Final firing of spy weapons
View video of the final firing of Col. Farley Berman's spy weapons.
Col. Farley Berman. Photo: Special to The Star
Back in the day, when Col. Berman housed his collections in his home, he loved to show the spy weapons to visitors — and occasionally fire off one loaded with a blank. He loved the element of surprise, said Robert Lindley, the museum's collections manager.
The museum has continued the tradition of firing the spy weapons in occasional special programs, but they're beginning to show wear and tear, and for preservation's sake the museum is retiring them from active service. The final firing will be held Saturday.
Technically, these are "combination weapons," and they greatly predate the era of modern espionage. The weapons in the Berman collection date from the 1600s, and come from Europe, Asia and the United States.
In the beginning, they were traditional weapons of war — swords, daggers, axes — with guns added on. Later, travelers used weapons concealed in purses or canes to protect themselves from bandits. It wasn't until World War II that spies started to use them, hiding guns in cigarette lighters, matchboxes, screwdrivers or pocket watches.
Combination weapons are still being made, Lindley said, most notably a gun concealed in a cell phone case, many of which have been confiscated at European airports.
Col. Berman collected his weapons from the 1940s to the 1960s, but they're much harder to come by these days. Many have gone to institutions such as the International Spy Museum in Washington, D.C.
At Saturday's final firing, Lindley will show some 30 weapons. (The museum keeps about 25 on display, and another 50-75 in storage.) In the spirit of Col. Berman, he'll fire off a few. But he's not telling which ones.
Double agent
Axes that incorporated a single-shot gun were popular in the 1500s. They were not the most efficient of weapons, but what they lacked in accuracy they made up for in surprise.
Unlock, stock and barrel
Keys that could also shoot are among the oldest weapons in the Berman's collection, dating from 1600s Europe. If you didn't like who was knocking at your door, you could fire a single shot through the keyhole.
Nefarious notes
Press the right keys, and this flute shoots a bullet. The flute itself was made in 1963 by the Artley Flute Company, and later modified by an unknown spy. While researching the weapon, Robert Lindley of the Berman Museum informed the flute company that someone had added a gun to one of its instruments. He received a letter from the company president assuring him that it did not leave the factory that way.
Up in smoke
Pull off the mouthpiece, and this pipe can fire a single bullet. It dates from World War II, when spies first started to use combination weapons. The Berman has two pipes in its collection, one German and one American.
Final firing of spy and combination weapons When: 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., Saturday
Where: Berman Museum Auditorium
How much: Included in museum admission ($5 adult, $4 child), along with the Working White House exhibit.
Warning! The show will be LOUD. Anyone with sensitive hearing is advised to bring ear plugs. The program is appropriate for children ages 12 and up. Younger children might be frightened; parents are advised to use their best judgment.
Bonus: A DVD of Col. Berman giving a tour of his collections is available in the museum lobby for $20. It includes demonstrations of many of the spy weapons.
