Starting Pistol

Description

This starting pistol was used in the 1920’s by Kalle Kataja, who was a founding member of the Helsinki-based athletics club Helsingin Kisa-Veikot (HKV). It was later used in runners’ training. The curve-shaped pistol has an octagonal barrel. The handle and the triangular support underneath the barrel are made of diamond-patterned dark wood. Technical development made cap guns obsolete as starting pistols: firing blank cartridges did not produce enough noise and smoke. Electronic starting pistols are generally used today.