In the 1800s, canes were seen as an indispensable fashion accessory, and it was assumed that any man of good social standing wouldn’t leave home without one. There were canes for every occasion, and women carried them as well.
By the late 1850s, Remington Arms was looking to capitalize on this trend and began to manufacture cane guns that enabled dapper gentlemen to combine a de rigueur fashion accessory with a personal defense firearm. The single-shot arms were based on a patent, first issued in 1858 and extended in 1872, from Remington’s master mechanic, J.F. Thomas.
As originally designed, Thomas' invention consisted of two parts—a lower, or barrel section, complete with percussion cone; and an upper, or case section with attached cane head, which fitted over the cone and contained the gun's action. The internal hammer and inconspicuous button trigger aided in the disguise of this walking-stick-turned-personal-defense-arm.
A black powder charge and a solid ball or shot were loaded through the muzzle. Cocking the gun was accomplished by pulling back on the handle—this exposed the percussion cone for capping, while also extending a catch spring that served to keep the action from being closed inadvertently. If desired, the case could be closed without firing by depressing the catch spring and pushing the handle forward. The gun could not be fired with the handle closed, which acted as a safety feature for its gentlemen user.
Approximately 2,300 of these guns were manufactured, 1,800 of which were of the .22 or .32 rimfire caliber metallic cartridge design. Percussion cane guns were offered in .31 and .44 calibers. The cane guns weighed between 20 and 24 ounces.
By 1877, any gentleman could acquire one of Remington’s cane guns with a gutta-percha grip for the sum of $10. A deluxe carved ivory handle in the shape of a duck or dog head with realistic glass eyes would add another $5 to the cost.
You can see this Remington single-shot cane gun at the NRA National Firearms Museum in Fairfax, Va. The museum is located on the first floor of NRA Headquarters.
