The Booth Deringer pistol

[loetar44]

(12-19-2016 08:14 AM)J. Beckert Wrote:  I personally feel Booth was armed with another pistol. He was seen at the Garrett'swearing a holster and gun belt and there's no evidence he picked that up along the way. I can't see him going on a mission like his with one pistol that he didn't even take with him to reload. He had no idea what he'd encounter in his flight.

While it is small, that's more than enough gun to do the job and was perfect for the purpose. His only intention was to kill one man. Being the escape would contain a 10+ jump, he could afford to drop that one and leave it behind and not be encumbered by a bulky six shot pistol.

I once read (don't remember where) that also a Deringer pistol was found on Booth (after he was shot at Garrett's farm) and I remember (but not sure) that it was suggested that this Deringer was one of the matching pair which were in Booth’s possession, since the Deringer pocket pistols were sold as pairs in the 1860s. I think it is absolutely not true that a Deringer was found on Booth! As far as I know the firearms which were found on him were a Model 1860 Spencer carbine, serial number 24304; a .36 caliber Colt Model 1851 Navy revolver, serialnumber 117808; and a .44 Colt Model 1860 Army revolver, serialnumber 20407. All weapons were not used.