Working History — C. 1855
Pistol, pocket pistol
Pocket pistols of this type were typically carried for protection by female travellers. It is fitted with a retractable trigger which extends when the gun is cocked. The barrel can be unscrewed for loading. This normally required a wrench, but ribbed barrels could be unscrewed by hand. The pistol has a percussion firing mechanism. Pulling the trigger brought the hammer down on a copper detonating cap on the nipple. The spark passed through a hole in the nipple igniting the charge inside the barrel which fired the bullet.
- Category:
- Working History
- Object ID:
- 31.86/1
- Object name:
- pistol, pocket pistol
- Object type:
- Artist/Maker:
- Witton, Daw & Company
- Related people:
- Related events:
- Related places:
- Production date:
- c. 1855
- Material:
steel, wood
- Measurements/duration:
- H 13 mm, L 80 mm, D 54 mm
- Part of:
- —
- On display:
- —
- Record quality:
- 100%
- Part of this object:
- —
- Owner Status & Credit:
Permanent collection
- Copyright holder:
digital image © London Museum
- Image credit:
- —
- Creative commons usage:
- —
- License this image:
To license this image for commercial use, please contact the London Museum Picture Library.