After handling an original Howdah double barrel percussion would like one - they are noted for large heavy bullets. Modern caliber I am open 480 Ruger or perhaps even 45-70. If I recall Sean Connery used one in The Untouchables and also was used in The Ghost and the Darkness. A Howdah now is no more or less useful than the current crop of Mare's Leg pistols and just as fun. Modern version would also be durable weather resistant and double triggered.

A .45-70 handgun? Better you shooting such a beast than me!

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Oh well, what the hell.

Magnum research makes one.

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I have one of the Magnum Research .45-70 Revolver and it is "blast" to shoot. It is quite heavy so the recoil isn't that bad with light loads but I hand load 500 gr. bullets so those have substantial recoil. Gets attention when on the firing line.

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Bill

There are black powder howdah models, including kits, that look like serious medicine. I would think a howdah in a rifle caliber would fall under the NFA, no?

I look at the kits some time ago, nice kit was about 600-700, but the finished results looked great. Bob

No, they are not NFA. The caliber does not determine if it is NFA. If the firearm was originally made as a rifle with a 16" or more rifled barrel, then it is a rifle. When the barrel on the rifle is shortened to less than 16", then it falls into the NFA category. If the firearm was originally made as a pistol with a rifled barrel less than 16", it legal, no matter what caliber it is in. See the Thompson Contender series of handguns, with many in rifle calibers; i.e. 7.62x51mm, 7.62x39mm, 5.56x45mm, etc.

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Bill