Hey, this isn't where you should ask this but what the heck... It's a thief mission item thing. It doesn't let you use it because that would ruin the quest.
If you Really want to get the pistol, The Arcanum Savegame editor can exchange one shematic for it. You can get it here. http://www.rpgplanet.com/arcanum/tinker ... erer.shtml
Fuck no, its not cheating, its only cheating if you give yourself a flintlock pistol with a 30 speed rating and a 500-550 electrical damage bonus.
and even that isn't as bad as givng yourself a sword with a 1000-1000 damage, 1000-1000 fire damage, etc., etc. bonus...
and even that isn't as bad as givng yourself TWO swords with a 1000-1000 damage, 1000-1000 fire damage, etc., etc. bonus...
I dunno.. Alot of stuff is cheating, alot isn't. It really depends on what you think. You could think that using an editor to bring your char back from the dead may be a good thing, while others call it cheating.
But then again, what others consider cheating doesn't mean squat as long as you don't hack your multiplayer characters. What you do in singleplayer is your own business anyway. Not that I would think that the game would be especially fun in the long run with an überweapon like the ones you guys just mentioned...