There are many references to pistols in the early newspapers and journals, but details such as how they were being carried are hard to come by. As with other early topics, the terms used are confusing and subject to being interpreted in more than one way. It is obvious in some cases that the term ‘holster” or “holster pistol” refer to pommel holsters on the saddle, also called saddle or pistol buckets. In other cases it may be that “holster refers to something carried on a belt. And, does “pocket pistol” mean pocket in the clothing or maybe those saddle holsters are being called pockets. Also, when it seems plain pistols are being carried on a belt, do they have belt clips or are they just stuck in the belt?
A variety of references, no solution, just data points for consideration.
The Pennsylvania Gazette
October 16, 1782
"A ROBBERY.
SIXTY DOLLARS Reward.
BROKE into the house of the subscriber,….three men,…. all armed with pistols, one remarkable long in a belt hung over the shoulder."
Estwick Evans, A Pedestrian Tour of Four Thousand Miles Through the Western States and Territories During the Winter and Spring of 1818, Early Western Travels, Vol. 8, series, ed. Reuben Gold Thwaites..… "Around the waist was a belt with a brace of pistols,"
THE VIRGINIA GAZETTE
February 19, 1780
LONDON, October 1. Extract of a letter from Scarborough Describing John Paul Jones in the famous battle between Le Bonhomme Richard and Serapis, October 23, 1779:
“Jones fought in a sailors frock and trowsers, with a large girdle round his waist, in which hung twelve pistols, and a large cutlass in his hand."
Painting by Francisco Goya, Spanish, The Tobacco Guards, 1779-80, showing a large leather? breastplate with several pistols fastened to it.
Advertisement at the back of Thomas Page’s book, The Art of Shooting Flying, 1767:
"Pistols for Holsters, and flat ones for Holster or Pockets."
The Pennsylvania Gazette
February 9, 1764
NEW YORK, January 30.
"He offered the Cooper a Ten Pound Bill to let him escape, and on his Refusal attempted to break from him, but was secured, and carried before a Magistrate, where he was searched, and a
loaded Pistol, a Powder Horn with Powder, a Paper of Bullets, and a long sharp pointed Knife, were
found in his Pockets.
THE VIRGINIA GAZETTE
January 6, 1774
LONDON, September 16.
"Last Night, about eight o'Clock, as Mr. Smith was returning to Town from Clapham to his Post Chaise, he was shot at by a Highwayman, who happily missed him. His Servant learning the Report of a Pistol, immediately came forward, and being armed with two Brace of Pistols and a Blunderbuss, shot the Man dead. The Body was conveyed to a Publick House, and
on searching his Pockets was found a second Pistol charged and primed, with an Advertisement for a Place as a Coachman."
Norwich, Oct . 21.
"On Tuesday the 10th Instant as Mr. Reynolds, a Servant to Messieurs Attelesey and Aldrich, of this City, was riding from Hadiscoe to Yarmouth, he was attacked on Belton Heath by a single Highwayman, with a black Wig, black Complexion, a black Beard of 8 or 10 Days Growth, a bluish riding Coat, and mounted on a red Roan scrubby Horse, with a rough Main and Coat: He said to Mr. Reynolds, D— you, have I staid for you all this Morning? Unmount, or I will shoot you this Minute: Upon which Mr. Reynolds asked him, what he would have? He replied, I'll have your Mare and your Bags; and upon that fired a Pistol at him, the Ball of which he heard whiz in the Furrs; whereupon Mr. Reynolds clapt Spurs to his Mare, and rode off as fast as he could; but the Highwayman rode after him, and fired a second Pistol at him, the Bullet of which graz'd on the Sleeve of his Great Coat; but being better mounted than the Highwayman, he out rode him, and got clear off: The Highwayman, he saw, had
more Pistols in a Belt under his Great Coat; and after he left pursuing him, he rode away towards Semerly."
John Dabney Shane, John Hanks interview, area of Wheeling in the 1780s:
“As he jumped the fence, his pistol
fell out of his belt and the Indian, mistaking his effort to recover it, for a design to attack him, gave a whoo! and turned back.”
Peter Muhlenberg’s journal, 1784, approaching Pittsburg:
"I have at present the perfect resemblance of Robinson Crusoe: four belts around me, two braces of pistols, a sword and rifle slung, besides my pouch and tobacco pipe, which is not a small one."
And one pistol holster posted on the Contemporary Makers site, with good pictures, purported to be an original, obviously made with a loop to be worn on a belt. No provenance is given, you are on your own as to authenticity. In part, the post says:
"The pistol buckets are quite rare. They came from an estate sale in the St. Louis area many years ago. They are made to be worn on the person, not as saddle gear. The guns that fit them would be a box lock, 8" screw barrel. This has been determined by the impressions made by the guns and the length of the holster."
contemporarymakers.blogspot.com/2008/11/pair-of-pistol-buckets.htmlDid you get your pistol?
Spence
