Pocket Pistols with Secret Triggers

On May 21, 1803, Lewis purchased a pair of pocket pistols from Robert Barnhill’s gun shop at 63 North Second Street in Philadelphia for $10. The surviving receipt reads: “Bot. of Robert Barnhill 1 Pair Pocket Pistols, Secret Triggers.” These were compact flintlock pistols designed for concealment, featuring a spring-loaded trigger that remained hidden within the frame until the hammer was cocked. When cocked, the trigger would spring out, ready for firing. Lewis chose the model with a concealed trigger specifically — a design favored by gentlemen and travelers of the period for personal defense.