I remember a seminar/conference I attended about 8 years ago where one
of the panel members was a Hollywood special effects/demolitions/
electronics guy. I can't remember his name at the moment.
Anyway, he claimed that he coupled the BIC Lighter friction method of
igniting the gas in the Lighter (the wheel thingy at the top of those
throw away gas lighters) WITH a standard revolver pistol. The cartridges
were replaced with crystals (suitable for producing laser light) and the
action of the hammer falling provided sufficient current to produce a
dangerous but very very short laser pulse.
He claimed that the original was a single shot weapon because the crystal
heated up (or something) and so he evolved to the revolver setup.
It was a large audience (read 100+) of science fiction fans and nobody
called him a liar at the time.
Such a hand weapon would have no need for a power-source but would be
limitted to the speed of trigger movement and crystal cooling between
shots. The chap actually claimed that it was a registered weapon
because it would burn you (or was it blind you?).
Would any of the experts care to comment on this.
I raise it because if feasible it would change the way laser guns
operate --- perhaps.
Bruce.... [email removed]