Developed by the Italian gun manufacturer Mateba Srl , the Mateba Autorevolver, sometimes refered to as the Mateba Model 6 Unica, is one of the few types of hybrid handguns called automatic revolvers. This revolver type, when fired, automatically recocks the hammer and rotates the cylinder for the wielder.
The Mateba Autorevolver's barrel allignment is different from most other revolvers. The barrel is alligned with the bottom of the cylinder instead of the top. This brings the barrel closer to the grib of the handgun, reducing the upward recoil of the gun and increasing accuracy. Reloading is difficult because the cylinder swings out from the top, so the cylinder can't be emptied of spent rounds with the same hand that holds the gun.
The character Togusa in Ghost in the Shell carries a Mateba, and the gun belonging to popular manga character Vash the Stampede's from the series Trigun is similar to the Mateba's lower alligned barrel, though Vash's gun is double action, not an autorevolver.
Last updated: 08-23-2005 07:45:40