NRA Museums Accepts CIA Deer Pistol

by
posted on May 23, 2018
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
deer_lede.jpg

NRA Museums Senior Curator Philip Schreier accepted a CIA Deer Pistol into the museum’s collection on Tuesday, May 22, 2018. Donating this extremely rare artifact was Master Armorer Thomas Ring. Mr. Ring donated both an original (relic) condition Deer pistol as well as a tool-room prototype replica (with a rifled barrel) that he made himself. 


Wikipedia image

The Deer Pistol is considered the Vietnam era successor to the OSS .45 ACP Liberator from World War II. The Deer Pistol was made in 1964 and meant to be used arming resistance fighters who needed a 9 mm pistol.

Fewer than 10 of these are known to exist and this relic example is possibly the only specimen likely to be on public display in this country.

To learn more or to schedule a visit go to nramuseum.com

Latest

French Charleville Ihtog 1
French Charleville Ihtog 1

I Have This Old Gun: The French Charleville Musket

One of the most important military arms ever made, the French Charleville musket saw use in the American Revolution and armed French troops throughout the Napoleonic Wars.

CVA Endura Series: The Modernized Muzzleloader Of 2025

CVA built on the success of its Paramount muzzleloader to create the Endura, a design that the company calls "the most advanced muzzleloader series CVA has ever built."

Review: FN 15 Guardian

FN America has sought to bring its legendary quality and reliability to an AR-15 that lists for just $999, and we believe that it has done this well with its 15 Guardian carbine.

Springfield Armory Hellcat Now Available In .380 ACP

Despite the extensive number of Hellcat models in its lineup, Springfield Armory has only offered the pistol in one chambering, 9 mm Luger, until now. The .380 ACP model offers similar capabilities with softer recoil.

Arms Of The Mail Guard Marines

While difficult to imagine today, brazen armed thefts of the U.S. Mail in the 1920s became all too common and beyond the abilities of mail personnel to handle. Enter the U.S. Marines—armed to the teeth.

The Armed Citizen® Oct. 13, 2025

Read today's "The Armed Citizen" entry for real stories of law-abiding citizens, past and present, who used their firearms to save lives.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.