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During the performance of "Our American Cousin" at Ford's Theatre Booth snuck up into Lincoln's box and shot him with a single shot to the head from a .44 caliber Philadelphia Derringer. It was up close and personal.Lincoln was at a theater
It would just be called a Forehand Arms Single Shot.
Abraham Lincoln was killed with a single shot muzzle loading Deringer pistol.
A .44 caliber derringer.A small pistol called a Philadelphia Derringer.
turn of the century...1890s-1904
25-100 dollars
Hopkins and Allen took over the Forehand name in 1903 and continued until 1915.
i also own a Hopkins & Allen single shot break open shotgun with "Forehand" inscribed on its side and i recently learned from another forum that Forehand was another gun manufacturing company that was taken over by Hopkins and Allen from 1901-1902. Hopkins and Allen continued to put Forehand on their models until 1903. therefore the gun you own is dated somewhere between 1901-1903.
Forehand & Wadsworth of Worcester Mass. Was in operation from 1871 to 1890. They were mostly known for their handguns. They made a couple models of derringers, and several models of full size and pocket revolvers. The most popular of the Forehand & Wadsworth revolvers at the time were the brand name guns they made; Terror, Swamp Angel, and American Bulldog.Forehand & Wadsworth did make a couple other guns though, a falling block type rifle, some side-by-side shotguns, and the pictured single shot shotgun.Due to it's uniqueness, and somewhat obscurity, I would give this shotgun a value of somewhere in the neighborhood of $200. If the right collector needs this particular piece to round out a collection it may fetch as much as $400.
I assume your single action is pre-war ? If so, then made about 1907. As to the caliber, check markings on barrel. that should give the caliber.......
Single.
According to the National Archives, John Wilkes Booth killed President Lincoln with a shot in the back of the head near his left ear. The pistol he used was manufactured by Henry Derringer, a .44 caliber about 6 inches long with a 2 1/2 inch barrel and only weighs 8 ounces. The weapon was found on the floor of the State Box in Ford's Theatre after the assassination, but it located today in the basement of Ford's Theatre.