The assassination of President Abraham Lincoln on April 14, 1865, remains one of the most scrutinized moments in American history. While the broader conspiracy and the manhunt for John Wilkes Booth dominate historical narratives, the specific weapon used to alter the course of the nation is a subject of intense forensic and historical interest. The gun used to kill Abraham Lincoln was a Philadelphia Deringer, .44 caliber, single-shot, muzzle-loading percussion cap pistol. This small, easily concealable handgun was the instrument of a tragedy that ended the life of the 16th President and plunged the United States into a deeper period of mourning and political uncertainty during Reconstruction.
The Weapon: A Philadelphia Deringer
The pistol itself was manufactured by Henry Deringer (note the single 'r' in the maker's name, though the generic term "derringer" evolved with a double 'r') of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Henry Deringer was a renowned gunsmith whose name became synonymous with the pocket pistol design he popularized in the early 19th century. The specific model used by Booth was the standard percussion cap model produced roughly between 1852 and 1868.
Technical Specifications
Understanding the mechanics of this weapon explains why Booth chose it and how the assassination unfolded in the cramped confines of the Presidential Box at Ford’s Theatre.
- Caliber: .44 caliber (approximately .442 inches). This fired a round lead ball weighing roughly 130 to 140 grains.
- Action: Single-shot, muzzle-loading, percussion cap ignition. This was not a revolver; it held only one round at a time. After firing, the user had to pour black powder down the barrel, ram a lead ball on top of it, and place a percussion cap on the nipple (cone) at the breech before it could be fired again.
- Barrel Length: 2.5 to 3 inches (typically 2 5/8 inches). The short barrel made it extremely compact but limited accuracy and muzzle velocity.
- Overall Length: Approximately 5.875 inches.
- Weight: Roughly 8 to 10 ounces (unloaded).
- Stock/Grips: Typically made of walnut with a distinctive "bird's head" or pistol-grip shape, often checkered for grip. The trigger guard was usually a simple brass or iron loop, and the butt cap was often brass or silver.
- Sights: Extremely rudimentary—a simple brass blade front sight and a shallow notch in the hammer or breech for a rear sight. It was designed for point-blank range, not aimed fire at distance.
Why This Gun? The Assassin’s Logic
John Wilkes Booth was a famous actor, familiar with the layout of Ford’s Theatre. He needed a weapon that was lethal at close range, easily concealed, and disposable. The Philadelphia Deringer fit these criteria perfectly.
- Concealability: Its tiny frame allowed Booth to hide it in a pocket or inside his vest without printing (showing an outline through clothing). He entered the theatre unarmed in appearance, bypassing any casual scrutiny.
- Close-Quarters Lethality: At the range Booth fired—estimated at two to three feet behind Lincoln’s left ear—the .44 caliber lead ball delivered devastating kinetic energy. The low velocity (approx. 400–500 feet per second) meant the heavy lead ball did not pass cleanly through the skull but rather fractured the bone and drove fragments deep into the brain tissue, ensuring a mortal wound.
- Single-Shot Simplicity: Booth did not need a repeat firearm. His plan was a single, decisive shot followed by immediate escape. A revolver would have been heavier, bulkier, and more complex to operate under stress. The Deringer’s simplicity meant fewer mechanical failures.
- Availability: These pistols were ubiquitous in the 1860s. They were sold over the counter in hardware stores and gun shops across the North and South for roughly $15 to $25 a pair (often sold in pairs with a loading rod and cap box in a fitted case). Booth purchased his pistol (serial number unknown, but often cited as part of a pair) from a Washington D.C. gunsmith prior to the assassination.
The Ballistics and the Wound
The forensic evidence provided by the attending physicians—most notably Dr. Now, charles Leale, Dr. Which means charles Sabin Taft, and Surgeon General Joseph K. Barnes—paints a grim picture of the Deringer’s terminal ballistics.
The .Worth adding: 44 caliber lead ball entered the left occipital region of Lincoln’s skull, just behind the left ear and about 2. Worth adding: 5 inches to the left of the midline. Think about it: it traveled diagonally across the brain, fracturing the orbital plates of the frontal bone, and came to rest just behind the right eye. The ball was not recovered during the autopsy immediately; it fell out into a white china basin when the brain was being removed during the post-mortem examination at the White House.
The wound trajectory confirms the close range. There was no stippling (powder tattooing) noted extensively on the skin, suggesting the muzzle was extremely close, perhaps touching the skin or hair, causing the flame and gas to enter the wound track rather than depositing on the surface. The percussion cap system produced a distinct flash and report, which witnesses in the box initially mistook for a stage prop or a gaslight explosion, buying Booth precious seconds to drop the pistol and draw his knife.
The Fate of the Weapon: From Evidence to Icon
Immediately after the shot, the pistol fell from Booth’s hand—or was dropped intentionally—onto the floor of the Presidential Box. Think about it: it was retrieved by William T. Kent, an actor and stagehand, or possibly by Major Henry Rathbone (who was stabbed by Booth moments later). The weapon was handed over to authorities and entered the chain of custody as Government Exhibit No. 1 in the trial of the conspirators That's the whole idea..
The Trial and Storage
During the military tribunal of the conspirators in May and June 1865, the pistol was presented as physical evidence. It was identified by witnesses and formally entered into the record. Following the execution of four conspirators and the imprisonment of others, the War Department retained the artifact.
For decades, the pistol sat in storage at the Office of the Judge Advocate General and later the War Department archives. It was not initially treated as a museum piece but as a piece of criminal evidence.
The Ford’s Theatre Museum and the FBI Investigation
In the 20th century, the pistol was transferred to the Ford’s Theatre National Historic Site (managed by the National Park Service) for public display. That said, its authenticity was challenged in the 1990s. A writer named Michael Gorback and others raised questions based on discrepancies in the serial numbers and physical features compared to known Henry Deringer production records And that's really what it comes down to..
In 1997, the FBI’s Laboratory Division conducted a comprehensive forensic examination at the request of the National Park Service. * Metallurgical analysis of the brass and steel components. That said, the investigation utilized:
- Microscopic tool mark analysis on the barrel and frame. * Historical record comparison of Deringer manufacturing batches.
The FBI concluded definitively that the pistol on display at Ford’s Theatre is the authentic weapon used by Booth. So the discrepancies were attributed to the hand-fitted nature of 19th-century gunsmithing (where parts were not interchangeable) and the chaotic chain of custody in the immediate aftermath of the war. The pistol remains on display today at the Ford’s Theatre Museum in the basement of the theatre, encased in glass near the door to the Presidential Box Practical, not theoretical..
The "Deringer" vs. "D
erringer" Distinction
A common point of confusion surrounding the weapon is its name. Still, the specific weapon used by Booth was manufactured by Henry Deringer, a 19th-century gunsmith who operated in Philadelphia. Here's the thing — his name, spelled with one 'r' in the middle, became so synonymous with his pocket pistols that the genericized term "derringer" with two 'r's emerged. It is frequently referred to as a "Derringer," a term that has become generic for any small, pocket-sized handgun. The correct spelling for the manufacturer is "Deringer," while "derringer" is the common noun for the class of weapon Worth keeping that in mind..
Conclusion: A Small Weapon, An Immense Shadow
The journey of John Wilkes Booth's Deringer pistol is a microcosm of the Civil War's aftermath—a story of chaos, meticulous preservation, and enduring controversy. That said, from a hastily gathered piece of evidence in a blood-stained box to a subject of intense forensic scrutiny over a century later, the weapon has transcended its status as a mere object. Still, it is not simply a firearm; it is a touchstone of American history, a tangible link to a single moment that irrevocably altered the nation's course. Today, encased in glass at Ford's Theatre, it continues to silently testify to the events of April 14, 1865, reminding visitors of the profound and fragile nature of leadership and the enduring weight of a single, fatal shot.
The official docs gloss over this. That's a mistake That's the part that actually makes a difference..
