The Booth Deringer pistol

[Wesley Harris]

The Gifford or "Ripley" pistol is just one of several that were supposedly found in, behind, near, or not-so-near Ford's Theatre. There's about a half-dozen accounts of people finding pistols here and there after the assassination. The others disappeared over time, obvious fakes but the .36 caliber pistol Ripley's has is the only one still around that has any degree of provenance. While it is a Henry Deringer-made pistol, that's it's only similarity to the "Booth" pistol found in the President's box. Different caliber, so it would not have been sold in a set with a .44 pistol, necessitating different accouterments (molds, etc).

There is nothing in the official records of a Deringer being found on Booth at Garrett's. There was at least one story of a Deringer pistol being exhibited around the country that supposedly came off Booth's body--a fake.

I've always found it difficult to believe an assassin would approach the President with simply one single-shot pistol. Booth obviously had access to more firepower. However, there is no evidence he had another pistol or that he was wearing the two Colt revolvers found on him at Garrett's. Percussion pistols could fail in a variety of ways and I would want a back-up but apparently that was what the knife was for. Why carry the knife in one hand if a second pistol was available?

I get that book finished answering all your weapon questions "some day."