Investigator Weapons 3

My latest book Investigator Weapons 3 for use with Call of Cthulhu in the Gaslight Era is finally out!

This book covers firearms and some other weapons in the period roughly between 1870 and 1910, from derringers to machine guns. As usual you will find all the relevant Call of Cthulhu stats, but also detailed descriptions and illustrations throughout, plus hints about how to use them against Man or Mythos. There are sections on firearm law, inasfar as appropriate, on combat rules, and much, much more. Whether you investigate by Gaslight or Down Darker Trails, this book should provide you with lots of inspiration and support.

Lovecraft’s “The Electric Executioner”

Part of Lovecraft’s Investigators and Their Guns.

(set in 1889, written in 1893, revised in 1929, published in 1930)

Of course I had my revolver in my coat pocket, but any motion of mine to reach and draw it would be instantly obvious.

 

Written by Adolphe de Castro and completely revised by H.P. Lovecraft, this story is set in the Gaslight era, or more exactly in the Old West. That the unnamed investigator carried his revolver in a pocket does not necessarily indicate a small pocket revolver, as many people at the time carried even rather large weapons in pockets, although often fitted with short barrels. A Colt Single Action Army revolver in the so-called Sheriff’s configuration in .45 Long Colt (11.43×33mmR) (Investigator Weapons 1: The 1920s and 1930s, pp. 42-43) would be quite likely. A pocket weapon like the S&W Safety Hammerless revolver in .32 S&W (7.9×15mmR) or .38 S&W (9×20mmR) (Investigator Weapons 1, p. 57) would also be possible.

Lovecraft’s “The Last Test”

Part of Lovecraft’s Investigators and Their Guns.

(set in 1899, written in 1927, published in 1928)

“Shut up, you fool! Do you suppose your grotesque nonsense has any weight with me? Words and formulae – words and formulae – what do they all mean to one who has the substance behind them? We’re in a material sphere now, and subject to material laws. You have your fever; I have my revolver. You’ll get no specimens, and I’ll get no fever so long as I have you in front of me with this gun between!”

 

Written by Adolphe de Castro and H.P. Lovecraft, the Bad Guy in this Gaslight story is clinic-man Surama, a man of dubious extraction and allegiance.

Surama used a revolver of unspecified make and model. We can assume that he acquired it in America rather than brought it from North Africa. A suitable choice would be a Colt New Army & Navy revolver in .38 Long Colt (9×26mmR) or a S&W Safety Hammerless revolver (Investigator Weapons 1: The 1920s and 1930s, p. 57) in .32 S&W (7.9×15mmR) or .38 S&W (9×20mmR).

Lovecraft’s “Herbert West ‒ Reanimator”

Part of Lovecraft’s Investigators and Their Guns.

(set partly in 1905, written in 1922, published in 1922)

[Herbert West] was clad in dressing-gown and slippers, and had in his hands a revolver and an electric flashlight. From the revolver I knew that he was thinking more of the crazed Italian than of the police. The rattling continued, growing somewhat louder. When we reached the door I cautiously unbolted it and threw it open, and as the moon streamed revealingly down on the form silhouetted there, West did a peculiar thing. Despite the obvious danger of attracting notice and bringing down on our heads the dreaded police investigation – a thing which after all was mercifully averted by the relative isolation of our cottage – my friend suddenly, excitedly, and unnecessarily emptied all six chambers of his revolver into the nocturnal visitor.

 

The handgun used by physician Dr Herbert West in 1905 was a revolver with six chambers. In addition, West fired all shots in rapid succession, which almost certainly means it was a double-action design. A number of suitable patterns were available at the time, but the larger military weapons are less likely. This suggests something like a Colt Double Action Constabulary Revolver in .32 Long Colt (7.9×23mmR), .38 Long Colt (9.2×26mmR), or .41 Long Colt (9.8×29mmR); a Colt New Police in .32 S&W Long (7.9×23mmR); a S&W Hand Ejector in .32 S&W Long; or a S&W Military & Police in .38 Special (9×29mmR) (Investigator Weapons 1: The 1920s and 1930s, pp. 56-57).