and some diagrams devoted to it in Ed Ezell's Handguns of the world. Here is one for your viewing pleasure http://www.horstheld.com/0-Mars.htm __________________ Laugh hard and often. Gary

01-17-2011, 08:15 PM	#4
sheepherder Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: ...on the 'ol Erie Canal... Posts: 8,197 Thanks: 1,416 Thanked 4,462 Times in 2,336 Posts	There's about 3/4 page in Hogg's Pistols Of The World, plus a couple B&W pics... __________________ I like my coffee the way I like my women... ...Cold and bitter...

04-16-2011, 09:17 AM	#5
sheepherder Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: ...on the 'ol Erie Canal... Posts: 8,197 Thanks: 1,416 Thanked 4,462 Times in 2,336 Posts	Forgotten Weapons has a PDF manual and a couple paragraphs + pics of a Mars pistol...Interesting/amusing comment - "...the extreme cycling of the weapon (the bolt would pass halfway over the firer’s forearm), and the overly complicated design doomed it to be rejected." Yes, that would convince me... http://www.forgottenweapons.com/mars-pistol __________________ I like my coffee the way I like my women... ...Cold and bitter...

04-16-2011, 11:09 AM	#6
Wilhelm User Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Maryland Posts: 365 Thanks: 48 Thanked 136 Times in 60 Posts	I remember reading about these in a book when I was a kid. Even then I thought "WoW!" __________________ translatedfrenchmanuals@yahoo.com I promise to be nice and play well with others

01-17-2011, 08:01 PM	#3
conehammer User Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 116 Thanks: 1 Thanked 55 Times in 21 Posts	Yep, I've seen Mr Held's site. He has some nice specimens in his collection. I once acquired a C96 from him. Jerry

04-16-2011, 11:18 AM	#7
Vlim Moderator Lifetime LugerForum Patron Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Europe Posts: 5,053 Thanks: 1,036 Thanked 3,990 Times in 1,205 Posts	It's a sort of hand held field artillery gun. I'm sure that whoever was put forward for testing it would not have done it at a voluntary basis