James Herondales's gun is the first gun that is able to withstand runes in order to kill demons. It was developed by Christopher Lightwood and James was the only person whom the gunpowder would ignite for at the time.
Description[]
The gun is a Colt Single Action Army revolver, better known by mundanes as a "Peacemaker". It is a nickel-plated handgun, which is covered in runes. Its gray barrel is etched with the inscription "LUKE 12:49".[1]
History[]
The gun was manufactured in America. At some point in time, it was sent to Henry Branwell but he was uninterested in it. Unable to return it, he kept it and was relieved when Christopher Lightwood took an interest in it years later.[2] Christopher began working on the gun and tried to make the gunpowder ignite in the presence of runes—as in the past runes have prevented this and making them useless on demons. Despite having used different mixes of gunpowder, runes and casting protection spells, he was unsuccessful.
In December 1903, he was working on it in the lab, while Thomas Lightwood kept him company. He told Thomas to try using the gun, but it failed. When James arrived and tried the same, the gun worked. After several attempts—with Christopher trying and failing too—he deduced that James was the only one who could use the gun due to his lineage, and he gave the gun to James for field tests.
Later, after conversing with the ghost of Filomena di Angelo in an abandoned factory in Limehouse, James used the gun against an Ourobas demon, which was immediately killed. Astonished, Anna Lightwood tried using it, but she too failed. The group convinced Lucie Herondale to give it a try, since she shares the same blood as James, but she was unable to make it work.
A few days later, when he was venturing into another dimension, James felt confident in its power and tried to shoot Belial. However, Belial caught the bullet and sent it back to James, injuring him. He lost his grip on the weapon and accidentally left it behind.
The Prince of Hell kept it and brought it with him to his next encounter with James. When interrupted by Lilith who wanted her realm back from him, Belial attempted to shoot her with the gun but, mysteriously, it did not work for him either. He tossed it to James who caught it and shot at her. Due to the protection spells in the names of the angels Sanvi, Sansanvi and Semangelaf placed on the gun, Lilith was banished.[1]
At some point the gun was placed in Jesse Blackthorn's coffin and buried in the back garden of Blackthorn Hall, along with some other objects. It was dug up and found in 2014 when Julian Blackthorn and Emma Carstairs were repairing the house. Surprisingly, it was discovered that Kit Herondale could make the gun work as well.[3]
Appearances[]
Trivia[]
- The inscription on the barrel of the gun—"LUKE 12:49"—corresponds to a passage in the Bible which says: "I have come to bring fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled."[1]
- Christopher's creation of the gun is meant to come with unintended consequences.[4]