Braverman Stinger Pen Gun

About the Braverman Stinger Pen Gun

The Braverman Stinger Pen Gun is a single-shot, .22 LR self-defense pistol built to resemble an ordinary ink pen. Designed by Bob Braverman around 1990 and produced by R.J. Braverman from 1995 to 1997, the stainless-steel device hinges in the middle so it can be folded to a pen-like shape roughly 4.2 inches long or opened into an L-shaped firing configuration. It loads a single cartridge through a rotating breech plate that also doubles as a firing-pin block; a rotating collar safety resets automatically when the housing is closed. Because it folds into a two-piece L-shape to fire, the ATF classified it as a legal, non-NFA pistol rather than a disguised firearm.

To stay outside the National Firearms Act's rules on disguised firearms, the Stinger must be unfolded into an L-shape before it can fire, so when carried closed it looks and is classified as a legal pistol rather than a prohibited 'pen gun' - a design quirk that made it a favorite curiosity among collectors.

Braverman Stinger Pen Gun specifications

The same basic design was earlier marketed by American Derringer as the 'Model 2 Pen Pistol' (1993-1994) and was later revived by Stinger Manufacturing Corp. (circa 2002-2004). Chambered variants also included .25 ACP, .22 WMR, .32 ACP and .380 ACP. Actual manufacturing was reportedly carried out by Remcon North Corp.