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This is a lady's muff pistol, so-called because they often kept them hidden in their fur hand-warmers. A lady might be armed for all sorts of reasons - she might be travelling with only servants as escorts and be thinking of the possibility of highwaymen; she might be more middle class and walk a few mean streets where she might need protection from footpads or men out to hassle her.

This particular pistol was crafted by Hewson of Exeter (UK) and the action is bronze (which they used to call gunmetal, presumably because cannons were made from it) and the barrel is steel.

In spite of its small size, at close range, and loaded with plenty of gunpowder, this weapon would kill, particularly if the attacker was shot in the chest or head.