Gunlopnik

"ttyymmnn" (ttyymmnn) 07/08/2014 at 16:45 • Filed to: gunlopnik

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This is the .44 caliber derringer pistol that John Wilkes Booth used to assassinate Abraham Lincoln on April 14, 1865. I photographed it in the museum at Ford's Theater in Washington, DC. At 6 inches long with a 2 1/2-inch barrel, it weighs only 8 ounces and was one of the most popular concealed handguns of the time. The trigger and mountings were made of German silver, and there is a box in the grip for an extra percussion cap. The weapon was recovered after Booth dropped it in the Presidential box after firing it at point-blank range into the President's head. Lincoln died early the next day.

For Sweden > ttyymmnn 07/08/2014 at 16:46

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The engraving is nice

My citroen won't start > ttyymmnn 07/08/2014 at 16:50

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Is the background a really big pancake?

CRider > ttyymmnn 07/08/2014 at 16:50

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ttyymmnn > My citroen won't start 07/08/2014 at 16:51

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Yes. Yes it is. Lincoln loved pancakes, so it's sort of ironic.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > ttyymmnn 07/08/2014 at 16:56

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It's worth noting that while this is a real Philly Deringer, as opposed to the dozens upon dozens of cheap to not-so-cheap imitations that were made. Some saying "Derringer", one even saying "Deringer" after hiring a tailor with that last name.

Apparently JWB would accept no substitute.

Alfalfa > ttyymmnn 07/08/2014 at 16:58

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Single action hammer = gun equivalent of a manual transmission. I approve.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > Alfalfa 07/08/2014 at 17:00

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Word. I'm semi-planning to buy an Uberti Single Action Army (Peacemaker) replica:

ttyymmnn > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht 07/08/2014 at 17:04

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As I was reading about this weapon, I read that this particular gun is unique in that its rifling twisted counterclockwise (left-handed twist), rather than the typical clockwise twist used on most Philadelphia Deringers. ( Wikipedia ) I don't know all that much about guns, but I would suspect it kicked like an Army mule.

Alfalfa > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht 07/08/2014 at 17:08

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This here's my Colt Army replica. The original plan was to go with the steel frame, but this one was such a good deal at a pawn shop for $60. It looked like it had only been fired once.

Axial > Alfalfa 07/08/2014 at 17:08

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I don't know of any single-shot, cap-n-ball weapons that were double-action. :p

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > ttyymmnn 07/08/2014 at 17:10

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It at least has a semi-oldfashioned rolled handle and not a straight grip like some modern ultra-compacts. In other words, probably a bit more likely to roll in the hand on firing rather than slamming straight back. More likely to break a thumb than a wrist.

Interestingly, most modern Derringers have at least semi-rounded grips - I guess it's tradition at this point.

Here's the Heizer DoubleTap, one of the smallest non-classic derringer pistols out there:

Alfalfa > Axial 07/08/2014 at 17:13

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There's one! To my knowledge, anyway. The Starr model 1858.

Axial > Alfalfa 07/08/2014 at 17:14

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That's not single-shot! :p

Alfalfa > Axial 07/08/2014 at 17:16

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Touché. Didn't see that one.

Makoyouidiot > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht 07/08/2014 at 20:09

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I have one, Confederate Navy model 1844 replica...my dad got it for me several x-mases ago...I've fired 2 cylinders out of it, and then lost most of my stuff. :(

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > Makoyouidiot 07/08/2014 at 20:10

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An inherent advantage of a cartridge repligun over cap and ball - no powder/balls/perc. caps to go missing?

Makoyouidiot > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht 07/08/2014 at 21:00

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Indeed...I found some of my powder and balls, but I have no caps, and no measuring thing, and it's been so long that I have no clue how much powder to use.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > Makoyouidiot 07/09/2014 at 08:56

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USE ALL OF IT

What could possibly go wrong?

Makoyouidiot > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht 07/10/2014 at 00:12

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BOOOOOM