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Extremely Rare Ivory Stocked Henry Deringer Philadelphia Percussion Pistol

Currency:USD Category:Antiques / Firearms & Armory Start Price:13,000.00 USD Estimated At:25,000.00 - 50,000.00 USD
Extremely Rare Ivory Stocked Henry Deringer Philadelphia Percussion Pistol
The ivory stocked Deringer is paramount in the Deringer collecting field with only several believed to exist. The long style breech plug is adorned with a pair of 12k gold bands, and the coin silver furniture is extensively engraved. The lock plate and the breech plug are both marked "DERINGER / PHILADELA", with the "P" stamp next to scrollwork on the left flat. The lock plate, hammer and trigger guard are nicely broad leaf floral scroll engraved. The tang of the breech plug tapers down to a rounded point on the rear and is fully engraved. The trigger guard finial is of the pineapple shape, indicating production in the early 1850's. Matte and zig-zag engraving patterns are visible on some parts, including the trigger guard, reverse plate, hammer and accent plate. The barrel is fitted with a dove tailed German silver blade front sight and there is a notch rear sight on the barrel tang. The ivory stock has a silver shield escutcheon inset behind the barrel tang. It is decorated along the top with a matte pattern, and straight lines down the sides ending in a floral bloom pattern. A triangular plate is set into the tip of the stock with matte border work, and the butt is fitted with a matte bordered and line accented buttplate with a trapdoor cap compartment. The grip area is sharply checkered with a double line border.
BBL: 2 inch
Stock: ivory carved
Gauge: 40
Finish: brown/casehardened/silver
Grips:
Serial Number: NSN


Excellent. Deringer's "bronzed" striping pattern remains strong on the barrel, particularly on the sides, with approximately 20% of the original brown color visible among the gray patina. Traces of the original pattern remain on the lock, strongest under the hammer, with a dark gray patina forming on the lock, hammer and tang. An aged patina is forming on the silver, strongest in the lower, protected areas. The grip is superb, showing only a few light scratches and a beautiful aged color and grain pattern. The other examples known were in the William Locke and Frank Sellers Collections, making this a worthy prize for collectors of Deringers specifically or American arms in general. We sold a similar example in the Frank Seller's Collection.