Here is a tagged pair of original, fine quality, unmarked specimens of the Deringer-style pocket pistol, once the favorite handgun of American civilians in the early 1850s. Each of these two artifacts are medium size, percussion, single-shot, muzzleloader pocket pistols. Handmade weapons such as these were initially produced and made famous by the Philadelphia firearms maker Henry Deringer who manufactured large dueling pistols in the 1820s. In the late 1840s and early 1850s, Deringer progressed to make smaller version dueling pistols along with small and medium-sized, concealable pocket pistols for the civilian trade. Limited by the single shot firing capacity of each pistol, most maker / dealers sold these pocket weapons to the public in pairs. The lightweight and small size attributes of the pistol gained popularity over bulkier arms which helped lead to Henry Deringer’s success in the personal defense firearms market. One of Deringer’s pocket pistols was used in the assassination of President Lincoln at Ford’s in April 1865 and this infamous act would forever assign notoriety to the ‘Deringer’ pistol in the American mindset.

Each pistol is a matched, .44 caliber weapon with notable features of a flat topped, 2 7/8” round barrel. The crowned muzzle to breechplug end measures 3¾” and each pistol’s overall length is 7½”. Traces of the original twist or striping are evident on both pistol barrels. Each specimen displays an excellent black walnut stock, which features sharp and clean checkering on the grips. Standard hand-engraved scrollwork decorates the tang, breechplug sides and on the sideplate and triggerguard mountings. German silver used for the wedgeplates, trigger guard, triggerguard escutcheon, buttplate and forend guard. Both barrels and locks have acquired a pleasing, dark gray patina finish overall. Mechanics are crisp on tagged pistol #1 but slightly weaker on #2. Number two pistol appears to have a replacement barrel screw and an original but different configuration hammer. Each weapon comes complete with its original, fine condition, 3¼” long hickory rammer with a brass tipped cap.

This early production matched set of Deringer-style pocket pistols would enhance any small arms collection.  [ra][ph:L]