The phrase "a gun for a coward" isn't a technical specification you’ll find in a Smith & Wesson catalog. It’s a slur. It is a piece of historical baggage that has been tossed at everything from the earliest pocket pistols to modern concealed carry pieces. Usually, when people use the term, they are talking about the Derringer—specifically the tiny, two-shot Remington Model 95. But honestly, the history of this label tells us more about the fragile egos of the 19th century than it does about ballistics.
You’ve likely seen them in old Westerns. A gambler reaches into his vest, or a lady pulls a chrome-plated trinket from a garter belt. Small. Concealable. Lethal at arm's length. Because these weapons bypassed the "fair fight" social contract of the open-carry Old West, they were branded as the coward’s choice.
Why the Derringer Became Known as a Gun for a Coward
Social status used to be tied to how much iron you were willing to lug around on your hip. If you carried a Colt Single Action Army, you were a man of "proven" intent. If you hid a .41 caliber rimfire in your coat pocket, you were seen as a cheat. The stigma grew exponentially after April 14, 1865. When John Wilkes Booth stepped into the presidential box at Ford’s Theatre, he wasn't carrying a cavalry sword or a full-sized rifle. He was carrying a single-shot Henry Deringer pistol.
That one act solidified the "gun for a coward" reputation for a century.
It was a weapon of ambush. It didn't require a holster. It didn't announce its presence. In the eyes of a Victorian public obsessed with the aesthetics of "honorable" combat, the concealability of the Deringer was proof of a lack of character. But if we look at the actual mechanics, calling it a coward's tool is kinda ridiculous. These things were notoriously difficult to shoot. The triggers were heavy. The sights were non-existent. The recoil on a tiny frame could practically snap your wrist if you weren't holding it right.
The Evolution of the Pocket Pistol Stigma
As time moved on, the "coward" label shifted targets. In the early 20th century, it moved to the "Saturday Night Special." These were cheap, small-caliber revolvers often made of pot metal or zinc alloys. Because they were affordable, they were accessible to the poor and the marginalized. The media, and even some high-end firearm manufacturers, used the same "cowardly" rhetoric to lobby for the Gun Control Act of 1968, specifically targeting small, inexpensive handguns.
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It's a pattern. Whenever a firearm makes self-defense accessible to someone who isn't a "warrior" by trade, the gatekeepers come out.
Today, you see a ghost of this argument in the debate over "mouse guns." People will scoff at a .22 LR or a .25 ACP. They’ll say it’s not a "real" gun. They’ll imply that if you aren't carrying a full-sized 9mm with three spare mags, you aren't serious about protection. But honestly? The best gun is the one you actually have on you when things go south. A .380 in your pocket is infinitely better than a .45 in your safe at home because it was too heavy to wear with your summer clothes.
Realities of Concealment vs. The "Fair Fight" Myth
We have to talk about the reality of self-defense. The idea of a "fair fight" is a dangerous hallucination. If you find yourself in a situation where you need to use a firearm, the goal is to survive, not to satisfy some 1880s code of chivalry.
The Remington Model 95, the quintessential gun for a coward, was designed for the ultimate "get off me" scenario. It had a 3-inch barrel. It fired a slow, heavy bullet. It was meant for across-the-table distances. If you were a traveler in the 1870s and someone tried to rob you at an inn, that little derringer was your only hope. Calling that "cowardly" is just elitism.
Modern equivalents include:
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- The Ruger LCP series
- The North American Arms (NAA) mini-revolvers
- The Smith & Wesson Bodyguard 38
- The SIG Sauer P365 (though it's pushing the "small" limit)
Each of these serves the same purpose the original Deringer did. They provide a last line of defense for people who cannot or will not carry a belt-mounted weapon.
The Engineering of Tiny Firearms
Making a small gun is harder than making a big one. You have to deal with intense pressures in a very small amount of metal. When Henry Deringer first started making his namesake pistols in Philadelphia, he used high-quality rifling and percussion caps. He was a master craftsman. The "coward" label was a marketing nightmare for him, but his sales never suffered. People wanted them because they worked.
There is a technical trade-off, though.
Smaller guns have shorter sight radiuses. This makes them much harder to aim accurately at distance.
The weight of the gun doesn't help soak up the "kick." A tiny .357 Magnum derringer is one of the most painful things you can ever shoot. It feels like a firecracker went off in your palm.
Most have very limited capacity—usually just two rounds. You have to make them count.
Addressing the "Coward" Label in Modern Self-Defense
If you are looking for a firearm and someone tells you that a small, concealable gun is for cowards, they are giving you bad advice. Usually, this comes from a place of "tactical machismo." Expert instructors like Claude Werner, often called "The Tactical Professor," have spent years debunking this. Werner often points out that for many people—senior citizens, people with disabilities, or those who work in professional environments—a small pocket gun is the only viable option.
Is it "cowardly" for a 110-pound woman to carry a micro-compact to protect herself from a 220-pound attacker? Of course not. It’s an equalizer. That’s the whole point of a firearm.
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We need to separate the historical slur from the practical utility. The "gun for a coward" was simply the first iteration of everyday carry (EDC) culture. It was the realization that life happens in the spaces between "official" duties, and you need a tool that fits into that life.
What to Look for if You Want a Modern "Pocket" Gun
If you’re ignoring the labels and looking for something small and reliable, don't just buy the first thing you see. Small guns are fickle.
- Check the caliber. .380 ACP is generally considered the floor for modern self-defense, though high-quality .22 Magnum loads from companies like Federal or Hornady are becoming more popular for ultra-light setups.
- Test the trigger. Some small guns have 10-pound or 12-pound trigger pulls to act as a safety. If you have any arthritis or hand weakness, you might not even be able to fire it.
- Find a holster. Never, ever just throw a small gun into your pocket raw. It needs a pocket holster to cover the trigger guard and keep the gun oriented correctly so you can actually grab it.
- Practice. This is the big one. You need to shoot a small gun more than a big one because it’s harder to master.
Final Insights for the Pragmatic Buyer
The history of the "gun for a coward" is really just the history of people finding ways to stay safe when the world told them they shouldn't. From the gamblers on Mississippi riverboats to the modern commuter, the small handgun has been a constant companion.
Don't let 19th-century social stigmas dictate your 21st-century safety. If a small, concealable firearm fits your lifestyle and you can shoot it accurately, it is a tool, not a character judgment.
Next Steps for Your Search:
- Visit a range that rents "micro" pistols. Don't buy based on how it feels in the display case. Shoot 50 rounds. If your hand is screaming in pain after five, it’s not the gun for you.
- Research the "New Deringers." Companies like Bond Arms have modernized the old Remington design. They are heavy, stainless steel, and much safer than the historical versions, though they remain niche tools.
- Look into "Deep Concealment" methods. If you are choosing a small gun, look at specialized gear like the Phlster Enigma or pocket kydex holsters from Vedder. A small gun in a bad holster is more dangerous than no gun at all.
- Ignore the forums. Firearm forums are full of "internet experts" who will call anything smaller than a Glock 17 a toy. Your safety is a personal math equation based on your clothes, your environment, and your physical ability.
Ultimately, the only person whose opinion matters regarding your choice of firearm is the one who has to use it to save a life. Everyone else is just talking.