Boot pistol question

[zburkett]

I have seen small pistols similar to this one in museums as battlefield pick up. How common was it for a soldier to carry a small pistol? How common was it for an officer to carry a small pistol? Lastly, I'm guessing the date on this pistol is about 1850. Does anyone have a better date?

 

[BillO]

Good rule of thumb. The more likely someone would be to have to carry everything they have on their back for no telling how far, the least likely they are to be carrying a pistol.

 

[zburkett]

I've got that BillO, I just see them in small museums around here and wonder who did carry them.

 

[Carronade]

Good rule of thumb. The more likely someone would be to have to carry everything they have on their back for no telling how far, the least likely they are to be carrying a pistol.

Or the more they have to hike, the less likely they are to tuck hard objects in their boot.

 

[Patrick H]

Frankly, I don't know how many soldiers might have carried a box lock pistol. They were fairly common before the war and some of them were pretty fancy. I believe these were intended for the "concealed carry" gentleman of the pre-war era. They'd easily drop into a coat pocket or tuck into a waist sash. All that having been said, most of these would not have been very old when the war started. While not as useful as a revolver for home defense, these would be easy to conceal around the house, too. When guns were being confiscated by militias in Missouri, I expect a lot of these little pistols were kept hidden. What I've always wondered is whether they typically came in a cased set of accoutrements--loading rod, cleaning rod, cap box, turnscrew, bullet mold, etc. It seems logical that they would, but I have never seen even a fancy one in a case.

 

[zburkett]

I was told (for what its worth) that these twist barrel pistols came with a wrench to unscrew the barrel for reloading. It seems to be in good shape all things considered. As for weight I'm not sure it is heavy enough to matter.

 

[mofederal]

I have seen many of these, some in collections, some in museums. A weapon of last resort. They could still save your life. I am sure it was their main function. What better one was there. They are also often presented as a gentleman's weapon. This one is pretty ornate, a fitting weapon for a man of leisure. I would think an officer might carry one, but you never know. If I was an enlisted man, I would rather carry a Colt Pocket Pistol. Five shots are better than one.

 

[1950lemans]

I know that sailors carried all sorts of weapons, especially their personal weapons which they brought along with them. Here's a pix of handguns found in the sunken USS CAIRO. Notice the pepper box and two boot pistols. The boot pistol on the lower right looks like a Hopkins & Allen under hammer.

 

[Patrick H]

I have one which I inherited from my dad, but it's not an old family piece. At least, it's not from OUR family. Someone traded it to my dad way back when. It has a bright metal octagonal barrel that is not polished steel and is not silver plate. I believe it's nickle (if that was available then). It has a brass frame and beautifully checkered walnut one-piece handle. It has a silver escutcheon plate inlaid into the heel of the grip. It's a box lock, and the hammer is engraved to look like an open-mouthed fish. It's a very fancy little piece, with an impressively bore. I google searched "box lock pistol" a year or so ago and found dozens and dozens of photos, but not a single one with accoutrements. I suppose if you had a standard caliber like .36, .44, .58 or whatever, it would be possible to go to the hardware store and buy pre-cast balls.

 

[Story]

. Here's a pix of handguns found in the sunken USS CAIRO.

I had to look that up. Tangentially, that one in the lower left is Selfridge's 1849 Colt.
https://laststandonzombieisland.com/2016/04/30/the-very-sinkable-thomas-oliver-selfridge/

 

[Package4]

I have seen many of these, some in collections, some in museums. A weapon of last resort. They could still save your life. I am sure it was their main function. What better one was there. They are also often presented as a gentleman's weapon. This one is pretty ornate, a fitting weapon for a man of leisure. I would think an officer might carry one, but you never know. If I was an enlisted man, I would rather carry a Colt Pocket Pistol. Five shots are better than one.

Except early in the war, enlisted were not allowed to carry side arms, unless specified by the branch of their respective arm, i.e. Cavalry or Artillery. Boot pistols were an early war addition to one's kit that soon gave way to regulation and practicality, these little pea shooters were not enough to stop a man, let alone do any damage beyond 10 feet. They are found at early war sites and frequently along the line of march to and from those sites.

 

[mofederal]

The extra weight factor. Something we forget to factor in the question. I forgot about the early war regulations. Thank you for bringing that in. The small caliber makes it a man stopper at close range only. Thank you for the forgotten facts that I read long ago and forgot.

 

[Package4]

The extra weight factor. Something we forget to factor in the question. I forgot about the early war regulations. Thank you for bringing that in. The small caliber makes it a man stopper at close range only. Thank you for the forgotten facts that I read long ago and forgot.

That's what the forum is all about, getting it right for those that want to learn about what is no longer taught and as a primer for those who would like to expand upon existing knowledge. The forum is also a great way to open up rarely explored vistas of the ACW to get opinion and healthy debate.

We all forget, in fact I need to check myself more often these days, but we also need to explore some of the "facts" that we were taught or read early in our historical journey. There is so much new material that has come to light via scholars, amateur archeologists/detectorists and plain ACW buffs, that what we knew to be fact, may no longer be so certain.

I have learned quite a bit as a member of this site!

 

[mofederal]

So have I. I lost many books due to the flood, but the worst is whe I order one, then find the old copy I had. It gets frustrating at times.