Sounds like the article "Frontier Manstoppers" from 1972, in which Howard French described a bunch of howdah pistols, claiming them to be "man-stoppers". Bit of a crock, really, but perhaps he just didn't know any better.

A worthwhile article by Seyfried detailed a lovely best-quality howdah pistol by Dougall, built on the lock-fast action. If I get time, I'll dig out the article: either Handloader or Rifle a few years ago. Anyone else have the reference...?