19th Century Concealed Carry

[Homesteader]

I've read about the gun-men of the early west carrying revolvers in their pockets and stuffed in their belts of course, and have even read about one (Johnny Ringo maybe?) who had shoulder holsters so he could stand with his arms crossed and quickly draw. Are there any other authentic ways pistol fighters carried their revolvers that y'all know of? In particular I'm curious about the very early post War Between the States west, or the east for that matter. Just how did those old boys pack without everyone being aware of it?
:hmm:

 

[himem777]

Long over-coat just like today Morpius circa 1870. :grin:

 

[Coot]

A derringer in a vest pocket would be pretty unobtrusive. Perhaps a push dagger or brass knuckle in the other vest pocket.
:hmm:

 

[east texas]

how bout the old spring loaded derringer up the sleeve trick! ,the gun in the hat trick? i seen it on tv so it MUST be true! :hmm:

 

[chuckr1952]

What I have to offer does not give you the anwser your looking for but shows how things were back then. My father was born in a dugout in 1901, they would have to travel 60 miles to wichita falls tx to buy lumber and building material with a team and wagon. Still a lot of outlaw types around, the road was a dangerous place. My grand father [born 1864] instructed witch ever boy he took with him to help, if you run into riders on the road you never ask thier name you never ask thier business you never ask where they are going or where they came from, he wore a colt in his waist band and had a shotgun in plain sight, if someone did have any ideas this may change thier mind,when they came to a town, a house or business they hid the guns, it wasnt proper to be armed in that setting. So I guess he prefered open carry.

 

[rafterob]

There is a great book called "Firearms Curiosa" or something like that. Many examples of things like spring-loaded wrist derringers, cane rifles, palm pistols etc. all popular late 1800s. The concealed weapons were most popular in urban settings.

 

[Coot]

There is a great book called "Firearms Curiosa" or something like that. Many examples of things like spring-loaded wrist derringers, cane rifles, palm pistols etc. all popular late 1800s. The concealed weapons were most popular in urban settings.

You are spot on! The short title is just that - "Firearms Curiosa" written by Lewis Winant in 1955. :thumbsup:

 

[CoyoteJoe]

Hickok is often depicted with a brace of Navy Colts in crossdraw carry but I read that while marshal of Hays Kansas he only carried a pair of breechloading single shot derringers in his coat pockets, he really didn't like to "make a display".
I believe John Wesley Hardin had a vest made with leather pockets to carry pistols concealed. Then of course there is the ever popular boot pistol.

 

I've read about the gun-men of the early west carrying revolvers in their pockets and stuffed in their belts of course, and have even read about one (Johnny Ringo maybe?) who had shoulder holsters so he could stand with his arms crossed and quickly draw. Are there any other authentic ways pistol fighters carried their revolvers that y'all know of? In particular I'm curious about the very early post War Between the States west, or the east for that matter. Just how did those old boys pack without everyone being aware of it?
:hmm:

Years ago, I can't remember which magazine it was. But, there was an article on "belly guns" as they labeled them. It was a great piece. Maybe Guns and Ammo?

A while back, while at a gun show, I saw an original 1851 Colt Navy that had been converted into a pepperbox. The cylinder pin was shortened and had a large head machine screw to hold the cylinder in place. Also, the frame was shortened to match the length of the cylinder. It was a neat coat pocket size six shooter. Sadly, I didn't have $450 to spare for it.

CP

 

[bigbore442001]

One thing to bear in mind is the style of clothing people wore in the past. It was fuller cut and did not necessarily hug all the countours of your body like many styles today. You would be able to effectively conceal a cap and ball revolver by wearing clothing that was socially acceptable.

As an example, one of the social morays that was in vogue was the wearing of a coat whenever ladies were present. It was considered very uncouth and possibly vulgar to have your suspenders showing to a lady. So you had to wear a coat or a vest. No matter the weather that was the accepted norm of the day.

 

[Greg Hardy]

In the show Bret Maverick, before the card game, he has to disarm himself. It was pretty funny, all the hardware he pulled out, shoulder holsters, sleeve clips, boot pistol, Chicago Palm Pistol in the hat, you name it. I believe the final tally was ten or eleven pistols.

 

[Dave Rosenthal]

Reminds me of the poster of holster king John Bianchi. Got to be at least 20 years ago. He's standing in a business suit and he's got about two dozen hand guns on his person, all concealed!

Get your suits a 1/2 size too big and the hardware makes up the difference!

Dave

 

[F.G. Ford]

Getting shot wasn't really the worry, the doc working on you was the concern, and infection which came with it.
A snub nose .44 Army, and a Greener 10 gauge with 12" barrels was really bad stuff.
Old Ford

 

[junkman_01]

Don't believe everything Hollywood puts out!

 

[Poor Private]

One thing to bear in mind is the style of clothing people wore in the past. It was fuller cut and did not necessarily hug all the countours of your body like many styles today. You would be able to effectively conceal a cap and ball revolver by wearing clothing that was socially acceptable.

As an example, one of the social morays that was in vogue was the wearing of a coat whenever ladies were present. It was considered very uncouth and possibly vulgar to have your suspenders showing to a lady. So you had to wear a coat or a vest. No matter the weather that was the accepted norm of the day.

Where did you get this information? Or is this another 19th century urban myth? We that do civil war reenacting have been told this for years and years but yet no-one can seem to come up with the provenance for it. So we have no longer adopted this attitude. If you look at period photos you will find thousands of men without coats and vests. I have a copy of "Photographic History of the Civil War" by Civil War Times right besides me, when I scanned through it I found tons of unvested, uncoated pictures of men. If you have any documentation please pass it on, we have been looking for it for years.

 

[Greg Hardy]

Perhaps it was in vogue in genteel society, in the big cities and in Europe, but from all the photographic evidence I have seen,it seems pretty common practice to go coatless with exposed suspenders on the frontier. As far as the fuller cut of clothing, that is pretty well accepted due to shipping expense and inventory problems. Better to make things a bit larger than too small.

 

[CoyoteJoe]

There are also plenty of photos of common laborers working in a three piece suite. While anything may go on the frontier most "city folks" tried to put their best foot forward and appear as well dressed as they could afford. I don't know about suspenders but it certainly was considered uncouth to strut about town with a big sixshooter on one hip and a massive Bowie knife on the other. That's really why concealed carry came about, it simply was considered more polite.

 

[Berkley]

In particular I'm curious about the very early post War Between the States west, or the east for that matter. Just how did those old boys pack without everyone being aware of it?

The 1849 pocket model was the largest selling percussion Colt by far, so very early postwar (i.e., before 1873) would have been the most common repeating handgun in America. A 4" barrel Colt '49 pocket model is as concealable as a modern Detective Special or S&W J frame, with IWB or pocket carry. Most real gunfights were indoors at card table range (as opposed to the movies' version of the street at high noon), and a .31 caliber pocket pistol made more sense as a defensive weapon for concealed carry than a larger caliber with a longer barrel. As noted, 19th century clothing styles and materials made concealment even easier than is the case with modern close-fitting lightweight clothes.

 

[Geraldo]

In particular I'm curious about the very early post War Between the States west, or the east for that matter. Just how did those old boys pack without everyone being aware of it?

The 1849 pocket model was the largest selling percussion Colt by far, so very early postwar (i.e., before 1873) would have been the most common repeating handgun in America. A 4" barrel Colt '49 pocket model is as concealable as a modern Detective Special or S&W J frame, with IWB or pocket carry. Most real gunfights were indoors at card table range (as opposed to the movies' version of the street at high noon), and a .31 caliber pocket pistol made more sense as a defensive weapon for concealed carry than a larger caliber with a longer barrel. As noted, 19th century clothing styles and materials made concealment even easier than is the case with modern close-fitting lightweight clothes.

Even today most people who carry a concealed weapon do not carry a full size revolver or automatic. While a full size pistol (1860 Army, Peacemaker, 1911, Glock) is a far better choice for a fight because people generally shoot full size guns better, very few people then or now want to carry three pounds of iron on a daily basis given their low probability of needing it.

The 1849 Colt, followed by small break-top cartridge revolvers, Colt and Savage autos in .25, .32, .380, Detective Specials and J-frames, and small autos of today show that people prefer, and have preferred, a small pistol as insurance.

 

[Vairochana]

I have an original 49 Colt, .36 Manhattan and New Model Army.
I sure as hell wouldn't want to lug the Remington in a shoulder holster but would be happy carrying the 4" Manhattan or 51/2" Colt.