If you wish to speak about odd and attention-grabbing, it’s exhausting to beat the Taylor & Co. Howdah pistol. Howdah pistols have been British weapons delivered to Africa and India within the nineteenth century. These have been large-bore, multiple-barreled pistols designed to kill attacking tigers and comparable giant sport at shut vary.
If one thing charged you from the comb, you stage your Howdah and attempt to lay it out. I don’t have any tigers to take care of, however the Howdah appeals to me. The Howdah chambers .410 and .45 Colt, and jogs my memory of an Ithaca Auto and Burglar
A Fashionable Tackle the Auto & Burglar
The Taylor & Co. Howdah is actually a high-quality copy of the Ithaca Auto & Burglar mannequin from the Twenties. As a result of the ten.25-inch barrels are rifled and the gun chambers .45 Colt, this escapes NFA classification. With out the rifling, it might be an AOW, however because it’s rifled, the gun is a regular pistol. It’s a side-by-side break-action that handles like a sawed-off shotgun and might hearth as much as 3-inch .410 shells.
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At SHOT Present 2026, Taylor & Co. showcased three primary variants of this beast:
The Alaskan: A rugged, matte chrome model with a rubberized walnut inventory designed to be pretty sensible.
The Classic: A traditional case-hardened metal body with browned octagonal barrels and exterior hammers for that traditional appear and feel.
The Deluxe: A refined model that includes stunning engravings on a coin-finished receiver and polished walnut wooden.
Double the Bother
The Howdah options double triggers, which is a complete vibe. Two triggers imply you’ll be able to hearth each at one time and throw two rounds directly. In the event you select to do this, you’d greatest maintain onto the gun. The entrance set off fires the appropriate barrel, and the rear set off fires the left.
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The sighting system is surprisingly respectable for a gun of this sort. You get a brass bead entrance sight and a folding V-notch rear sight. Whereas it’s not meant for precision long-range work, it’s greater than sufficient for having some enjoyable on the vary. Let’s be clear, that is the place this factor goes for use. It’s a variety toy.
The Hefty Howdah
At roughly 4.2 kilos, the Howdah has sufficient heft to tame the recoil of even the most popular .45 Colt hundreds or 3-inch .410 defensive shells. The walnut grip is formed like an previous wooden noticed deal with with a big spur on the high, which helps fill the hand and offers a secure platform for firing the highly effective rounds it chambers.
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The motion on these weapons was stiff on the present, however will in all probability loosen up over time. The triggers have been fairly crisp, and the odd-looking grip isn’t as awkward because it appears to be like. I’m positive they’d be a complete blast to shoot.
A Legacy Piece
The Taylor & Co. Howdah isn’t a high-capacity wonder-nine, and it’s not making an attempt to be. It’s a heavy-duty, two-shot enjoyable gun that bridges the hole between a historic collectible and a legit murals. With costs starting from $1,700 to $2,100, relying on the trim, it’s an funding. That’s robust for me to come back off for a enjoyable gun, however rattling is it tempting.
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