Hand Cannon

"The PADDYWHACKER: A revolver with immense stopping power."

- Fink Manufacturing advertisement



The Paddywhacker, known in-game as the Hand Cannon, is a break action revolver which is based on the 1851 Colt Navy revolver and can be used by Booker DeWitt in BioShock Infinite. It is an accurate and powerful firearm, strong enough to kill certain enemies in one shot and even decapitate them entirely. The revolver is seen in the Heavy Hitters Part 1: Motorized Patriots trailer when Booker encounters a Motorized Patriot. The revolver's cylinder holds six cartridges, and is single action. At most, the revolver can fire up to 75 rounds per minute, which is unnecessary since Booker is limited to 24 total rounds, or 4 cylinders. The player first encounters the Hand Cannon immediately before entering the Plaza of Zeal the first time. From this point on, it is a relatively common weapon, though it is not used regularly by most enemies. Its primary drawbacks are its heavy recoil and slow firing rate; however, these disadvantages are offset by its extreme stopping power, comparable to the Bird's Eye or China Broom. Unlike those weapons,  the Hand Cannon remains highly effective in mid-range combat, and is capable of killing most of the non-Heavy Hitters in one headshot, including in Hard mode. When taking on Heavy Hitters, with the Hand Cannon's slow rate of fire, it is recommended to use Vigors that stun the opponent. Murder of Crows, Shock Jockey, or Undertow, allow the player to line up critical shots with minimal risk of retaliation. Using this gun with the Shock Jockey vigor, you can have a clear headshot while the enemy is stunned, making it a great combination.

Behind the Scenes

 * Whether reloaded mid-magazine, or reloaded early, the Hand Cannon appears to have one round left in the chamber when reloaded.