Unusual Pocket Watch Fobs: Fully Functional Pinfire Pistols

These tiny pinfire pistols were once worn as fobs on pocketwatch chains, the part that hung from the chain coming out of the pocket in which the watch was carried. The fob made it easier to pull the watch out of the small pockets in which the watches were carried that were small and tight for security. These particular functioning pistol fobs were made by Austrian watchmakers as novelties and fire 2mm blank cartridges from the function revolving cylinder.

And even though they’re blanks, it still really sets my teeth on edge when they are pointed at the camera. Some habits die hard I guess.