C&R · IIIA · 005
Chicago Protector palm pistol
Section IIIA: removed from the NFA, classed as an antique (outside the GCA)
Official wording
ATF P 5300.11 · APRIL 2025 EDITION · SECTION IIIA · VERBATIM · PDF P. 64 ↗
Chicago, palm pistol, cal. .32 rimfire extra short.
What this entry requires
- ATF REQUIRESMade 1898 or earlier (ATF’s dates)
- INFOAn antique under federal law, outside the GCA.
Editorial facts · Our research
- Country
United StatesBasis: outside reference ⁵- Manufacturer
- Chicago Firearms Co.; Ames Sword Co.Basis: outside reference ¹
- Type
- PistolBasis: outside reference ⁴
- Action
- OtherBasis: outside reference ⁶
- Caliber
- .32 rimfire extra shortBasis: outside reference ³
- Made
- Pre-1899Basis: outside reference ²
- Service
- Commercial
Source
- Official wording
- ATF P 5300.11, April 2025 edition · Section IIIA · PDF p. 64 ↗ · ATF original ↗
- Entries
- 1 line
- Verbatim check
- Checked against the PDF text before every release
- Editorial facts
- Confidence: High · Last revised 18 October 2026 (Evidence pass) · How we rate confidence
- References
- 1. Wikipedia, “Protector Palm Pistol” ↗, maker: Peter Finnegan bought the patent in 1892, founded Chicago Fire Arms Co. and contracted Ames Sword Co. to make the pistols
- 2. Wikipedia, “Protector Palm Pistol” ↗, years: Chicago Fire Arms Co. founded 1892; Ames production for the 1893 Exposition
- 3. Wikipedia, “Protector Palm Pistol” ↗, calibers: cartridge .32 Extra Short (rimfire)
- 4. Wikipedia, “Protector Palm Pistol” ↗, type: small squeeze-fired palm revolver
- 5. Wikipedia, “Protector Palm Pistol” ↗, country: Peter H. Finnegan of Austin, Illinois bought the patent in 1892 and founded the Chicago Fire Arms Co.; the Ames Sword Company made the pistols (U.S. manufacture).
- 6. Wikipedia, “Protector Palm Pistol” ↗, action
- Fact tags
- ATF the ATF wording states it.
- REF ¹ an outside reference supports it; the number points to the list of references.
- ESTIMATE an approximate or indirect reading, for example the production range of the base model.
- NO CITATION we haven’t attached a reference for this fact; it’s our editorial reading, not ATF’s.
- Source checked
- 20 October 2026: ATF’s page still lists the April 2025 edition
- Corrections
- 1 change · see below
Correction history
- Data-trust reviewEditorial confidence: Medium → High. Re-rated after supporting references were added or re-checked.
Historical context
Image: Wikimedia Commons, “Palm protector pistol.jpg” by Chicago firearms company, Public domain. Retrieved October 2026.
Summary: Wikipedia, “Protector Palm Pistol”. Text CC BY-SA 4.0.
FROM WIKIPEDIA
The Protector Palm Pistol is a small revolver designed to be concealed in the palm of the hand. It was unique in that the revolver was clasped in a fist with the barrel protruding between two fingers and the entire handgun was squeezed in order to fire a round. The design was meant to resemble a pocket watch to the extent of being carried on a chain.