Sharps Pepper Box

[dmahalek]

Did soldiers purchase these and carry them during the war? I am considering adding one to my Civil War collection.

 

[Nathan Stuart]

Apparently, about 100,000 of the Sharps Pepperbox derringers were manufactured between 1859 and 1874. That's a lot of these pocket pistols in circulation.

 

[UCVRelics]

Did soldiers purchase these and carry them during the war? I am considering adding one to my Civil War collection.
View attachment 448932

Soldiers as well as officers purchased pocket pistol for a last ditch weapon.

 

[Cornpone and Molasses]

I almost purchased one of these a few years ago for a good price. Wish now that I did…

 

[JOHN42768]

A very short range option

 

[DixieRifles]

A very short range option

I call it Poker Table range.

 

[Pollaco]

This thread seems simple enough, the question is "did soldiers purchase and carry these"? Yes.

 

[C. Cash]

When you gots the private pay burning a hole in your pocket, you buys the pocket pistol. I note that Wheeler's Cav. carried various pocket pistols as back ups to their primary weapons. On one occasion after having shot out all their pistols they threw their pocket versions at the persuing enemy. No doubt Infantrymen packed them too.

 

[Pollaco]

This were chambered in .22 short weren't they? Vastly under-powered but better than a sharp stick.

 

[C. Cash]

I think the originals were 22 but they were later made in 32 rimfire? Yes....a bit better than a sharp stick. Edit: looks like they made a 30 rimfire as well?

 

[bayouace]

Nice ones at the museum in Lincoln, NM. Oh boy, 33 years ago. Lol

 

[C. Cash]

Here is a Union Soldier with what looks like a Sharps four barrel.

 

[steamboater]

Nice ones at the museum in Lincoln, NM. Oh boy, 33 years ago. Lol

Talk about in the boonies, Lincoln NM is close to nothing. Then, too, an awful long drive to a museum that Google Maps says is temporarily closed!

 

[bayouace]

Thus, my 33 year caveat. Lol

 

[7thWisconsin]

I love these! A non-firing replica would be great pocket litter for a soldier impression.

 

[S.Isaacson]

They made these in 22, 30, 32 short, and 32 long rimfire in several variations. I'm not certain when each variation was offered, but some of the .32s were certainly made during the war. I imagine they were popular with soldiers since they would have been easy to carry. They certainly weren't powerful, but the Colt Model 1849 Pocket and Model 1855 Pocket were both very weak too, and we know Colt's pocket revolvers were the most popular of all 19th century Colts. A Sharps is much faster to reload than a percussion revolver too, and only held one shot less than many pocket model revolvers.

 

[johan_steele]

To paraphrase from a letter I read years ago. "Sister, you ask how to best use a pocket pistol? It is a pistol you shove against a mans vest pocket or belly and pull the trigger."

 

[7thWisconsin]

Putting a bullet of any size in someone´s gut at that time could be a mortal wound, one of a particularly lingering and painful nature. I´m pretty sure the threat of a mortal wound lingered in people´s minds then more than now and may have acted as a deterent.

I knew a guy who shot himself in the hand loading one of those pistols. Loaded all 4 barrels then slammed the barrels back by pushing on the muzzles. Bang!

 

[Pollaco]

There was a little reproduction on the market about 35-40 years ago.Stainless Steel, I think.I owned one and am still kicking myself for ever letting it go.

 

[S.Isaacson]

There was a little reproduction on the market about 35-40 years ago.Stainless Steel, I think.I owned one and am still kicking myself for ever letting it go.

Derringers

Iver Johnson Arms, Inc. Rockledge, FL 32955 [email protected]

www.iverjohnsonarms.com