Green’s Dictionary of Slang

(orig. Aus.) a pistol.

1944		Aus. Women’s Wkly 12 Feb. 19/3: Rhyming slang uch as ‘lady from Bristol’ for pistol, used by Cary Grant, is an amusing comedy slant.
1984		Partridge DSUE (8th edn) 661: C.20.
2002		D. Shaw ‘Dead Beard’ at www.asstr.org 🌐 Vince was ambitious. Soon got himself tooled up with a lady of bristol and began turning over arthur j. ranks all over South London.