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John Wilkes Booth shoots Abraham Lincoln (160 years ago today)
History.com ^ | 11/13/2009 | History.com Editors

Posted on 04/14/2025 3:53:25 AM PDT by DFG

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To: rxh4n1

What’s weird, a single shot derringer was kind of an outdated weapon for 1865. Booth could have afforded any number of “modern” pistols for the dirty deed.


41 posted on 04/15/2025 8:50:06 AM PDT by Freedom4US
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To: Freedom4US

“What’s weird, a single shot derringer was kind of an outdated weapon for 1865. Booth could have afforded any number of “modern” pistols for the dirty deed.”

Would make a great “What If” if Booth had missed. Lincoln was a huge man for his day and was at one time a tough frontier brawler.


42 posted on 04/15/2025 8:58:00 AM PDT by rxh4n1
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To: rxh4n1

Hmmm…. That’s a really interesting thought. I’d say for a realistic scenario, it was really tough to miss at point blank range. Now, a misfire wouldn’t be too unusual. Cap goes off, but the charge doesn’t. Lincoln, enraged, beats his ass to death with a chair.


43 posted on 04/15/2025 7:16:18 PM PDT by Freedom4US
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To: Freedom4US

” Cap goes off, but the charge doesn’t. Lincoln, enraged, beats his ass to death with a chair.”

I like it. That would work, just a plain old misfire, or let’s say in his excitement, Booth unwittingly spills his drink on his derringer while he is at the bar. Or like Trump, Lincoln turns away at the last second to say something to Mrs. Lincoln. Even with his knife, given Lincoln’s much longer reach and a chair, Booth is dead meat.


44 posted on 04/15/2025 9:11:53 PM PDT by rxh4n1
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