He was commissioned to murder an alleged Communist spy but was so frightened that he emerged from behind a boulder to hand over his Derringer pocket pistol to the man he was supposed to assassinate.

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Measuring just 116mm (approximately four-and-a-half inches) and weighing 390g (13.7oz), it is commonly known as a "pocket" or "waistcoat" pistol and is sometimes referred to as a "ladies'" gun because of its size.

BBC: NEWS | UK | Scotland | Nairn police call in gun expert

Two women were shot in a Planet Hollywood restaurant in 1997 when a pistol fell out of a patron's pocket and went off.

ECONOMIST: Gun safety

The court heard Prof Graves asked Li to leave but as the student put the money away, the pistol - loaded with six pellets - fell out of his pocket and on to the floor.

BBC: Yang Li