ray pistol n.

a handheld ray gun n.

Weaponry

  • 1929 ‘H. Vincent’ War of the Planets in Amazing Stories Jan. 885/2 page image Harl Vincent bibliography

    This was accomplished by means of an ancient weapon—the obsolete ray-pistol, you know—and this same weapon later enabled me to get control of the entire vessel.

  • 1929 ‘H. Vincent’ Microcosmic Buccaneers in Amazing Stories Nov. 691/2 page image Harl Vincent bibliography

    He fondly patted the ray pistol where it lay hidden in his pocket.

  • 1930 J. W. Campbell Black Star Passes in Amazing Stories Quarterly Fall 501/2 page image John W. Campbell, Jr. bibliography

    He drew his ray pistol, and adjusted it carefully… The trigger gave him control over power.

  • 1932 A. G. Stangland 50th Century Revolt in Wonder Stories Apr. 1219/2

    Damn it, he was hauling out one of those vicious ray pistols he'd been dodging. Wonder if he'd hit him before the prince could ray him?

  • 1941 ‘W. Morrison’ Masters of Chance in Thrilling Wonder Stories Aug. 81/2 page image William Morrison bibliography

    Jeff rocked back on his heels, stunned as effectively as if someone had batted him over the head with the butt of a ray pistol.

  • 1950 W. de Koven Bighead in New Worlds Winter 67 page image

    He pulled the lethal toy, the small ray pistol which never left him.

  • 1962 Spacemen Oct. 38 (caption) page image

    Scott (Carleton Young) and his ray pistol mean sure disintegration for Buck Rogers if Buster loses this fight.

Research requirements

antedating 1929
Earliest cite

Harl Vincent, "War of the Planets", in Amazing
Research History
Fred Galvin submitted a 1932 cite from Arthur G. Stangland's "50th Century Revolt".
Fred Galvin submitted a 1930 cite from John W. Campbell, Jr.'s "The Black Star Passes".
Fred Galvin submitted a 1946 cite from a letter in Planet Stories.
Fred Galvin submitted a 1941 cite from J. Harvey Haggard's "Derelicts of Uranus".
Fred Galvin submitted a 1957 cite from a Robert W. Lowndes editorial, "It's More Than Just Trying"

Last modified 2021-08-19 21:36:48
In the compilation of some entries, HDSF has drawn extensively on corresponding entries in OED.