Derringer

[L Verge]

(07-22-2018 04:59 AM)AussieMick Wrote:  Has anybody tried to find out about derringers similar to that used by Booth? (Wikipedia says 15,000 derringers in total were made ... some were copies of the unpatented derringer ... it seems Booth's was a genuine Philadelphia Derringer).

https://archives.fbi.gov/archives/about-...schehl.htm

Apparently it (if we can be sure that the one assessed was in fact the one used) was unusual in that it had a counter-clockwise rifling (left-twist).

So my queries are ...
1. How many such derringers with that rifling were made (happy with a evidence-based estimate obviously). The FBI report has "How frequently this rifling pattern occurred during the production of the original Deringer pocket pistols is unknown." Ok, but do we know how many such derringers (with that rifling) now exist from that period? As compared to those with 'normal' rifling? I should imagine auctioneers could hazard a reasonable guess.

2. Were derringers with that rifling more common in , say, Canada or the South than Washington ... Ok, we will probably never know. Unless a weapon/antique expert can express an opinion.

3. What was the reason for that rifling? Was it cheaper to make? Or more expensive? How did it affect the way the weapon was used ?
(Be good if you know someone that has some genuine firearm knowledge)

4. Was Booth known to carry weapons? Maybe thats a simplistic question we'll never answer ... but how common was it for people such as actors to carry a weapon? Was it legal for a non-military person to carry a gun in Washington ?

I know the weapon has been called an assassin's weapon although I dont know of any other time it was used for that purpose. I do find it odd that Booth took the risk of the single-shot weapon misfiring (yes I know he had a knife). Would a revolver really have been too conspicuous? Was he perhaps provided with the derringer by someone that wanted to force him to get physically close to Lincoln so that there was no chance of missing ( a revolver could have resulted in Booth firing from a distance and nervously spraying the shots around).

This is definitely a subject for Wesley Harris to tackle; he's our resident expert on the weapons of the assassins and is finishing a book on that subject. Joe Beckert might have some information also.

For my two-cents' worth, I think the carrying of firearms in that era was fairly common - by both men and women. When discussing the derringer with visitors to Surratt House, I often referred to it being termed a "ladies' pistol," because women were known to carry them in their reticules and fur muffs for protection. Weren't they fairly useful for riverboat gamblers, etc.?