Can’t decide how to be violent? Buy this pistol, knife AND knuckle duster called Apache revolver

Don't you just hate it when you don't know whether to pull a gun, a knife or a set of knuckle dusters?

Thankfully, this sweet baby solves that problem – ensuring you don't end up bringing a knife to a gun fight.

Called an Apache revolver, it was designed in Belgium by Louis Dolne in 1860 and became popular on the mean streets of 19th century Paris.

The underworld gang Les Apaches favoured the all-in-one weapon, which is where it gets its name.

It is a fully fold-up weapon, meaning it could fit in a pocket or be easily concealed in the palm of the hand.

The Apache revolver could be used as a knuckle duster, a knife and a pistol (Picture: Rama/Wikipedia)

This particular version of the pistol was made around 1870 and has been sitting in a sock drawer in Yorkshire for years. It is now coming up for auction.

Charles Hartley, of Hartley Auctioneers, said: ‘It is quite a sinister item and not something that a member of high society would have owned at the time.'

It is believed the current owner's grandfather came into possession of the weapon when he was working in France (his line of work has not been revealed), and brought the weapon back to England.

It was inherited by his son, who kept it in the back of a drawer – and it was discovered by the current owner when she was clearing out her late father's estate.

Mr Hartley said: ‘She isn't too enamoured with it and has decided to sell it.'

Despite its nasty purpose, the Apache's worth is estimated around $3,288 – and because they are quite rare the interest among collectors is high.

Mr Hartley said: ‘It was designed for self-defence and to be used at very close quarters. There is no barrel to the gun so the user would have had to have had it pressed up against someone's chest.

‘The knife part is more of a stabbing blade than a slashing one.'

While the gun has not been deactivated, it cannot be used because it used now-obsolete pinfire bullets.

The auction takes place on September 10.