Without looking it up anywhere, I know what a Welrod is:

In case you want to look it up AFTER answering: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Welrod

@cstross It might be *marginally* better known just now since the guy that shot that American Health Insurance CEO was initially (and incorrectly) reported as having used one, so it was being mentioned in the news and stuff.

@cstross disappointed and surprised to see that welman wasn't actually a man.

@cstross No, despite having grown up just outside Welwyn. How do I not even know my own history?

@cstross Kind of, from video games (Garry's Mod).

@cstross
While I had forgotten the name of this particular weapon, I am pretty sure I had seen one of these before.

Shortly after Luigi Mangione shot Brian Thompson, I watched a YouTube video where the host (a gunsmith) was trying to identify which weapon was used and two of them that they suggested looked an awefull lot like this one.

@raph_v I never saw the preview image. Deleted the link now.

@cstross Only because it's available in the 'Sniper Elite' games.

@cstross missing option "until you asked i thought i knew, now I'm doubting myself"

@cstross answered yes, vaguely worried this may put me on some sort of list

@sambeaven Don't worry, I'm polling b/c I want to know how widespread knowledge is before I write it into a novel.

@cstross
Answered no, guessed right on the type of object, may have read about it a long time ago.

@dat I've held one. It's surprisingly heavy—can double as a cosh (if you don't care whether your victim lives or dies).

@cstross Not surprised I'm in the minority. :⁠-⁠D

But now I'm curious what story you've been researching them for.

@baishen A space opera, believe it or not. (Consider a cross between a 3D-printed welrod and a Metal Storm type weapon … no bolt action, no moving parts, single shot or automatic, printed out of titanium. (Yes, 3D printed titanium pistol supressors are a thing: I've held one. Eerily light and horrifyingly expensive but apparently they work just fine.))

@cstross Obviously it's verlan for a rodwell.

@cstross @baishen

Titanium is sufficiently light and strong enough that you could probably make a silence "pepperbox" design in .22 with electric ignition. The silencer could vent through the perforated barrels as long as the unfired projectiles provided a good enough gas seal to prevent chain firing. A problem might be preventing ignition of the titanium due to hot gases+friction.

@cstross

Why look it up when AI can hallucinate an answer for me?

@cstross

You're just making up words again.

We get it. You're a writer.

@cstross Someone else mentioned it being included in some Sniper Elite games. It’s also available in the tactical game Silent Storm and its sequel.

@cstross it's well known to anybody who has played the Sniper Elite series

@cstross I can't find an image, but I'm fairly sure Fallout London includes a Welrod as a "covert", and there's even a special version called the Scaramanga that can be found. No prizes for guessing the cosmetic effect.

Some info here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rmue3jeYLCc , with chapter marks to find the weapons in question. Couldn't find stills/text on a brief look, sorry.

ISTR you saying you don't game anymore, but suspect a fair portion of your fanbase may do so.

@cstross Though once I voted, I *did* look it up, and I’m glad I did.

Which is not at all how I felt when I looked up “tongue-replacing parasites” and discovered that they are @#$%ing REAL. Thanks for the nightmares, Stross.

@cstross
It goes with my Welbike, which is packed into my Welboat

@cstross I voted no, looked it up, thought it was interesting. Now I got a notification that the poll is over and had to look it up again because I forgot.

@cstross Interesting concept. Automatic fire could be problematic. Firing schedule is the big limitation for titanium cans. That's why they tend to be used for bolt action hunting rifles to reduce carry weight.