St. George's Notes XII - "Real" Pocket Pistols...
« on: January 21, 2005, 10:41:07 am »
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For one reason or another, there's always been an interest in Pocket Pistols, and rightly so as probably more of those were carried during the period of the Frontier West than any other weapon.
We'll never know, since no one "saw" them like the Colts were seen - in their rigs.
If a man actually "saw" a pocket pistol - most likely things had gone really downhill at that point...
These are best described as those small-framed revolvers designed for concealability in a trouser or vest pocket and they were built by a large number of manufacturers - some good, some not-so-good and some time-honored.
Incidentally - this isn't about that famous "other" Pocket Pistol - the Derringer.
We'll do that another time.
Sadly - no modern manufacturer is making a good replica and so - you're going to have to find an original if you want one for your Impression and if you want to shoot with one.
On the other hand - this will illustrate the fact that you can still find "real" pocket pistols out there in the woodwork.
In the past few months, I wound up with four additions to my collection of odds and ends.
1. S&W 2d Model, 2d issue, spur-trigger .38S&W - built in 1888.
2. S&W Safety Hammerless in .32S&W.
3. H&R "Vest Pocket" in .32S&W - a truly ugly little revolver - with no front sight and hammerless, to boot.
No front sight was ever installed, and it's so ugly, it's really nice.
4. Belgian-made British Bulldog - short, powerful and well-liked and copied widely during the times.
These things are out there in drawers and on tables and in many cases they're worth picking up.
Good, solid makers include, but are not limited to:
Colt, Iver Johnson, Smith & Wesson, Harrington & Richardson, Forehand and Wadsworth, Merwin, Hulbert, Webley, Hopkins & Allen and Frank Wesson.
The foreign-made "Bulldog" revolvers (other than Webley) have good steel, but timing and lock-up can be an adventure to tighten up.
Look at a couple of things before you do decide to buy:
Overall condition - look at evidence of abuse - but don't pay much attention to loss of plating, as that's common and can be re-done, and if you don't want to do that - you can Simichrome or Wenol everything enough to mask its loss.
Look instead for big dings and pitting and burred screw heads and remember - spare parts are found in other people's guns...
Cylinder lockup - you want it to be tight and not to wobble.
In many cases, these guns were played with by grandkids after their daily carrying duties were over (I once knew of kids who played with a Dance Brothers...), and they can play rough.
You want something that'll lock up reasonably - especially when you hold the hammer down as if fired.
That's the tightest lockup you'll see in a revolver, so if there's a lot of play - you can think about it for parts.
Barrel-Frame Lockup - Has to be tight.
Look for cracking at the point of joining.
In many cases, tightening the screw is all that's needed, but if it's not able to be done - think "parts".
Condition of Grips - Hard Rubber grips can be a challenge to repair, but it can be done.
Better when you don't have to.
Once you've located your prospective companion - clean it - but carefully and pay attention to how it assembles and disassembles - Dave Chicoine's books - "Gunsmithing Guns of the Old West", and his "Expanded Second Edition" are invaluable here.
As far as ammunition is concerned - BP will always work, but factory smokeless will work as well in later revolvers, but don't get carried away - these little guns were never meant for the shooting stresses of C&WAS, or the pressures of modern reloaded ammunition.
As to .22's - the really short .22CB Cap (NOT the CCI - in the .22 Short case) will safely drive a Conical Ball from its barrel and not increase pressures.
Standard Velocity .22 Shorts are about as "heavy" a round as you'll ever want for later revolvers, but I'd certainly get some of the CB Caps first.
Better yet, just pick them up to add to a vest pocket as an accouterment, if you're concerned about firing them.
Good Luck.
Scouts Out!
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Topic: 'Real' Pocket Pistols... (Read 24123 times)