Handguns Percussion Derringer

[OldSarge79]

This is an old family gun passed down to me from my father's side, a percussion derringer, made by Derringer, about .36 to .38 caliber, 5 inches total length. I played with it as a child. The problem I have is that we don't know which ancestor owned it. After considerable research on dad's ancestors and a lot of contemplation, I have narrowed it down to two men.

One was a Confederate private in Morgan's 2nd Kentucky Cavalry. He was also a county constable in the post-war years (Warren Co., KY).

The other was a lawyer and probate judge in Bolivar County, Mississippi from the 1840's to about 1890, when he moved to Warren County, Ky.

If anyone knows of any Confederate cavalrymen who carried a little derringer like this, I would love to know. Or, did lawyers back then pack a pistol in their pocket while they traveled or on business. Lawyers, as we all know, are sometimes not well-liked.

Anyway, any well-considered thoughts on this would be welcome, as well as, perhaps, an approximate date of manufacture on the pistol.

 

[Pollaco]

I often wondered why a soldier or cavalryman would Not carry one. I've read where soldiers didn't like carrying extra weight, but it would seem the extra pound or two would be worth the effort. If they could get their hands on one of these little pistols, why not? I would.

 

[OldSarge79]

I often wondered why a soldier or cavalryman would Not carry one. I've read where soldiers didn't like carrying extra weight, but it would seem the extra pound or two would be worth the effort. If they could get their hands on one of these little pistols, why not? I would.

I guess if you're in the cavalry, it's the horse who is carrying the extra weight. But talk about a last-ditch weapon.....

 

[sourdough]

A lot of "derringers" were made by people other than Henry Deringer, and the name is spelled correctly on your pistol. I believe it is probably .41 caliber. Most likely made between 1852 and 1868, when Deringer died. I am far from being knowledgeable about these guns. It looks to have withstood use a kid's playtoy fairly well.

Regards,

Jim

 

[7thWisconsin]

You have a real Deringer pistol! That's awesome. I have a repro that I've never been able to work up the courage to fire... Wilkes Booth used a similar pistol to assassinate Lincoln.

 

[Booner]

My bet is it belonged to the lawyer.

 

[UCVRelics]

My bet is it belonged to the lawyer.

I agree as the others really didn't need a pistol.

 

[zburkett]

A lawyer or a constable are both about equally likely to carry a small pistol either as a backup (constable) or just in case (lawyer). I know lawyers and judges carried pistols in Texas.

 

[Kurt G]

I've shot a repro Derringer and they are very inaccurate . They are meant to be used at very close range . My vote would be for t

 

[3rd North Carolina]

i could see a high ranking officer having one as a last ditch protection but its a very nice piece though

 

[Pollaco]

But wouldn't you love to have one if a guy with a bayonet or rifle butt attacked you?

 

[OldSarge79]

I've shot a repro Derringer and they are very inaccurate . They are meant to be used at very close range . My vote would be for t

Your vote is for.....what?

 

[zburkett]

Derringers are at best "Poker table accurate." They go with the theory that the pistol in your pocket is better than the one at home in the sock drawer. In every good Civil War Museum you will see some kind of little single shot percussion pistol as a battle field pick up. I don't know who carried them or why but some soldiers carried them.

 

[Seduzal]

Never heard or seen this before. Thanks for sharing.

 

[Peter Stines]

Find a copy of Turner Kirland's book SOUTHERN DERRINGERS OF THE MISSISSIPPI VALLEY. Pioneer Press. Neat little book full of info on Derringers made by Henry as well as his dealers. The guns were genuine Henry D. but for a small fee you could become a dealer/distributor of his products and have your name or company name stamped on the barrel (Not as the maker, but as the seller) The photos in Kirkland's book are not so hot, but they're adequate. Also look at Wilson's book on Derringers from the percussion period. Now there are some nice photos! As far as who carried them and why, well, if you were playing cards and had FIVE ACES this little pocket blaster could help you get out of the room. Congressmen and senators often carried pocket pistols and knives while in session. Fights broke out often. And fireplace pokers also came into play................

 

[cwtalker15]

Your deringer is one of the smallest sizes and is often referred to as a "peanut deringer." Damon Mills, the CW dealer, has had a number of them for sale in the past. Go to http://www.damonmills.com/PS Pages/PS 35/Peanut Henry Deringer 3152.htm
To see one similar to yours. Very nice pistol!

(Yours is smaller than the one used by JW Booth to assassinate Lincoln.)

 

[WJC]

I have no rational reason for this decision, but my instinct says it was the property of your lawyer ancestor....

 

[Peter Stines]

Your vote is for.....what?

The front sight on those derringers served a purpose. It helped to lock it in place when you jabbed it in your opponent's belly button, that way he couldn't get away (as long as you held on to the gun) and to make sure YOU WERE CLOSE ENOUGH IF YOU HAD TO SHOOT HIM

 

[OldSarge79]

Well, I may have stumbled onto an answer.

First, I found this similar, albeit slightly larger deringer for sale, identified to a Confederate soldier:

Confederate Inscribed Henry Deringer (AH5066)

Confederate Inscribed Henry Deringer Pistol. Inscribed on lock “ PVT.J. Clyborn Co-D 1ST SCV. CSA” Barrel length 3” and overall length 6 ½”. Silver Mounted. Action works perfectly. The inscription is very old and appears to be genuine in our opinion. We base that after examining the lock under...

www.collectorsfirearms.com

Second, while looking for information on another Mississippi relative on the Mississippi Department of Archives & History website, I came across the county tax records for Bolivar County. I discovered that in the 1870's and 1880's, the county levied a personal tax on certain items owned by residents. One of those items taxed were pistols! My focus immediately changed from the ancestor I was researching to my lawyer ancestor.
With considerable anticipation, I looked through the 1879 tax records until I found him in District 3. That year he was taxed for a horse and a carriage, but not for a pistol.
In other words, it appears that my lawyer ancestor did not own a pistol in 1879.

Could he have obtained it after 1879? Possibly, but it was rather obsolete by that time, and I would have to believe that possibility very unlikely. In addition, if he hadn't been carrying a pistol up to that time, why would he have gotten one later?

Obviously I can't declare with absolute certainty that the Confederate/constable ancestor was the owner, but it certainly now appears to be the case.

Thoughts?

 

[Jobe Holiday]

If your Attorney ancestor was carrying a pistol in 1879, or later, I can pretty much guarantee it would have been a cartridge revolver.
J.