Posted on 03/27/2023 5:18:55 AM PDT by marktwain
As the research into how effective pistols are when used as a defense against bears has progressed, a startling progression has been observed. The recorded use of pistols in defense against bears has grown by two orders of magnitude in recent decades.
As pistols came into common use, they were almost certainly used in defense against animal attacks. Portable, reasonably reliable pistols, which could be used as a defensive weapon against an unexpected attack, were unavailable until about 1534 when wheellock pistols became available. They were relatively expensive. Arms of the period were commonly privately owned. Some were likely used in defense against animals. Europe, at the time, had much wild land. Bears, except for those in captivity, had been eliminated from England. Wild bears still existed in the mainland of Europe. While the use of wheellock pistols against bears probably happened, this correspondent has not seen any records documenting it.
The development of the flintlock, then the percussion pistol and revolver, made the use of a pistol in defense against a bear much more likely. Pistols became less expensive and more common. Bears were becoming uncommon in much of Europe by 1820. I can recall an account where flintlock or percussion pistols were used as secondary weapons on bear hunts in North America. Starting in 1836 (effectively the 1840’s), revolvers added the potential for more firepower. Records are sparse and difficult to document from the era.
The database is limited to handguns that use self-contained cartridges.
As a defense against bears, handguns came into their own with the development of the self-contained cartridge. The .44 Russian (1870), .45 Colt (1872), 10.55×25 Reich Revolver (1879), and .455 Webley (1880) cartridges are all sufficiently powerful
(Excerpt) Read more at ammoland.com ...
Yes! Beat me to the punch. I came back to add it’s an old painting called “Right of Way” by Richard Goodwin from an ad for the Model 8. At least according to the guys who posted it on the web a couple of weeks ago. I vaguely remember it from my childhood. I remember lusting for that rifle, felt I absolutely positively needed it, even tho I grew up in Kansas where we didn’t have grizzlies, or any kind of bears, or mountains.
Make that Philip Goodwin.
You right I live the country
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