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Lot 1238:Silver Mounted, Gold Banded Henry Deringer Pocket Pistols

May 20th, 2023|Rock Island, IL

Lot 1238:Silver Mounted, Gold Banded Henry Deringer Pocket Pistols

May 20th, 2023|Rock Island, IL

Price Realized:

Estimated Price$30,000 - $45,000

A) Deringer Pocket Pistol

Henry Deringer is one of the most famous gunmakers in American history. His pistols, and those made by his imitators, were immensely popular during the California Gold Rush and Civil War era and became so popular that all small pocket pistols have been nicknamed "Derringers." These smaller Deringer pocket pistols are particularly significant and well-known because one was used by John Wilkes Booth to assassinate President Abraham Lincoln. This extraordinary pair of derringers from c. 1855 features Henry Deringer's distinctive faux Damascus copper and brown finish on the barrels which have seven-groove rifling, an unusual filed "V" design on the muzzle for centering the dovetailed German silver blade front sights, gold banded breech plugs marked "DERINGER/PHILADELA" and with the "(P)" proof, and notch rear sights and scroll engraving on the upper tang. The locks also have scroll engraving and are marked "DERINGER/PHILADELA." The wedge escutcheons, trigger guards, side plates, and wrist escutcheons are engraved silver. The trigger guard has a pineapple finial. The forend tips and pommel caps are German silver, and the latter includes iron doors for the small compartments inside. The bird's head stocks have multi-point checkering. The black "Moroccan leather" bound wood case has a brass folding handle and embossed scroll border on the lid and is closely fitted to the pistols and the included nipple wrench and screwdriver (latter marked "HUBER" and "C. STEEL"), powder flask, a "70" marked ball mold (70 bore is around .403), small powder measure, scarce brass loading and cleaning rod, a few balls, patches, and key.

ConditionExtremely fine. The barrel retains 98% of the original brown finish and has flashed of the original copper streaks and gray patina on the balance. The gold bands are bright. The silver furniture has attractive aged patina. The engraving is crisp. The hammer has 75% of the vibrant original case colors. The lock and breech plug have silver-gray patina and some minor oxidation mostly around the nipple. The stock is excellent and has crisp checkering, essentially all of the original finish, attractive figure, and light handling and storage marks. Mechanically excellent. The case is very fine with mild age and storage related wear. The accessories are mostly very fine with minor wear. The mold has some pitting. The flask retains nearly all of the original finish.

Details

ManufacturerHenry Deringer Rifles And Pistols

ModelPercussion Pocket

TypePistol

ClassAntique

Caliber / Gauge41

Barrel1 7/8 inch flat top round

Finishfaux Damascus/casehardened/silver

Stockwalnut

Item LocationRock Island, IL

Catalog page236

B) Deringer Pocket Pistol

See "A." Provenance: The Greg Lampe Collection

ConditionExtremely fine. The barrel retains 95% plus of the original brown finish and even displays much of the original copper streaking, particularly on the left side at the muzzle. The gold bands remain bright, and the silver furniture has attractive aged patina. The engraving throughout remains crisp. 60% of the original case colors remain visible on the lock; otherwise, there is mostly smoky gray patina on the casehardened components. There is some minor oxidation concentrated around the nipple. The stock is excellent and has crisp checkering, nearly all of the original finish, and light handling and storage marks. Mechanically excellent.