The gun that killed Lincoln

[idonthaveamusketyet:|]

Taken by me at Fords Theater in Washington DC

 

[Brazos John]

At least it's a decent-looking little pistol.
I'm glad the President wasn't killed with some measly little Saturday night special.
Thanks for the photos.

 

[TrapperDude]

I'd say looking at that little Derringer that the questions about their effectiveness has been pretty well put to bed with that photo. It's a shame that Lincoln's security apparatus wasn't in place as it should have been.

 

[Daveboone]

Security was MUCH more lax, well into the twentieth century. I recall LIncoln had military body guards, oneof which was stabbed by Booth.

 

[Irish132nd]

I remember seeing that pistol in 1984 when I took a tour of Ford's theater and other museums in the area. Neat little pistol. Even at age 13 I understood the historical significance that pistol had. Somewhere I have a couple pics of it from an old film camera. Thanks for sharing!

 

[springfield art]

At least it's a decent-looking little pistol.
I'm glad the President wasn't killed with some measly little Saturday night special.
Thanks for the photos.

Deringer is in rough shape. Wonder where, when, cost when Booth bought it? I never realized Ford's burned out and was completely re-built. At least it's still there in present form. I didn't realize the Pistol was on display there, I know it's owned by the Library of Congress, I believe. At close distance, it's surely deadly.

 

[Omahkapi'si]

What caliber is it?

 

[Brazos John]

What caliber is it?

It should be stamped on the barrel, with all of the warnings that it could be dangerous to sitting presidents.

 

[COTNTOP]

That does not look like the one shown on the INSP Channel this weekend.

 

[toot]

At least it's a decent-looking little pistol.
I'm glad the President wasn't killed with some measly little Saturday night special.
Thanks for the photos.

and with a HIGH CAPASIDTY MAGAZINE!!!

 

[Calum]

'morning,

I've a repro, and I have to admit that at short range (about 3 yards), it's pretty accurate. Mine's a .41, and if memory serves, that's the same caliber as the original.

Something that always intrigued me is why bother putting sights on it? Rifling, I understand, since they were often supposedly made from rifle barrels, but why sights?

Mike

 

[Snapper Petta]

Just a quick correction...Lincoln didn't have a military body guard with him on the night he was murdered. There was a policeman sitting in the theatre outside the box but he'd slipped away to enjoy an adult beverage during the performance. The individual in the box, Major Rathbone, was a last minute guest when Grant declined the President's invitation; their wives didn't like each other and had no desire to be around the other.

That's all for now. Take care and until next time...be well.

snapper

 

[Mulebrain]

I think from what I remember, the original was stolen and this may not be the original.

Can you clarify?

My dad was an avid historian, and he told me of an old man he met. He handed him a book and told him to look inside, and in that book was two
original tickets to Ford's theater the night Lincoln was shot.

 

[springfield art]

I'd say looking at that little Derringer that the questions about their effectiveness has been pretty well put to bed with that photo. It's a shame that Lincoln's security apparatus wasn't in place as it should have been.

Was about as effective as Prime Minister Abe of Japan recently. No one was looking out for his back. Tragic! Pres. Johnson screwed up Reconstruction big time.

 

[springfield art]

I think from what I remember, the original was stolen and this may not be the original.

Can you clarify?

My dad was an avid historian, and he told me of an old man he met. He handed him a book and told him to look inside, and in that book was two
original tickets to Ford's theater the night Lincoln was shot.

I've never heard that about the original being stolen. The tickets may or may not have been real, but it's the sort of item that would need to be 'vetted', as that's the sort of thing that would be hugely counterfeited.

 

[springfield art]

BTW, a friend has a brick from the foundation of the Barn where Booth was killed. Got it in the 50's on a family trip from the actual site.

 

[springfield art]

Taken by me at Fords Theater in Washington DC
View attachment 148970View attachment 148971

I have two of the Revell plastic models of this deringer that were out in the 60's.

 

[morehops52]

Even with a shot to the head at point blank range, it took the President 3 agonizing days to die. Not the most effective weapon but it did work.

 

[Jaegermeister]

I think he died at about 7:21a.m. the following morning.

 

[Mikekj]

Even with a shot to the head at point blank range, it took the President 3 agonizing days to die. Not the most effective weapon but it did work.

More like 10-12 hours.