Signal 9 Defense Reliant Pistol

Source: The Firearms Blog

With the exception of double-barrel shotguns, multi-barrel firearms are generally pretty rare. Sure, there are derringers, and you may run across the occasional combination gun or double-barrel express rifle, but for the most part, multi-barrel weapons are a thing of the past. But, lo and behold, I saw today that The Firearms Blog is reviewing a pepper-box looking "revolver" called the Reliant Pistol from a company called Signal 9 Defense. (Although the weapon is a break-action, I tentatively term it a "revolver" because, according to the article, the firing pin mechanism rotates to a new position as each barrel is fired). The rubber boot at the bottom of the grip is actually a speed loader that holds four more rounds.

It is intended to fire (depending on the barrel package), either .32 or .38 caliber rimmed cartridges, although it will accept a couple .32 and .38 rimless cartridges using a moon clip (which would probably be the best way to use the weapon for concealed carry). Its weight and size are such that it should generally be concealable, but probably less so than a similarly sized semi-auto or revolver. The intent of the weapon, as the name indicates, is maximum reliability: it can be fired from inside a purse or pocket, and someone grabbing the firearm cannot prevent it from firing (although there are disarming techniques that so weaken your mechanical advantage...).

It might seem strange in a world where an increasingly larger number of small auto-loaders are being offered to design and produce weapons with even less capacity than a J-frame revolver. It is challenging to think of anything this weapon can do that a 5-shot "hammerless" revolver could not. Someone grabbing a snub-nosed revolver to stop it from working seems highly unlikely (and please correct me if you have more information), so if there is any advantage, it would have to be in the trigger pull, which is indicated to be 8 lbs. I suppose there is the intimidation factor as well--staring down 4 barrels instead of one. Anyway, it is in interesting weapon, even if I don't appreciate its advantages, if any, over other similarly sized handguns.