The Booth Deringer pistol

[J. Beckert]

I don't believe Booth went to the theater, with the plan he had in mind, armed with only a one-shot pistol. Firearms and "ammunition" (powder, caps) of the day were far removed from what we have today and much more susceptible to failure. Booth barely made it out of the box, with Rathbone clutching his coat as he tried to jump, which may have even accounted for his awkward landing. Imagine if he'd walked in and heard a "click" when he fired?

I don't buy the pistol was "too big" to conceal. I carry a large frame revolver every day, (bigger than Booth's) and usually conceal it with only a vest. He could have very easily had both pistols on his person, especially wearing a long coat. In his thigh high boot, a gun belt, whatever. I'm sure he'd planned to be armed for whatever resistance he might meet on his flight and a one shot pistol and a knife just don't make sense to me.