Last updated July 2026 · By Nick Hall, firearm collector who has owned or shot several of these legal curiosities
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Quick Answer: The strangest gun you can legally own without an NFA tax stamp is the Ohio Ordnance Works M2-SLR, a semi-automatic belt-fed 50 BMG built on the same Ma Deuce pattern the US Army mounted on armored cars, and it runs about $18,000. After that come a 22 pistol that folds down to the footprint of a credit card, a double-barrel pump shotgun that fires twice per pump, and a revolver that fires from the bottom of the cylinder instead of the top. Every gun on this list is an ordinary firearm in most states with no tax stamp or special paperwork, though 50 BMG and several of the others are off the table in California and a handful of other restrictive states.
How we tested: Every pick here was run through our testing methodology. Minimum round counts, accuracy and reliability protocols, the failures that disqualify a gun. If we haven't shot it, we don't recommend it.
Introduction
Think American gun laws are strict? Think again. While some countries ban air rifles and kitchen knives, the US is home to a catalog of strange, quirky, and downright insane firearms you can legally own without a tax stamp or special paperwork.
From folding pistols to military hardware, here are 10 weird guns you can actually buy, and yes, they’re totally legal in most states.
Table of Contents
| Gun | Caliber | Why It’s Weird | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Ohio Ordnance Works M2-SLR | 50 BMG | Semi-auto belt-fed Ma Deuce, street legal | Lowest Price ↓ |
| 2. Lifecard 22LR | 22 LR | Folds to the footprint of a credit card | Lowest Price ↓ |
| 3. FN PS90 | 5.7x28mm | Civilian bullpup version of the military P90 | Lowest Price ↓ |
| 4. Bond Arms Cyclops 45-70 | 45-70 Government | Single-shot pistol chambered in a rifle round | Lowest Price ↓ |
| 5. Standard Manufacturing DP-12 | 12 Gauge | Double-barrel pump: pump once, shoot twice | Lowest Price ↓ |
| 6. Chiappa Rhino 30DS | 357 Magnum | Fires from the bottom chamber, not the top | Lowest Price ↓ |
| 7. Mare’s Leg Lever-Action Pistol | 357 and 44 Magnum | Chopped-down lever action, classed as a pistol | Lowest Price ↓ |
| 8. Heizer DoubleTap Pistol | 9mm and 45 ACP | Two barrels, two shots, pocket thin | Lowest Price ↓ |
| 9. IWI Tavor TS-12 | 12 Gauge | Bullpup with three rotating magazine tubes | Lowest Price ↓ |
| 10. North American Arms Mini Revolver | 22 LR | Small enough to hide in a belt buckle | Lowest Price ↓ |
1. Ohio Ordnance Works M2-SLR
- Caliber: 50 BMG
This is basically the M2 Browning Heavy Machine Gun that was mounted on armored cars in World War II and helicopter gunships in Vietnam. This was a pure weapon of war, and now Ohio Ordnance has made a semi-automatic, belt-fed version that is street legal.
Nobody needs a street-legal Ma Deuce, but then want and need are two very different things. And both military history buffs and fans of absolute chaos will love this 50 BMG icon that you can own at home. If you’ve got about 18K to spend.
2. Lifecard 22LR
- Caliber: 22LR
This one looks like a stack of metal credit cards, but folds out into a single-shot .22 pistol. It’s not a joke. It’s not a movie prop. It’s a real firearm, and you can buy it. Ideal for deep concealment, curiosity collectors, or confusing your friends at the range.
3. FN PS90
- Caliber: 5.7x28mm
The FN PS90 looks like a sci-fi prop, but it’s a real firearm you can legally own in the U.S. This civilian version of the military P90 features a futuristic bullpup design, top-mounted 50-round magazine, and fires the 5.7x28mm cartridge, a round originally designed to pierce body armor. Its compact shape makes it ideal for close-quarters combat, which is why elite law enforcement and military units around the world rely on its full-auto cousin. While the PS90 is semi-auto only, it still delivers high-capacity firepower in a radically ergonomic package that turns heads at the range and baffles traditional gun lovers.
It might look insane, like a Dali-esque vision of a gun that melted in the sun. Even so, it has the respect of military, law enforcement and private security teams around the world. Multiple special forces teams use these guns in urban combat, and if it’s good enough for them…
4. Bond Arms Cyclops 45-70
- Caliber: 45-70 Government
Yes, you read that right. A single-shot pistol that chambers the .45-70 Government, a round originally designed for rifles. The recoil is as savage as it sounds, it’s a total wrist breaker, but this little monster is 100% legal and totally unforgettable.
5. Standard Manufacturing DP-12
- Caliber: 12 Gauge
This double-barrel pump action shotgun is an answer to a question, nobody asked. It’s heavy, it’s unwieldy, inaccurate and it just makes no sense. But it’s all sorts of fun. You pump once, fire twice. Why? I mean I don’t even know, there’s almost no technical advantage here. It’s just different, and sometimes that’s enough.
6. Chiappa Rhino 30DS
- Caliber: 357 Magnum
A revolver that fires from the bottom cylinder instead of the top. It looks like an alien weapon and recoils like a kitten. Chambered in .357 Magnum, the Rhino is all about balance and innovation. There’s a reason for almost everything, but man it looks freaky.
You can get a full range of Chiappa revolvers, with much longer barrels and a choice of calibers, here.
7. Mare’s Leg Lever-Action Pistol
- Caliber: .357 Magnum, .44 Magnum
A chopped-down lever-action rifle that throws you straight into an old-school western. Usually chambered in .44 Mag or .357, this is one of those guns that makes no practical sense but every visual one. No stock, all style.
Steve McQueen carried one as bounty hunter Josh Randall in Wanted: Dead or Alive and there’s just something infinitely cool about these.
8. Heizer DoubleTap Pistol
- Caliber: 9mm/45 ACP
Ultra-thin, double-barrel, two-shot pistol chambered in 9mm or .45 ACP. It’s brutal, simple, and fits in a back pocket. Made for backup use, but it wins style points for minimalism.
9. IWI Tavor TS-12
- Caliber: 12 Gauge
It’s a bullpup shotgun with three rotating magazines and up to 15 shells. Or 25 mini shells. The IWI Tavor is ridiculously complicated, and it’s hard to justify it as a defensive shotgun, but it does put a smile on the face of just about everybody that picks it up.
10. North American Arms Mini Revolver
- Caliber: 22LR
This tiny .22 revolver can literally be concealed in a belt buckle. We’re not joking. It’s so small you’ll question its legitimacy, but it’s a fully functional single-action revolver with a wild cult following. Not tactical, not practical, just pure American novelty.
Related: Into oddball rimfire? Take a look at the Meligun MG-22, one of the stranger .22 LR designs you can actually buy.
Want a legal, low-noise option for the backyard? Our air rifle guide has you covered.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the weirdest gun you can legally own?
The Ohio Ordnance Works M2-SLR takes it. This is a semi-automatic, belt-fed .50 BMG built on the same M2 Browning pattern the US military mounted on armored cars in World War II and helicopter gunships in Vietnam, and it sells as an ordinary rifle rather than a machine gun. It runs about $18,000.
Do any of these guns need an NFA tax stamp?
No. Every gun on this list is sold as a standard rifle, shotgun or pistol, which is the whole point: the strangeness is in the engineering, not the paperwork. One caution on the Mare's Leg, though. A factory-built Mare's Leg leaves the factory classed as a pistol, but chopping down a lever-action rifle yourself can create a short-barreled rifle and that does need registration.
Are these guns legal in every state?
No, and this is the part that catches people out. They are legal in most states as ordinary firearms, but restrictive states rule several of them out. California bans .50 BMG rifles outright, which removes the M2-SLR, and states with assault weapon laws or magazine limits will affect the PS90 and the Tavor TS-12. Check your own state and city law before you order anything on this list.
Why does the Chiappa Rhino fire from the bottom of the cylinder?
Because it puts the bore in line with your hand instead of above it. Firing from the bottom chamber sends recoil straight back rather than flipping the muzzle up, which is why a .357 Magnum Rhino recoils so much more gently than its chambering suggests. It looks alien, and the layout is doing real work.
Is the DP-12 any good for home defense?
Honestly, no. It fires twice per pump and carries a lot of shells, which sounds ideal on paper, but it is heavy, unwieldy and not especially accurate. It is a fascinating piece of engineering and a conversation starter at the range. For actually defending a house, a conventional pump or semi-auto shotgun will serve you better.
What exactly is a Mare's Leg?
A chopped-down lever-action with a shortened barrel and a cut-down stock, usually chambered in .357 Magnum or .44 Magnum. Steve McQueen carried one as Josh Randall in the TV western Wanted: Dead or Alive, which is why the shape is instantly familiar. Bought as a factory pistol it is simply a pistol, no tax stamp involved.
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