I Have This Old Gun: Philadephia Deringer

by
posted on March 19, 2024
Philadephia Deringer

Henry Deringer has a particular distinction: He is the only gunmaker to have an entire genre of pistols named after him. Now commonly spelled “derringer,” Deringer’s line of small, pocketable, percussion-fired single-shots provided the inspiration for a huge number of other eponymously termed percussion and cartridge pistols from the time of their inception in the early 19th century up to this day.

Henry Deringer was born in 1786 in Easton, Pa. After an apprenticeship, and some practical experience at the Virginia Manufactory of Arms at Richmond, he re-located to Philadelphia where he set up his own firearm business. Deringer offered sporting long arms, handguns, fowling pieces and edged weapons—some of his own construction and others manufactured by outsiders. Beginning around 1810, he produced a limited quantity of military rifles under contract to the state of Pennsylvania and probably fewer than 100 pistols for Maryland. Later, orders for Model 1817 rifles for the federal government were forthcoming, but, again, Deringer appears to have made them only in small numbers.

Deringer continued producing civilian rifles and handguns, with styles of the latter ranging from dueling pistols (very few) and belt pistols to, by the 1830s, the small, single-shot percussion pistols which brought him particular recognition and attendant financial success. These diminutive arms were turned out in a wide variety of sizes, ranging from small “peanut” (a modern collector’s term) versions of .36-.38 caliber with 1" barrels and measuring less than 4" overall, to medium sizes with barrels running to 3", and larger models with 3½" to 6" barrels. The smaller guns, understandably, had no ramrods, while larger ones often did.

Philadephia Deringer features

The lines and embellishments of Deringer’s products, beginning in the late 1840s and early 1850s, usually followed a general pattern that could fluctuate a bit, depending upon a gun’s size and the whims of the craftsman or wishes of the buyer: walnut stocks with checkered bird’s head butts, casehardened back-action locks, German silver escutcheons and buttcaps and rifled steel barrels finished with a faux Damascus pattern. Calibers were commonly in the .40s. They were marked with Deringer’s address and a “sunburst P” barrel proof.

Philadelphia Deringers, as they later came to be called, were often produced in pairs and cased accordingly. Engraving was universal but varied in pattern and coverage. Some guns had gold and silver embellishments ranging from simple breech lines to trigger guards and stock furniture. The quality on these pistols was excellent and, appropriately, business was brisk—so brisk, in fact, that early on, copies were sold by a number of makers, domestic and European. Some were fraudulently marked with the originator’s name, and others closely appropriated Deringer’s markings, though using two “r”s in the spelling.

As well as being hot items on the East Coast, Deringer’s products were highly regarded by fortune-seekers heading to California during the Gold Rush period. Accordingly, California retailers’ names (as well as those of dealers from other regions) are commonly seen on some pistols’ barrels. John Wilkes Booth infamously employed one of Deringer’s pistols to assassinate President Abraham Lincoln at Ford’s Theatre. His pistol, now on display in Washington, D.C. at the theater, was of .44 caliber and had a 2½" barrel. One might suppose the ignominy of Booth’s act would have had a negative effect on Deringer’s fortunes, but such was not the case. The guns continued to sell well up to the originator’s death in 1868. In the cartridge era, the generic moniker attributed to the small pistols was popularly appropriated by others, a practice that continues to this day.

The example shown here is of a very common type, and except for engraving differences, is almost a ringer for Booth’s. Though lacking finish, it is otherwise in good shape and quite sound. A retailer’s name, C. Curry of San Francisco, Calif., adds to the piece’s interest and worth. The market for Der(r)ingers has taken something of a hit as of late, thus this pistol would sell for a modest $1,550.

Gun: Philadelphia Deringer
Manufacturer: Henry Deringer, Philadelphia, Pa.
Caliber: .44
Manufactured: c. 1856
Condition: NRA Very Good (Antique Gun Standards)
Value: $1,550

Latest

Rossi Rio Bravo Tactical lever-action rifle left-side view shown with bipod in brown grass outdoors with Leupold riflescope attached.
Rossi Rio Bravo Tactical lever-action rifle left-side view shown with bipod in brown grass outdoors with Leupold riflescope attached.

Rossi Rio Bravo Tactical: A Tactically Practical Rimfire

Announced during "The Year Of The Lever-Action," Rossi's latest tactically themed lever-action rimfire rifle does not disappoint, offering up practical features front to back.

Online Safety Resources On Water & Fire Damage Released By SAAMI

“These important documents add to SAAMI’s technical library of firearm safety resources that provide guidance to both industry professionals and the firearm-owning community.”

Rifleman Review: Taurus TX22 Compact

A downsized version of Taurus USA's TX22 is available, giving folks a smaller, handier version of the full-size TX22 rimfire pistol that's become one of the company's most popular offerings.

New For 2025: Springfield Armory Saint Victor 9 mm Pistol

Recently, Springfield Armory added a large-format pistol variant of its Saint Victor 9 mm carbine, giving enthusiasts a compact PCC that feeds from Colt-pattern magazines.

The Rifleman Report: New Developments

Our official coverage of new products for the current year is set for next month, but we included two substantial new developments in this issue that have the potential to make significant ripples in the firearm business even before then.

Arkansas To Begin Mandatory Gun Safety Lessons In Schools

Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders signed into law requiring public and open enrollment public charter schools to provide age-appropriate firearm safety instruction beginning during the 2025-2026 school year.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.