The garrucha is a small pistol, similar to a
derringer
A derringer is a small handgun that is neither a revolver nor a semi/ fully automatic pistol. It is not to be confused with mini-revolvers or pocket pistols, although some later derringers were manufactured with the pepperbox configuration. ...
, common in Brazil and Argentina in the early 20th century. It is usually double-barreled,
though with the barrels side-by-side rather than vertical as is common in American
derringer
A derringer is a small handgun that is neither a revolver nor a semi/ fully automatic pistol. It is not to be confused with mini-revolvers or pocket pistols, although some later derringers were manufactured with the pepperbox configuration. ...
s, and the bores can be rifled or smooth.
In Brazil, the most popular chamberings were for the .320 and .380 centerfire cartridges, similar to the
.32 S&W and
.38 S&W in appearance, but conical. They were also chambered for the
.22 Short
.22 Short is a variety of .22 caliber (5.6 mm) rimfire ammunition. Developed in 1857 for the first Smith & Wesson revolver, the .22 rimfire was the first American metallic cartridge. The original loading was a bullet and of black powd ...
,
.22 Long
22 Long is a variety of 22 caliber (5.6 mm) rimfire ammunition. The 22 Long is the second-oldest of the surviving rimfire cartridges, dating back to 1871, when it was loaded with a 29 grain (1.9 g) bullet and 5 grains (0.32 g) of black po ...
,
.22 Long Rifle
The .22 Long Rifle or simply .22 LR or 22 (metric designation: 5.6×15mmR) is a long-established variety of .22 caliber rimfire ammunition originating from the United States. It is used in a wide range of rifles, pistols, revolvers, smo ...
, and the .32, 8mm, and
9mm Flobert
Frenchman Louis-Nicolas Flobert (1819–1894) invented the first rimfire metallic cartridge in 1845. It was a major innovation in firearms ammunition, previously delivered as separate bullets and powder. The rimfire cartridge combined both elemen ...
cartridges, among others.
These types of pistols were popular from 1930 to 1960 due to their low cost and small size, and were associated with the
gaucho
A gaucho () or gaúcho () is a skilled horseman, reputed to be brave and unruly. The figure of the gaucho is a folk symbol of Argentina, Uruguay, Rio Grande do Sul in Brazil, and the south of Chilean Patagonia. Gauchos became greatly admired and ...
s (cowboys) of the South American
Pampas.
In Brazil, Garruchas were produced by Castelo,
Rossi, and Lerap.
See also
*
Derringer
A derringer is a small handgun that is neither a revolver nor a semi/ fully automatic pistol. It is not to be confused with mini-revolvers or pocket pistols, although some later derringers were manufactured with the pepperbox configuration. ...
*
Howdah pistol
The howdah pistol was a large-calibre handgun, often with two or four barrels, used in Africa and India from the beginning of the nineteenth century and into the early twentieth century during the British Empire era. It was intended for defence ...
References
Further reading
''Belgian Garrucha Pistol & Garden Guns on Curator's Corner'' NRA Blog, January 12, 2012, 19:03
{{Multiple Barrel Firearms
Handguns
Firearms of Brazil
Multiple-barrel firearms
Firearm terminology
.22 LR firearms
Derringers