Very Rare and Unique Nazi multi-shot 5.6mm (.22 cal) belt buckle gun. There is a long and varied history of these non-standard guns know as SS-Waffenakademie Koppelschloßpistole (Belt Castle Gun). Invented by Louis Marquis while in a WWI POW Camp and received a patent for a similar design in 1935.
Functioning: By simultaneously squeezing the top and bottom levers on the right side of the picture the barrels (made from a solid block of steel) is spring loaded to swing open, pushing up the front cover and is ready to fire.
Pressing the triggers discharge the gun or by pressing on the Barrel Release Lever one can push the barrels back into the case, cocking the triggers and proving for the reloading of the gun.
It appears that Marquis was at some time in 1943 was assigned to a Berlin agency where his work came to the attention of the SS Polizei whose commander was the Interior Minister, Reichsführer-SS Heinrich Himmler 1936-1939, Chef der Deutschen Polizei.
According to our research the bizarre Koppelschloßpistole (belt buckle pistol) was developed by the SS-Waffenakademie at Brünn (Brno). there were at least two versions for wartime use. One was a two barrel design in 7.65mm and the other was a 4 barrel design in .22 cal or 5.6mm. The special belt buckle was fitted with a spring loaded cover. When activated (e.g. by pressing a catch on the buckle or by pulling a string when the wearer was ordered "hands up!"), the cover would open up, revealing the barrels loaded with cartridges. These immediately fired on some test model or could be individually fired by the triggers. The belt was intended to be issued to agents as a last-ditch self-defense weapon to avoid capture. In January, 1938 Marquis receives a patent for " as a container qualified castle buckle for belt and belt ". Only twelve (including prototypes and test models) were reportedly manufactured, and they were probably never used in combat.
It has been stated that in 1943 Himmler ordered Marquis to make examples for his review and in 1944 production was begun in various samples in both 7.65mm and 5.6mm for the SS. How many were made? In the 1960's it was said that the widow of Marquis thought five examples were made before the facility they were making them in Berlin was bombed and destroyed. She stated no production of the belt castle gun went into effect.