2337

RARE AND UNIQUE HENRY DERINGER PISTOL WITH TAPE PRIMER MECHANISM.

Currency:USD Category:Antiques / Firearms & Armory Start Price:5,000.00 USD Estimated At:10,000.00 - 15,000.00 USD
RARE AND UNIQUE HENRY DERINGER PISTOL WITH TAPE PRIMER MECHANISM.
There is a reason this great rarity won a prestigious NRA silver medal (#377 which accompanies this gun). This is an early production pistol by Henry Deringer, as can be seen by the iron hardware and unusual German silver escutcheon plates such as the star in the butt and the inverted "Liberty Bell" as a thumbplate. This gun measures about 9-1/2" overall with a 5-7/8" 44 caliber bbl. The gun is signed "Deringer" on both lock and bbl. This gun first came to light in text in Lewis Winant's Early Percussion Firearms, A History of Early Percussion Firearm Ignition, 1959, where it is pictured and described on pgs 177 and 178. An article by Dave Stewart published in the Pennsylvania Antique Gun Collector's monthly bulletin in March 1996 details this gun and a copy is included. PROVENANCE: William Locke collection; Tom Wibberley; Dave Stewart collection. CONDITION: Gun is overall in very good condition, retaining traces of finish in protected areas. Gun appears overall in "as found" condition with no alterations or restorations with possible exception of ramrod, which has a brass tip. German silver mountings are very good and well fit. Iron trigger guard is dark, showing areas of rust and minor pitting consistent with surfaces elsewhere on gun. Checkered stock is sound and solid; varnish is present in protected areas. Mechanically gun functions, though actuating arm for tape primer is missing. 4-49613 JS30