The two dollar pistol

[GunnyGene]

Some history of the phrase we've all heard that had it's origins in the early 20th century. Adjusted for inflation since 1913 that pistol in now a $63.54 pistol.

Hotter Than A Two-Dollar Pistol: Exploring The Origins And Meaning Of This Colorful Simile - Chronicle Collectibles

If you ever heard someone described as being "hotter than a two-dollar pistol," you probably gathered that they were extremely attractive or desirable in some

www.chroniclecollectibles.com

 

[RC44Mag]

Cool song and Vettes. I'll have to add that tune to my iPhone list. Taken today along with buddies new ride.

 

[eveled]

I don't believe their explanation. It all seems too AI. And they missed the point. AI usually does.

HOT means it was stolen

The hotter it is, the more likely it was used in a crime, or recently stolen. Hence the bargain price of $2.

So a $2 pistol would be extremely "Hot".

Hot also means an extremely attractive female.

It has nothing to do with the popularity of $2 affordable pistols at the time. Or the heat generated by them. Ridiculous.

 

[Ride1949]

Cool song and great video though. Haven't heard that one in a long time.

 

[Tenbore]

That article misses the meaning by a mile.

 

[Bob Wright]

From Judy Canova days................

Pedro (Mel Blanc): "Hasta la vista."

Judy Camova: "You're hotter than a two dollar pistol, too, Pedro"

Reall funny dialog back in our unsophisticated days.

Bob Wright

 

[blume357]

Even at my age now I can remember what 'hot' meant when you were talking about a young woman.... I even dated one for a while. Looking back now; like most muscle cars,, she was more than I could handle.

 

[eveled]

Fast motorcycles, cars, & women. I'm lucky I survived, but I'd do it all over again.

 

[John in WYO]

eveled hit the nail on the head
when he typed and said
that a hot pistol was a stolen one and the price was a dead giveaway.
That's my takeaway.
The rest of the explanations are trash

Haiku
Please forgive my use of literary license in my response….


Edited to add a comment to Bob W.: Thanks for the introduction to Judy Canova!

 

[Joe Chartreuse]

Whenever I hear this phrase I think of the WWII FP-45 Liberator handgun, which cost $2.10 to make at the time.

 

[eveled]

Whenever I hear this phrase I think of the WWII FP-45 Liberator handgun, which cost $2.10 to make at the time.

I always wanted to shoot one of those.

 

[Mike J]

This phrase can be used a lot of different ways. Hot can mean attractive or stolen. It can also mean exactly what it says-hot. I remember being a kid helping my dad work on a car that had been running a short time before. He told me to be careful what I touched as it was, "hotter than a 2 dollar pistol on Saturday night." Language is fun.

 

[Joe Chartreuse]

I always wanted to shoot one of those.

Ditto. I actually found one years ago in rough shape. Was going to work on it, but I got an offer I couldn't refuse before I could. Lose/win situation.

 

[blume357]

Okay, I got it that the $2 pistol is stolen but now the question is who did he steal the girl sitting in the Corvette from?

 

[Busterswoodshop]

Okay, I got it that the $2 pistol is stolen but now the question is who did he steal the girl sitting in the Corvette from?

He didn't.
Some guy at the bank stole her from him.

 

[blume357]

Yep, the first one was stolen by the guy at the bank... but what about the current one?

 

[Terry G]

I don't know if these are $2.00. Could be.

 

[Mike J]

I don't know if these are $2.00. Could be.View attachment 52924

I would think todays equivalent of a two dollar pistol would be more along the lines of a Jennings, Bryco, or Phoenix.

 

[Watertender]

I would think todays equivalent of a two dollar pistol would be more along the lines of a Jennings, Bryco, or Phoenix.

Or a Raven .25!

 

[Terry G]

I would think todays equivalent of a two dollar pistol would be more along the lines of a Jennings, Bryco, or Phoenix.

True. I bought a Jennings .22 when I was young. I was used to U.S. Army guns that worked! The Jennings didn't!