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Before I go further, I should probably take a moment to define my terms. After all, “pocket pistol” has covered a lot of turf over the years. Smith & Wesson’s No. 2 Army was a “pocket pistol” in the days of 19th-century gentleman’s frock coats, and it’s got a 5- or 6-inch barrel. Similarly, Colt’s Model 1903 Pocket Hammer (as opposed to the Pocket Hammerless) was a gun about the size of a Colt Commander, so, obviously, Herculean pockets were still common in the early 20th century.

When I’m talking about “pocket pistols,” I’m referring to what were called “vest pocket” guns. While a J-frame or Glock G43 may find a home in a coat pocket or a sufficiently large pants pocket, true pocket guns tend to be much smaller. A “vest pocket” handgun would be one that is small and light enough to cause minimal printing in even fairly close-fitting attire.