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.
” 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.