Sidearm for my Character in my RP

[Zeppelin Kapitan Fritz]

     I plan on having both aerial and ground combat scenes (albeit mostly aerial) in my RP, which dieselpunk themed and set in the South Pacific in the late 1930's. I am trying to come up with my character's signature weapon (besides his airplane of course). He is the leader of a group of airplane mercenaries and I would like to have him carry something powerful and stylish that says "I'm the boss" as his weapon of choice. I am leaning towards giving him a revolver, because both of my existing personae have Broomhandle Mausers. So I looked up revolvers of the period, and made a list of them to choose from. The character is presumably American, so I focused on what would be available in the United States.

[pakled]

Hokay, Did I Miss the M1911? The standard 45 was used until the 80s, was a workhorse designed to stop fanatical natives in their tracks, after the 38 failed to do so. Considering the monster krakkens we seem to run into, stopping power would seem essential. It was readily available in that time period...too cliche?

[Zeppelin Kapitan Fritz]

Hokay, Did I Miss the M1911? The standard 45 was used until the 80s, was a workhorse designed to stop fanatical natives in their tracks, after the 38 failed to do so. Considering the monster krakkens we seem to run into, stopping power would seem essential. It was readily available in that time period...too cliche?

     I thought about that. Decided it was so common that it's a little boring.

[Jonglow]

I'm guessing your going for something you can get hold of as a prop ?

[Zeppelin Kapitan Fritz]

I'm guessing your going for something you can get hold of as a prop ?

     Nope, this is for a role play character (thankfully, because aviator garb is expensive).

[Jonglow]

Can't go wrong with a Bergmann model 1910/21 pistol completely different or Borchardt C-93 pistol

[Dr. Madd]

I'd need to know about the character. I suggest a Nagant Revolver, a Webley revolver.

[Fairley B. Strange]

Outside the box as always, but for: American, 1930s, powerful, gangster/pirate and also useful in air-to-air, why not a "Whippet"?

http://0.tqn.com/d/crime/1/0/5/n/bonnieclyde2.jpg

[Never mind the Cogs]

You are not thinking along the right lines, you need a lightwieght portable harpoon; with a self cocking repeating ratcket action. The harpoon head needs to be designed with a needle point to penetrate armour backed up with a phosphorus explosive shell, making sure that if the kinetic energy does not do the job, the pyrotechnics will. 

[Mercury Wells]

Clockwork might be a way to go (ok it would take a while to manualy load & rewind the spring). Though you could have on your belt...a (wheel/belt driven) rechargable power-cell with an extendable "winder-upper" (a bit like a bendy screwdriver shaft*) which plugs into the key socket of your side arm, which then winds up the spring after every shot. The magazines (a la AK-47)which load automaticaly after every shot, while rewinding.

*I hope they really exist, otherwise I'm going to look & sound extremely silly.  )
 
Sorry, I didn't read your first post properly oops!

Anyway it could be of some use for a budding tinkerer. Come to think about it,...maybe someone could could come up with a working model?


 

[Greaser350]

The Smith and Wesson M1917 in .45 is a good choice, and that of Indiana Jones in the first film.  Bit of a hand-cannon that, after fired once, tells everyone around to buzz off.

[pakled]

I suppose if it wasn't too old, the LeMat...or a more modern equivalent...

[Captain]

Of your options the Colt single action "Peacemaker" just says: "I'm in charge!"  Especially if it is pearl ivory handled like Gen. Patton's.   It is pretty hard to outgun an American with a .45 LC.  



Probably worn in an ornate (I'm American!) drop loop rig as much for advertisement as for quick draw or http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bridgeport_rig



Some options that you did not list include:

A custom Schofield.  A handsome gun that is very fast to reload.



If your character is really trying to impress people maybe an old Colt Dragoon or even a Walker.  There are even .45 "black powder magnum" conversion cartridges that would make a converted Walker the most powerful handgun of that era: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.45_Black_Powder_Magnum_(.45_BPM)



A practical character would probably also carry a Derringer, Bull Dog, or other (probably double action) pocket pistol.  Many revolvers had shoulder stocks available like:



I have a couple and they basically increase your effective range from feet to yards.  

There are lots of other cool revolvers like the Webley, LeMat, and a number of Belgian models but they just would not be American signature pistols.  I have seen more than one American living abroad who started wearing Stetsons, BIG belt buckles, and cowboy boots which they did not wear at home.  My parents were great horse doctors but I got into cowboy action shooting (and dress) living in southern Germany.  

There are also very American sawed off shotguns and mare's legs. 

[PatronZero]

Going with a Model - 1911 .45 semi-auto doesn't mean it has to be the 'conventional' model seen carried by G-men and gangsters alike.

Here's two real-world variants that might be inciting.