Roy Jinks in his book History of Smith & Wesson traces the history of the Smith & Wesson early pocket pistols: “Within the Double Action group of revolvers, there is a series of pocket pistols that are unique in that they do not have an exposed hammer. 32 Iver Johnson Top-Break which eventually came to me. Not so, as the pocket pistols my grandfather had to choose from were often fitted with safety devices. With today’s emphasis on safety triggers, internal locks and even padlocks, one might think this is a somewhat recent phenomenon. Notable names include Iver Johnson, Harrington & Richardson and most assuredly Smith & Wesson. Top-break pistols are called that because they are hinged at the bottom-front of the frame and unlatch at the back-top of the frame, swinging down for loading and unloading. From the 1880’s well into the 20th century several firearms companies produced Top-Break pocket pistols. 44 Rimfire to mate up with the Henry rifle. The first successful center-fire cartridge firing revolver was the Smith & Wesson #3 American, which was chambered in. Henry Deringer’s single shot percussion pistol became infamous when used by John Wilkes Booth. All of these were fairly anemic by today’s standards but were certainly well above having nothing. Before this little pistol arrived both Colt and Remington produced. The first viable cartridge firing revolver was the Smith & Wesson Tip-Up, 7-shot, single action chambered in.
Yes, folks were armed, however they did it discreetly. All the “B” Western movies would have us believe everyone went around carrying openly this was especially not true in cities.
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