William Marston made about 3,300 of these .32 caliber rimfire three-shot deringers from 1864 to 1872. The three-barrel group pivots downward to load and there is a barrel selector dial on the right side of the frame numbered zero to three. The left frame bears a four line maker/patent stamp: “WM. W. MARSTON / PATENTED / MAY 26. 1857 / NEW YORK CITY” with a single line set off below reading: IMPROVED 1864. Marston had made a .22 version from about 1858 to 1864, very much like this, but with a retractable knife attached to one side. He apparently decided beefing up the caliber made the knife superfluous. The “improved 1864” stamp relates to the extractor.

The rosewood grips with flat butt have nice color and finish, and a tight fit to the metal, though with one area of roughness and a small divot along the backstrap. The barrels show mix of bright metal, gray, and some thin faded blue. The brass frame has a nice mellow tone with a few age spots on the left, and a few more on the right along with some tiny dings. Some of the screws show blue. The frames were originally silvered, but it rarely survives. There is some color to the trigger, but it does not stay cocked.

The over-under barrel arrangement made for better concealment. The four-inch versions are scarce. This would look great laid out with some other pocket and vest pistols of the early American west.  [SR] [PH:M]

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