Boot Pistols?

[Smokey Plainsman]

Hello all!

I have recently become fascinated with the American underhammer percussion pistols of the early 19th C.

But what were these guns actually meant for? I have read they were dueling pistols. I have read they were for hunting small game. I have read they were meant for concealment in a boot, hence the name.

It seems most were of small caliber, in the .28 to .34 range. That seems pretty small for a decently sized non-derringer gun. To me, that points to possible hunting use.

I’ve read so many conflicting reports on these guns and what their primary purpose was.

Thoughts?

 

[nick_1]

pictures?

 

[Sam squanch]

Back then, nobody wanted to get shot. With no modern medical care, even a small wound could be a death sentence, and a slow one. So I think a small caliber pistol may have sufficed for every day carry in civilization. But most were packed around the farm for a chance at a rabbit or squirrel.

 

[hawkeye2]

Dueling was pretty much passe, even outlawed, by the time these came along. They were general use pistols for hunting and defense with some being made as target guns. Reliable and simple to manufacturer and maintain they were quite popular in the northeast.

 

[Smokey Plainsman]

pictures?

Guns such as these:

 

[Smokey Plainsman]

Dueling was pretty much passe, even outlawed, by the time these came along. They were general use pistols for hunting and defense with some being made as target guns. Reliable and simple to manufacturer and maintain they were quite popular in the northeast.

Back then, nobody wanted to get shot. With no modern medical care, even a small wound could be a death sentence, and a slow one. So I think a small caliber pistol may have sufficed for every day carry in civilization. But most were packed around the farm for a chance at a rabbit or squirrel.

Thanks, gang!

So were these meant to actually carry on one’s person? If so, what method would have been popular for such?

 

[Loyalist Dave]

Here is a 2012 article on the underhammer pistol

Underhammer History - A Short Version

LD

 

[Smokey Plainsman]

Here is a 2012 article on the underhammer pistol

Underhammer History - A Short Version

LD

Thank you! But it doesn’t mention any method of usage for these guns whatsoever.

 

[Colonial Boy]

I’ve always thought that they were carried in the long boots and were handy on horseback.
In my youth I carried a b l .410 ,when mounted, stuck in to the boot top.

 

[Smokey Plainsman]

I’ve always thought that they were carried in the long boots and were handy on horseback.
In my youth I carried a b l .410 ,when mounted, stuck in to the boot top.

Thanks, gang.

I am in talks with gunsmith Rod Olsen of Nebraska to have commissioned such a gun in caliber .38 with 6” barrel.

It seems these really were a “do it all” and were revolutionary in the fact that the construction was drastically less costly than more traditional sidelock arms.

Indeed, the quoted price from Mr. Olsen was very much reasonable. My planned usages for the pistol will be recreational target and potential squirreling and rabbiting.

I recall in my reading that the .36 Colt’s revolving belt pistols were well thought of by Confederate veterans in regards to effectiveness to the intended target.

It seems one of these Ruggles patent pistols would prove certainly effective considering the very similar ballistics that could be expected.

-Smokey

 

[Auldjin]

For comparison this is an underhammer by Westwood of London.

 

[Bucks Co]

See if you can get a copy of Herschel Logan's Book - "The Pictorial History of the Underhammer Gun"; it'll give you a great insight into Guns with the Hammer underneath!!

 

[Smokey Plainsman]

See if you can get a copy of Herschel Logan's Book - "The Pictorial History of the Underhammer Gun"; it'll give you a great insight into Guns with the Hammer underneath!!

Thanks!

Can you give a little rundown? What would these pistols have been used for?

 

[hawkeye2]

Thanks, gang!

So were these meant to actually carry on one’s person? If so, what method would have been popular for such?

In the boot, tucked in a belt or in a pocket. Holsters were fairly common for these and Packing Iron shows a few.

 

[Smokey Plainsman]

In the boot, tucked in a belt or in a pocket. Holsters were fairly common for these and Packing Iron shows a few.

Thanks! Of what style were these holsters?

 

[Bucks Co]

Thanks!

Can you give a little rundown? What would these pistols have been used for?

Used for anything and everything - Defense/Hunting even target shooting - there sems to have been almost endless variety. This is my Target 32 made by Elmer Johnson of Mattawa Washington. The illustration is from Logan's Book.

 

[tenngun]

The wreck of the steamship Arabia in 1858 had barrels full of boot pistols in this style. Like today folks buy expensive working guns, but also el cheapo. I expect a lot of folks would carry one who couldn’t afford or did not want to spend on more expensive guns

 

[Smokey Plainsman]

The wreck of the steamship Arabia in 1858 had barrels full of boot pistols in this style. Like today folks buy expensive working guns, but also el cheapo. I expect a lot of folks would carry one who couldn’t afford or did not want to spend on more expensive guns

Of underhammers? I looked that up and only found photos of some boxlock type pistols?

 

[tenngun]

Of underhammers? I looked that up and only found photos of some boxlock type pistols?

I think you’re right, been years since I was there. But I was taken aback by the amount of single shot boot pistols sold in such numbers.