Did Lincoln own any weapons? - Printable Version +- Lincoln Discussion Symposium (https://rogerjnorton.com/LincolnDiscussionSymposium) +-- Forum: Lincoln Discussion Symposium (/forum-1.html) +--- Forum: Abraham Lincoln before his Presidency (/forum-2.html) +--- Thread: Did Lincoln own any weapons? (/thread-134.html) |
RE: Did Lincoln own any weapons? - Gene C - 11-05-2012 09:09 AM There is an acccount by William Stodard (one of Lincoln's staff) in "Looking For Lincoln" p.117, that President Lincoln had a Spencer carbine. "...the President, who was a very good shot, enjoyed the relaxation very much. One morning early we were having a good time - he with his favorite "Spencer," and I with a vilianous kicking nondescript, with a sort of patent backaction breech, that left my shoulder balck and blue...." RE: Did Lincoln own any weapons? - RJNorton - 11-05-2012 09:58 AM In Tad Lincoln's Father by Julia Taft Bayne the author writes that Tad had a terrible longing for a real pistol. Finally he got one after nagging his parents repeatedly. Does anyone know where this came from? Was it a pistol the Lincolns had in Springfield and brought to Washington? RE: Did Lincoln own any weapons? - LincolnMan - 11-05-2012 11:06 AM Even more questions: what was the "real" pistol? My first "real" pistol was a BB pistol. I don't think Tad was given a Model 1860 Colt! Now that is a "real" pistol! RE: Did Lincoln own any weapons? - Rogerm - 11-05-2012 12:39 PM The only pistols I ever owned were a cap gun and a water pistol. RE: Did Lincoln own any weapons? - Gene C - 11-05-2012 12:51 PM Did you ever have a rubber band gun? Those were great (except for the marks left on the wall - and then on my rear end - butt it was worth it) RE: Did Lincoln own any weapons? - LincolnMan - 11-05-2012 03:55 PM Cap guns-now that brings back memories! The little red cap roll-the smell of the powder- hadn't thought of that in years. Of course, I was Wyatt Earp. Cowboys were all the rage. RE: Did Lincoln own any weapons? - RJNorton - 11-05-2012 04:59 PM Here is a little more from Julia Taft Bayne's book: RE: Did Lincoln own any weapons? - Bill Richter - 11-06-2012 12:06 PM Ah, yes! Cap guns--funny, we plated the James Younger gang. Different up-bringing. My mom was from Missouri (we pronounced it, Mizzourah) RE: Did Lincoln own any weapons? - LincolnMan - 11-06-2012 12:16 PM Roger, nice additional info. It seems that the good advice to "never point a gun at anything or anyone you don't intend to shoot" was around even back then. Too bad we don't know what kind of revolver it was-I'm just curious. RE: Did Lincoln own any weapons? - RJNorton - 11-06-2012 12:38 PM I agree, Bill. As I have mentioned in a few previous posts the idea that Lincoln was armed at Ford's Theatre is an interest of mine. If he were carrying a pistol that night, is this it? On June 9, 1863, Lincoln telegraphed Mary, "Think you better put Tad's' pistol away. I had an ugly dream about him." Assuming she did so, what happened to it? I have only questions - no answers. RE: Did Lincoln own any weapons? - LincolnMan - 05-16-2013 07:42 PM If Lincoln was carrying a pistol at Ford's Theater, why do you suppose it is not known? Why isn't it among the things we know he had with him that night? RE: Did Lincoln own any weapons? - Gene C - 05-16-2013 07:51 PM My guess would be because he didn't have one with him. RE: Did Lincoln own any weapons? - Jim Page - 05-16-2013 07:55 PM Bill, my cap gun (circa 1958 or so) was the wonderful Have Gun, Will Travel double-holster model, which came with a black leather belt and holsters and a black vest; the holsters had the silver chess-pawn Paladin emblem on it. It also came with a stack of Paladin business cards. The asking price for this set on eBay, where I snagged the image, is $1,200. --Jim (wire Carlton Hotel, San Francisco) RE: Did Lincoln own any weapons? - LincolnMan - 05-16-2013 08:56 PM Gene: that's my guess too. Jim: whoa-that is awesome! Whatever happened to our childhood toys, anyway? I still have a lot of my Marx Civil War soldiers-but-man- what happened to all my other stuff? Was my mother throwing things away behind my back? RE: Did Lincoln own any weapons? - Jim Page - 05-16-2013 11:07 PM (05-16-2013 08:56 PM)LincolnMan Wrote: Was my mother throwing things away behind my back? Bill, if your mom was anything like my mom, the answer is, "Yes!" --Jim |