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has anyone seen a clown gun?

bobski
i was given a very rare piece many years ago by a fellow soldier long gone now....he had what was called a barnum bailey clown gun. circa 1899. made in ohio. has anyone ever heard of, or ever seen one? he said its used to spank clowns during the act. its padded on one side and has a spring hung jaw that slaps forward when the pad stops traveling, causing the striker to hit the primer and ....BOOM! q: what size or type cartridge would have been used in it? it appears to be a rim fire approx 32 cal by the shape of the firing pin and chamber, thats hinged on the back spring loaded keeper. the charge is disapated thru a defuser on the back side much like a bell housing. must have scared the daylights out of families in its day! let me know your insight! otherwise, look for me on 'antiques road show' someday!

former air operations officer SEAL Delivery Vehicle Team 2. former navy skeet team, navy rifle/pistol team member. co-owner skeetmaster tubes inc.. owner/operator professional shooting instruction.
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Comments

11 comments

Date Votes
  • trstone
    Haven't seen any clown GUNS, but I've seen alot of 'em on CSPAN passing laws up in Washington....And at least three or four running for President on the Demokratic Ticket!

    Sorry.

    Simply couldn't resist.
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  • p3skyking
    I've seen the big clown guns. The ones that shoot clowns across the arena.

    A man who starts imagining that others think good because he does is simply out of his mind
    It behooves one to be wary when among strangers and not to trust too much L'Amour
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  • bobski
    hehehee. well, based on the responses....i guess i got a 'unique' keeper!
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  • Xracer
    When the BATF shows up, you can tell 'em, "Hey, I've got just the gun for you clowns!" [:D]
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  • trstone
    Come to think of it, my dad had two of those...

    One was chambered in .45 Binky, and the other was a .32 Long Giggles.

    (grin)

    Sorry. Couldn't resist again.
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  • bobski
    you guys are tearing me up....oh the pain........
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  • Txs
    A clown gun? I use a 12 ga. with a fairly open choke and loaded with OO buck. They're fast moving little buggers, you know.

    But they do taste kind of funny.[:o)]
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  • jaoob
    I have seen a couple at antique shows. One complete at 150.00 3 or 4 years ago and one this year for 20.00 missing the firing mechanism.

    Jim
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  • kris
    when the clown bleeds...is it sticky like cotton candy?

    it is good that we meet in the struggle of life or death.. .....it shall be life!
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  • trstone
    The really GREAT thing about hunting clowns is that, even when hiding in the brush, they still beep those damned silly bike horns they carry---which makes them exceedingly easy to find. That, and the bright orange wigs they seem to favor. Oh, and did I mention those goofy, big red shoes they wear? They can't sneak around in the undergrowth worth a damn because of all the racket they make, even when they're smart enough NOT to honk on those horns.....

    ...Oh, and before I forget: They taste like chicken too.
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  • fort_knox
    Yeah...they're not too difficult to hit since they have a hard time in the brush with those big Clown shoes. You can hear them from a mile away when they are moving.

    It's really noisy in the fall when they are in rut. I had the opportunity to see a Buck-Clown chase down a receptive Doe-Clown and consumate the act below my Clown-Stand. It was quite a bizarre event to witness. [:0]

    The red poke-a-dots on white do not blend in very well with the vegetation either.

    You don't need a call since they come running when they hear laughing. When I go Clown hunting I usually bring along a friend that I find to be particularly funny. If you're going on an extended safari it doesn't hurt to bring along a book of jokes since your material can get old pretty fast, and the Clowns don't respond very well to the Groaners. Their natural aquity for the truly funny is very refined, so the laughs need to be from the belly and not forced.

    The most challenging aspect of the Clown hunt for me therefore has been aiming my Clown rifle once I have called one out from the surrounding area. I have a difficult time keeping aim while I am laughing. [:D]

    I think I hear a clown coming right now!?
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