Bot at 07:09, 10 December 2022

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{{short description|Six-shot cylinder revolver}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2022}}
{{Infobox weapon
|image=Nirbheek revolver.jpg
|image_size = 300
|caption=Nirbheek revolver & 6 bullets
|name= Indian Ordnance Factories Nirbheek
|origin=India
|type= [[Revolver]]
|is_ranged= yes
|service=
|used_by=
|wars=
|designer=
|design_date=
|manufacturer=[[Indian Ordnance Factories]] via Field Gun Factory, Kanpur<ref>{{cite web |url=https://ofb.gov.in/unit/pages/FGK/our-products4 |title=Our Products |date=8 November 2019 |website=[[Field Gun Factory, Kanpur]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200222153830/https://ofb.gov.in/unit/pages/FGK/our-products4 |archive-date=2020-02-22}}</ref>
|unit_cost=INR 122,360<ref name="Costs">{{cite web |url=http://www.moroccoworldnews.com/2014/01/119113/india-manufactures-revolver-against-rapists/ |title=India manufactures revolver against rapists |date=10 January 2014 |website=Morocco World News |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140202211923/http://www.moroccoworldnews.com/2014/01/119113/india-manufactures-revolver-against-rapists/ |archive-date=2014-02-02}}</ref>
|production_date=January 6, 2014
|variants=
|number=
* 10 (January 2014)
* 28 (2015)<ref name="guns">{{cite web |url=https://www.guns.com/news/2015/03/23/indias-first-gun-for-women-fares-well-among-men |title=India's First Gun For Women' Fares Well Among Men |first=Daniel |last=Terrill |date=March 23, 2015 |website=Guns.com}}</ref>
* 3,000 (2018)<ref name="ETN">{{cite web |title=Nirbheek: Contrary to expectations, men major buyers of short-muzzled revolver priced Rs 1.35 lakh a piece |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/nirbheek-contrary-to-expectations-men-major-buyers-of-short-muzzled-revolver-priced-rs-1-35-lakh-a-piece/articleshow/58863802.cms |first=Shailesh |last=Menon |date=July 11, 2018 |work=[[The Economic Times]]}}</ref>
* 2,500 (2019)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/national/nirbheek-revolver-designed-for-women-has-sold-2500-pieces|title=Nirbheek revolver, designed for women, has sold 2,500 pieces|date=July 20, 2022}}</ref>
|spec_type= [[Revolver]]
|part_length=76.2 mm
|cartridge= [[.32 S&W Long]] (7.65×23mm)
|feed= 6-shot [[Cylinder (firearms)|Cylinder]]
|sights=Front sight–blade, rear sight-‘U’
|action=[[Double-action revolver]], [[break action]]
|range= {{convert|50|ft|0|abbr=on}}
|weight= 525 [[Gram|g]]
|length= 177.8 mm
}}
'''Nirbheek'''<ref name="ETN"/> (lit. "fearless")<ref name="GUN">https://edition.cnn.com/2014/01/13/world/asia/india-women-gun/index.html</ref> is a 6-shot [[Cylinder (firearms)|cylinder]] double-action revolver designed and manufactured by the [[Ordnance Factories Organization]] in [[Kanpur]], India.<ref>{{cite web| title =Nirbheek, India's first gun for women| date=January 21, 2014 | url =http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2014-01-10/india/46065392_1_arms-licences-india-s-revolver | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20140112120716/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2014-01-10/india/46065392_1_arms-licences-india-s-revolver | url-status =dead | archive-date =January 12, 2014 | work =[[The Times of India]]| accessdate =January 25, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| title=Indian Government Markets New Handgun To Deter Rape: 'First Gun For Women' |url=https://www.guns.com/news/2014/01/21/indian-government-markets-new-handgun-deter-rape-first-ever-marketed-women| date=January 21, 2014| accessdate=May 15, 2020| work=Guns.com }}</ref>

It was sold at INR 122,360 or $USD 2,000.<ref name="Costs"/>

==History==
The Nirbheek is marketed as India's first gun for women and it is named after ''Nirbheek'', the alias given to a 23-year-old woman who was [[2012 Delhi gang rape|gang raped in Delhi on December 16, 2012]], later dying of her injuries.<ref>{{cite web| title =A gun designed for Indian women| url =https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-25727080| date =17 January 2014 | accessdate =January 25, 2014 |work=[[BBC]] }}</ref><ref>{{cite web| title =Nirbheek Is India's First Revolver Designed For Women| url =https://www.forbes.com/sites/saritharai/2014/01/13/nirbheek-is-indias-first-revolver-designed-for-women| date =January 13, 2014 | accessdate =January 25, 2014| work=Forbes }}</ref> The victim's alias ''Nirbhaya'' and the revolver's name, ''Nirbheek'', both mean "fearless" in Hindi. The gun is illegal to carry in public in India without a permit, but these are almost impossible to obtain.<ref name="thedip">{{cite web |url=https://thediplomat.com/2014/01/nirbheek-indias-anti-rape-gun-draws-widespread-criticism/ |title=Nirbheek: India's Anti-Rape Gun Draws Widespread Criticism |first=J.T. |last=Quigley |date=January 15, 2014 |work=TheDiplomat.com |accessdate=25 January 2022}}</ref>

In 2014, it was reported that 100 women made bookings to purchase the revolver.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.asiaone.com/asia/gun-women-india?amp|title=Gun for women in India|date=March 28, 2022}}</ref>

In 2015, it was reported that men were the majority of buyers that purchased the Nirbheek.<ref>https://www.hindustantimes.com/india/india-s-first-gun-for-women-proves-a-hit-but-only-among-men/story-yCy6KGKoRHepD4C3TAB6eI.html</ref>

In 2016, buyers from Punjab lined up to purchase the Nirbheek.<ref>https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kanpur/buyers-from-punjab-queue-up-for-nirbheek/articleshow/51736902.cms</ref>

=== Criticism ===
The weapon attracted widespread criticism from women's groups and gun control advocates. They said that the 'revolver for women' was an insult to the memory of [[2012 Delhi gang rape and murder|Nirbhaya]], the victim, and it could not be the solution to [[Violence against women in India|violence against women]].<ref name="thedip" /><ref>{{cite web| title =India plans to sell a handgun designed for women| url =http://www.pri.org/stories/2014-01-20/india-prepares-launch-handgun-designed-women-despite-whole-lot-indifference| work =[[Public Radio International]]| date =January 20, 2014 | accessdate =January 25, 2022}}</ref> One gun control advocacy group said that they saw the launch of this gun by a state-owned factory as an admission of failure by the government. They claimed that women carrying guns are twelve times more likely to be shot by attackers compared to unarmed women.<ref name="thedip" />

The factory's general manager said that the gun would increase women's confidence and deter attackers. Critics say that not many women could afford the gun to defend themselves since it costs more than the average Indian's annual salary. Only high and middle-class women would be able to afford it but since these groups are not the most vulnerable (most of them use their own vehicle and do not need public transport), their having guns would not solve the problem. Carrying guns in public places in most parts of India are prohibited.<ref name="theguardian" />

In addition, Indian men are able to get a firearm license due to the bureaucracy of Indian firearm licensing system.<ref name="GUN"/>

==Design==
The gun is black, slim and lightweight, with a titanium-alloy body and wooden grips.<ref name="Nirbheek stats">{{cite web |url=http://ofbindia.gov.in/units/fgk/downloads/fgk_306480606119b6515bb51e242379602a.pdf |title=Nirbheek 32 (7.65) Revolver |website=Ordnance Factory Board |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171215042153/http://ofbindia.gov.in/units/fgk/downloads/fgk_306480606119b6515bb51e242379602a.pdf |archive-date=2017-12-15}}</ref><ref name="guns"/> It weighs 0.5 kg and it is said it could be carried in a purse or bag.<ref name="theguardian">{{cite news | title =Can a gun protect India's women from rape and violence?| url =https://www.theguardian.com/world/shortcuts/2014/jan/19/can-gun-protect-india-women-rape-violence| date =19 January 2014 | accessdate =January 25, 2014| work =[[The Guardian]] }}</ref>

The simple mechanism is thought to have been based on earlier designs by [[Webley & Scott]] and [[Smith & Wesson]].<ref name="guns"/> While the Nirbheek has a range of 10 meters, it's effective to be used at 15 meters.<ref name="Nirbheek stats"/>

==See also==
*[[Indian Ordnance Factories .32 Revolver|IOF .32 Revolver]]
*[[Webley Revolver]]
*[[Enfield No. 2]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

{{Ordnance Factories Board}}

[[Category:Weapons of India]]
[[Category:Revolvers of India]]
[[Category:.32 S&W Long firearms]]

Nirbheek - Revision history

Bot at 07:09, 10 December 2022