I do not own any "Howdah" pistol, but IMO in the beginning they have been weapons like todays "bank robbery specials" ie. shotguns whose stock and barrel has been shortened. That´s why I think a real Howdah should be quite a big and robust double barrel gun. Later those factory made "Officer's", Gentleman's" or "Traveller's" pistols has been, more or less, used same way as the original ones.