Doing some research.

[Chris in SE PA]

Einstein said something along the lines of when doing a project, spend 3/4 of the time researching Before you start.

Although I think that his% was a little bit high, I agree a bit. So, before attempting my next project, I will gather some information as i plot and plan.

The question(s) I have surround a flintlock pistol built into a short sword.

I've seen several examples of originals built on English officer swords with the pummel having a clam shell or the pummel guard bent down. Were they using what was on hand? I.e a given thing. Or was there a reason for building those in.

On some original pieces the frizzen is on the opposite side of the blade. Any knowledge about this feature?

Triggers: placement in relation to normal hand position while holding a knife?

Single edge blade or dagger shaped?

Length: I've killed 🐖 🐷  to butcher. We used a long knife because of reaching the heart on a frontal thrust in the throat. Or did they want a length best for use as their regular belt knife?

[Seth Isaacson]

I've worked with a bunch of these. They are really neat, in part because there is a wide variety of designs. Some have pretty unusual lock and barrel setups and some are little more than a boxlock pistol attached to the side of a blade or even a full boxlock pistol with a blade attached in place of one side of the "box." I've seen some with the trigger on top right next to the crossguard, most with the trigger on the underside like a normal pistol

That clam shell piece you are talking about is called a languet/rainguard. The latter name gives away what its for: to keep rain out of the scabbard. They can also keep the sword tight in the scabbard depending on the design. Though that is their function, they typically serve primarily a decorative function given many are pierced and wouldn't really aid in keeping water out. For the sword pistols, the languet often also helps protect the lock mechanism.

Here are a few examples: