Guns? Holmes don't need no stinking guns!

There are many references in the stories to Watson being told to bring along his service revolver, although it was seldom used.

Rathbone is seen brandishing a pistol on several occassions, and Jeremy Brett did so at least once or twice. There is one publicity shot of Brett as Holmes with a pistol in a rather Bondian pose.

But I agree that intelect was the thing rather than violent action for Holmes. However as a big Holmes fan, I think I'm in a minority who feel that he could be used as the central character in a great Victorian adventure/mystery film. I wonder if the proposed new feature might go that route.

Even with the little I know of Sherlock Holmes, I can confirm that yes, in the stories, Sherlock Holmes carried a short barrelled, revolver, chambered in a .45 British pistol round. The British manufactured a variety of revolvers chambered in varying cartridge lengths for .45 and some .44 calibers. The British versions of their .45 rounds were often shorter cased than the later American .45 ACP. That said, it was rare for Sherlock Holmes to fire his revolver. Doctor Watson also carried his British Army service revolver. It was common practice at that time for British officers to purchase and carry their own service pistols.

Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Watson carried revolvers strictly for last resort self-defense. Both men were realistic and practical enough to accept they were only mortal men and might confront extremely dangerous and well-armed criminals and foes. This was reflected in the later century when modern day detectives carried small to medium frame revolvers and then pocket automatics for typical self-defense when tracking down criminals.

I can't tell anyone in further detail about the physical specifications of Sherlock Holmes' revolver. I'm guessing the barrel was between three and four inches. The revolver must have typically held 6 cartridges, but it's highly possible that it was a 5-cartridge revolver because the books always refer to Holmes slipping the revolver into one of his pockets. Six-cartridge revolvers chambered for .45 diameter bullets are wide in width. That would also encourage a shorter, say, 3-inch barrel. Shorter revolver barrels are almost non-existent in the late 19th century. It's not to say short barrelled revolvers didn't exist in Holmes time of circa, 1888, but I never found photographs or references to any. Every relic and museum photo I've seen in books on late 19th century revolvers shows at least 3 inch barrels and longer. Therefore the most likely revolver desription would be a 3-inch barrel, 5-round capacity, and a small revolver frame, at least the smallest possible for a .45 caliber type revolver of the day.

In the stories Holmes often carried a gun, but he was a master of the oriental fighting art of Baritsu (whatever the heck that was) and a skilled stick fighter, so guns were a last ditch resort. He did have a habit of using the wall of his apartment for target practice.

Watson was a crack shot, as was his second greatest enemy, Colonel Sebastian Moran with his deadly silent air rifle.