Early Concealed Carry Before Permits (photo)

Gun Watch ^ | 23 February, 2015 | Dean Weingarten

[marktwain]

Many have speculated on the reason for the hand inside the coat pose of officers during Civil War photographs.   Perhaps it was to render access to a concealed weapon.  These, after all, were military officers.

Is that the bulge of a Smith & Wesson #1 under his left arm?  It is about the right size.   The number one was one of the first easily concealable cartridge pistols.  It was first produced in 1857 and was in great demand by officers in the Civil War.

As a .22 short, we might not think of it as having much stopping power.  But considering the extreme reliability and convenience of the cartridge compared to the percussion arms of the era, seven quick shots would have been very attractive. 

Many speculations have been made about the classic hand in the jacket pose.  Some speculate that it was meant to mimic Napoleon.  Others proclaim that it kept the hand still, or that the man was keeping his hand on his wallet.   Those seem unlikely, given that the pose has been said to be popular with Romans and their tunics.   Considering what happened to Ceasar, a Roman tunic would be a handy place to hide a dagger.

So here is another speculation as to why Civil War soldiers are often seen with their hand in their jacket.   They were keeping it close to a concealed weapon.

©2015 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice is included.Link to Gun Watch

[marktwain]

I am sure that some Civil War troops carried concealed weapons.

[BlueNgold]

Some have claimed it’s a popular Masonic pose for men of a certain rank...

I haven’t a clue, personally.

Could have just been the vogue of the times.

[Wallace T.]

I believe it has a lot to do with the famous portrait of Napoleon. Unlike Hitler or Stalin, Napoleon was widely admired by the public, due to his military achievements. Keep in mind that the United States fought Britain, Napoleon’s main protagonist, during the War of 1812.

[4yearlurker]

Back then one had to remain still for quite a while for a photo portrait. Maybe it's just a way to keep your arms still so the photo isn't blurred.

[cripplecreek]

I think it was a style thing. In fact a lot of them seem to have developed their own standard poses for posed pictures.

George Armstrong Custer had a distinctive arms crossed pose in most of his later pictures but it looks like he developed it over time.

His first photo as a cadet.



There are other poses but the arms crossed pose seems to be most common for him.

[SMARTY]

They were just emulating this guy: It was the usual pose.

[elcid1970]

Most daguerreotype studios had prop pistols & muskets for their soldier subjects to be photographed with.

Derringer pistols were already in wide use by the Civil War.

[marktwain]

True, as percussion arms. There were percussion pepperboxes and small revolvers as well.

[Big Red Badger]

kewl

[Tijeras_Slim]

So much for Rules 1 through 4.

[mosaicwolf]

The original purpose of concealed carry was to enhance the element of surprise. That is still valid today. It has nothing to do with the “Oh my God! He /she has a gun!” crowd.