The Gatling gun is one of the earliest known rapid-fire, hand-cranked weapons. The Gatling design is a forerunner of the modern machine gun and rotary cannon. Invented by Richard Gatling, it saw limited use by Union forces during the American Civil War in the 1860s.
Megan Kening of Etsy has taken this historic concept and transformed it into a steampunk USB flash drive. The Gatling gun USB features remarkable detail, vivid LED illumination during operation, and a rotating barrel assembly when powered on.
Megan’s set includes the Gatling gun USB flash drive and a matching ballpoint pen, both presented in a wooden display case. Each piece is completely handmade using materials such as copper, brass, glass tubing, USB electronics, and a small motorized gear assembly.
Megan Kening has been featured previously on GetUSB, and his work continues to impress. With a near-perfect five-star rating from buyers, it is safe to say any purchase from Megan delivers both craftsmanship and originality. Additional photos appear below.
The Gatling Gun USB flash drive is priced at $799 USD for the 128GB USB 3.0 version. At first glance the price may seem high, but a closer look at the craftsmanship, combined with the hours required to create such a detailed, functional art piece, makes the cost far easier to justify. For collectors and steampunk enthusiasts, this piece borders on a bargain.
