would anyone ever conceal carry a cap and ball revolver?

[BHP FAN]

back when that is all I had, that is all I carried. Forty years ago, now, but I didn't feel ''naked'', or even under-armed, except in the sense that that's where my holster was.

 

[Acorn Mush]

Sorry for the rant but this is something that I take very seriously.

Foto Joe, thank you for a thought-provoking and incisive post. It did not seem to me to be a rant at all, but rather your attempt to convey to the rest of us the gravity of the subject based upon your real-world experience.

I have the misfortune to live in California. As such there is no way in Hell I would be able to attain a CCW permit since I am not, and never will be, a politician or a rock star. If this state ever decided to come out of the Dark Ages and adopt the "shall issue" CCW philosophy I would seriously consider applying for one, giving due thought and sober consideration to what you have written.

My hat is off to you, sir.

 

[jeepnik]

Acorn, it is quite possible for "regular" folks, I'm one, to obtain permits in California. The ease or difficulty varies from county to county. I suggest you check and see if your county or a nearby county has more lax issuing standards. A short move might make all the difference in the world.

 

[YumaKid]

Gents, it really depends upon your employment/financial situation. Right now would not be the most opportune time (but it sure seems like the most urgent time) to "head East"; but as things turn around, you should consider crossing the river to where permits were once fairly easy, take and pass a class that covers handgun law and shooter's rights/responsibilities and also involves some shooting to qualify as somebody who could actually enjoin the target, as opposed to a passing vehicle only remotely near your threat.

Two things of which to be aware:
1.) "...the river..." Uh, yeah... that would be the Colorado River, the one that protects we Arizonans from your state's ludicrous laws and political machinations. (Shame on us for not 86'ing Raul Grijalva; but c'mon, you guys.... Nancy Pelosi and Jerry Brown? AGAIN?????)

2.)If you read closely, you saw that the CCW permits "were once" easily obtained with only an NCIC background check and a class. Not since 2010... when law was changed and the issuance of permits ceased. Now it reads (paraphrasing): "If you're over 21 and legal to own a firearm, you're legal to conceal it"! I'm as "anti-regulation" as the next ten Tea-Party members; but that may be a little overboard.
I ONLY offer this opinion after observing the actions of a very few random people I've seen at our local shooting range.
Some people should not own guns, just as they should not own or handle most sharp objects.... nothing more dangerous than one of those 3/4" diameter pencils like we all used to use when we were in pre-school or kidnergarten; and it better not be overly-sharpened, either!
(IMHO)

 

[Guvnor]

The full size navy and army models are big, heavy guns and i can't really imagine trying to conceal one on me somewhere. But the smaller framed .31 guns like the 1849 colt or 1863 remington pocket would probably be doable. I wouldn't be as concerned with having enough stopping power (as plenty of dead people from the 19th century would attest to that) as i would about reliability issues like cap jams, etc. also not sure if i would trust leaving one loaded for long periods (like months at a time). But if you had a way to seal the caps to keep out moisture and you knew the gun ran reliably, then I could see it being suitable. I once took a 1851 navy on a camping trip just for kicks, it was fun...felt like an true old time mountain man, lol.

 

[MCgunner]

Outdoors, sure. I've carried my Supercompanion concealed before, but only a couple of times.

I carry a 9mm subcompact in a pocket usually, occasionally a Radom P64, or if I'm in a revolver mood, a particularly sweet Taurus M85SSUL. A NAA .22LR rides shotgun in my weak side pocket.

I have kept a .44 fake Navy loaded in the house when I had nothing else other than a .25ACP.

 

[PRM]

Colt Pocket Police & Pocket Navy

Over the last 30+ years at various times - YES. Will I ever again - YES.

I started shooting C&Bs when I was younger because it was cheap and I liked to shoot. As time passed, I upgraded to the 2nd Generation Colts, and later outfitted them with pre-ban elephant ivory. Both have seen their share of lead balls go down range. There are just some days that I feel like having my "old friends" around. They are accurate, reliable, and except for being a little slow on reloading, will do all their modern counterparts will do. Slow to reload - that's why I have two

Most days, I have either a Colt PPS or S&W Model 36-1 with me. Even been known to carry a Walther at times. All said, my first love in the shooting world was black powder. Its a fondness I always keep close at hand.

 

[BADUNAME30]

I rethought this question and..........i still say ...YES.
But only in this configuration.

 

[loose noose]

Sorry folks, but when I'm carrying concealed (which is allmost allways) I either carry my Springfield XD40 or or my Colt .45acp, I just don't take any chances when it comes to me or mine. Believe me I truly love shooting the holy black, and will continue to do so till death do us part. However, when it gets really hot out here like it did last summer, I carry a little TCP .380, as it beats throwing rocks.

 

[husker]

If its all i had to carry I would with out worry. Im a way better shot with my coal burners. But I shoot them way way more than my 45s

 

[Busyhands94]

I carry em', I know they'll always go bang, and I know they'll stop a threat just fine if my life were in grave danger.

 

[DurangoKid]

I like my BP handguns. That said, There is an old quote about not bringing a knife to a gun fight. There could also be one about bringing a Cap & Ball pistol to a modern shoot out. You are most likely going to meet some guy in a "Hoody" firing a pistol that does not lay a cloud of smoke and fires 14 reliable rounds of expanding bullets. The slow often binding cap dropping C&B with a light lead ball that takes 3 days to kill with lead poison is no match for a modern semiauto.

 

[BHP FAN]

The ''light'' lead ball in .44, or even .36 was made from pure lead which expands pretty darn well, especially if it hits bone.The cap and ball revolver was a reliable killer in the Civil War, and in the right hands, it still would be, if it were pressed into service. An 1860 Colt .44 snubby will kill a fellow just as dead as a Tech Nine.

 

[.22-5-40]

I've thought of this too..but what if you were involved in a shooting..and the police decided to confiscate your weapon for who knows how long..after trial over?? What then is going to happen to your nice shiny revolver after sitting uncleaned?

 

[BHP FAN]

A very good point, and one I had not thought of. Still, I do have several, and if I had to ''sacrifice'' a handgun, I'd rather sacrifice a Pietta than my Inglis Hi-Power....

 

[jason41987]

exactly what bph says... if it sits in evidence that long.. doesnt matter, its a $180-$250 piece of equipment as opposed to an $1000 smith and wesson.

the only reason i would consider it is just how much better i shoot with these than anything else... im far more confident in hitting something with single action revolvers than i am with any other tool, due to the balance, handling characteristics and pointability

 

[brushhippie]

My involvement with BP revolvers is based on me being able to make what it takes to load and fire, Ive got about what it would take to buy a 1911 in ALL 5 of my BP revolvers, so you bet! although Ive changed my lifestyle a good bit and really have no need for concealing a handgun I normally just open carry.....but I dont go to town maybe twice a month.

 

[Kaeto]

I have carried this concealed.

 

[Guvnor]

Nice grip work. I bet that shoots one helluva flame out the barrel. Even if you missed a bad guy you'd probably at least give him a 2nd degree burn.

 

[Kaeto]

I also have a drop in cylinder for it that lets me use .45 Long Colt.

 

[351 WINCHESTER]

If that's all I had - yes. I would find a way, but I have other pistols that are much better suited for s/d of the protection of my wife, myself and others. You can rest assured that the bad guys are going to have the best they can afford or the best they can steal.

 

[44 Dave]

Not all of my concealed carry is "under coat" I often have a concealed under a blanket or jacket on the truck seat where size doesn't mater. I can hit the target a lot better with a big old six gun and I do load all 6 in my Remie.!
Dave

 

[dickydalton]

I agree, Foto Joe. My choice of defensive arms is a little different but concealed carry has no BP guns.

 

[scrat]

I would carry my 1858. with reserve cylinders. I dont think it would ever be possible to conceal carry a WALKER

 

[arcticap]

ive been seeing some projects of peoples involving cutting down and shortening cap and ball revolvers, and bobbing the grips, sometimes removing the sight... making what they call a "belly gun" or a hideout gun i guess they were called... so i wonder if anyone would ever actually carry one concealed... if so, why?

Folks seem to always relate how they like BP guns because their purchase aren't as regulated and in most cases they're not registered, so that the government can't take them away as easily.
Inherent in that line of thinking is that they can easily serve as throw away guns which would make tracing it much more difficult, especially if it were used in a shooting.
As low of an opinion that many have about carrying them for self-defense, if any good or bad guy were to actually use it, it's an easier gun to not have traced back to them. And because it may be considered to make a nearly perfect throw away gun, then perhaps that would make C&B's more desirable for concealed carry.
Why even bother with reloading it when a person could just carry 2 or 3 of them and then toss them away after use.
Since it's a crime to have possession of a firearm with the serial numbers altered or removed, then having possession of a C&B would be the best gun for a bad guy to be caught with, especially if they had no other choice of gun. That could mean less jail time.
That sounds like a good enough reason to carry one concealed. And I wouldn't want to argue with any person that was pointing one at me, especially if it was a bad guy. And knowing that it could easily be a throw away gun and not traceable, I would think that he must really mean business. If he's really willing to point a loaded C&B at me then I think that would be an especially good reason to fully cooperate with him.