Pistol ownership in Colonial America

[Campbell]

I am ignorant and have been curious about this for awhile.
Who owned pistols in pre-Revolution colonial America?
If anyone here has read about, or has studied this topic, I would be interested to know.

 

[64Springer]

I would venture to say that every segment of the colonial population had pistols.

Just like in modern America, there were dirty rotten crooks in colonial America.

Poverty may have kept some from acquiring pistols.

Religious beliefs may have kept some from acquiring pistols.

 

[rchas]

My understanding is that pistols were not that common, and used primarily by officers (who often procured their own personal weapons) , cavalry and naval troops. Pistol making got a boost during the war of 1812 in this country.

 

[tgfrench]

I would dare to say that as good of rifle as a man could afford, a tomahawk and a sharp knife were more the mainstay of the day of the greater population.

 

[Louisk]

I'm sure there are historians here who know vastly more than I do on the subject but I would venture a guess that today's mass produced handguns are more affordable to the common joe than pistols of the colonial days were.

 

[Grenadier1758]

Since a pistol takes almost the same labor as a rifle to make and the cost of parts with a slight reduction in the cost of a barrel; pistols would be rare on the Frontier. Inventories of store goods have far more fowling guns and rifled guns than pistols.

 

[Uncle Miltie]

Most people could not afford pistols which helps to explain why so few of them remain today.

 

[Dale Allen Raby]

They were and are expensive. Also, you had a rough time feeding the family with a pistol unless you were a highwayman. I'd have probably bought another long gun for the wife to shoot with.