Not sure what's so sad about it? I've spent a lot of my life in the "bush" and never been attacked yet. I generally carry a rifle or shotgun with me, but have never had to use it, despite numerous encounters with bears, wolves, etc. Would I carry an antique - you bet. A lot of being "out there" and "isolated" is about feeling secure. Fear and panic kill.
A little reading and research on this site will answer all the questions you have about antiques and their capabilities. There are upsides and downsides to them. There are some that you can buy and shoot and there are some that still fall into the restricted class, no matter how old they are. There's no way to transform an antique into a S&W 629, and even it won't stop a charging polar bear. If you're going to be in a place where you can be charged, or attacked by a dangerous animal your best bet is to carry an appropriate modern firearm, and an antique isn't it
Is that a Canadian artillery cap brass?