Apen gun is a firearm that resembles an inkpen.[1][2] They generally are of small caliber (e.g., .22 LR,.25 ACP,.32 ACP,.380 ACP caliber, etc.)[3][4][5] and aresingle shot.[4][6] Early examples of pen guns werepinfired, but modern designs arerim orcenterfire.[1] Some pen guns are not designed to fire regular cartridges, but ratherblank cartridges,signal flares, ortear gas cartridges.[1][7]
In the United States, pen guns that can fire bullet or shot cartridges and do not require a reconfiguration to fire (e.g., folding to the shape of a pistol) are federally regulated as anAny Other Weapon (Title II). They require registration under theNational Firearms Act and a tax in the amount of five dollars is levied.[7][8]
Others, such as the "Stinger" pen gun designed by the R.J. "Bob" Braverman company and manufactured by Remcon North Corp. based out ofMeredith, NH, made a pen gun which was not required to be registered under the NFA.[9] The Stinger pen gun first had patent filed in 1991 was made until production ceased in 1996 as a result of business pressures and government regulation. In 2002 the pen gun was revived by a company in Michigan called Stinger Manufacturing Corp,[10] this company then also subsequently folded or stopped making the Stinger single-shot pen guns.[11] The stinger pen gun folded, cocked, and popped out a trigger in a single motion, and since it was then in a 90-degree angle and looked more like a traditional "pistol", it was not considered a "Any Other Weapon" firearm. These pen guns and others are somewhat rare in the firearm second-hand marketplace and have therefore become highly collectible fetching prices ranging from $1,000 to $3,000 or more.[12][13][14][10]
According to theFBI, pen guns were widely available for self-defense in the 20th century.[15][16]
Media related toPen guns at Wikimedia Commons
| Ink pens | |
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| Non-ink | |
| Digital pens | |
| Parts and tools | |
| Inks | |
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