Derringer Henry Deringer
courtesy news-antique.com
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By BLoving

A few years ago, I spotted a customer leaning over the glass case displaying the pocket-sized .380s of various makes. Asking her what sort she was shopping for, she indicated a Taurus PT 738 TCP. “I’d like to see that derringer right there” she said, tapping on the glass and pointing at it.

My tongue twisted in my mouth as it struggled with the desire to blurt out a technical correction. Instead, I smiled and un-clipped the keys from my belt loop to open the case.

Thinking about it now, I find it quaint that the term “derringer” is still widely known enough in the twenty-first century that it can still be used (if incorrectly) by even the uninitiated first-time gun buyer.

The term ‘derringer’ can only be accurately applied to a certain category of pistols.  All derringers fire from a fixed barrel. They may have one, two or more barrels set together and may fire in either single or double action, via a hammer or striker.

They are typically small enough to conceal easily in a pocket, may or may not have rudimentary sights and are absolutely never semi-automatics or revolvers.

Derringer Henry Deringer

 

Derringer Henry Deringer
Derringers: Colt Thuer No.3 .41 RF (top), High Standard DM101 .22 WMR (below)

Derringer Henry Deringer

 

Derringer Henry Deringer
Not derringers: Ruger LCP .380ACP (top), North American Arms Mini-Revolver .22 LR (below)

While small, concealable pistols have existed since the flintlock age, the derringer pistol wasn’t a thing until the mid-1800s. In 1852, Henry Deringer (yes, one ‘r’) of Philadelphia began focusing his rifle-making business toward the production of percussion-fired pistols of full-sized caliber small enough to slip into the generously large pockets fashionable in men’s outerwear of the day.

These pistols quickly gained a reputation for being well-made, concealable and were typically bored for .41 caliber, though calibers of .33 to .50 weren’t unheard of. Given the perfect combination of percussion ignition, large caliber, small size and good quality, the Philadelphia Deringer was an immediate success.

Derringer Henry Deringer
Replica Deringer from the author’s collection. Kit-built .45 caliber from Connecticut Valley Arms when he was sixteen. Note the tiny two-finger grip.

Proving that any publicity is good publicity, Deringer’s guns sold very well after one was used by John Wilkes Booth to assassinate President Abraham Lincoln in the Ford’s Theatre in 1865. So successful were Deringer’s guns, they were soon copied by other gun makers across the nation.

According to arms historian William Reid, “One New York trader went so far as to advertise himself as an ‘imitation Deringer Pistol Manufacturer.’”  To get around patent and copyright laws, many copies were sold as Derringer Pistols (with an extra ‘r’) and that spelling has stuck to this day.

Derringer Henry Deringer
Ford’s Theatre Booth’s Deringer National Historic Site, Washington, D.C.

The invention of the integral metallic cartridge spelled the end for the Philadelphia Deringer, however. Taking its place were numerous examples of small, single-shot, breech-loading pistols from a variety of manufacturers.

Derringer Henry Deringer
Remington Derringer. .41 Rimfire

Remington did them all one better when they introduced a two-barreled, over/under derringer in .41 rimfire in 1866. The pistol sold very well until Remington discontinued it in 1935 and set the pattern for almost all two-shot derringers since. Its lines are evident in cheap clones like the Cobra Derringer and even the exemplary Texas-made derringers of Bond Arms.

Derringer Henry Deringer
Bond Arms Snake Slayer. .45 Colt/.410 shot shell

“The most useless gun I’d ever actually WANT to carry” – said by the author to a customer.

If two shots are better than one, more would be better still. So some gun makers have added more. In 1859, Sharps made a four-barreled piece in .41 RF that worked well.

Derringer Henry Deringer

Derringer Henry Deringer

Derringer Henry Deringer
Sharps Derringer .41 RF (top), COP 357 .357 Magnum (middle), Standard S333 Volleyfire .25ACP (bottom)

This idea has continued to the present day in pistols like the COP 357. Most recently, Standard Manufacturing introduced (but hasn’t yet released) the S333 Volleyfire, a six-shot derringer that fires two .25ACP loads with each trigger pull.

Some things just never go out of style. While the pocket semi-auto is here to stay, there will always be a demand for something simpler for folks who just want something that works when they need it.

 

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32 COMMENTS

  1. I am really having a hard time seeing any advantage of a one-shot or even a two-shot derringer pistol over a simple knife. Sure, using a knife requires thrusting the blade into your attacker whereas that is not necessary with a derringer. Of course that derringer only gives you one or two shots (typically) whereas you can stab dozens of times with a knife.

    Perhaps a derringer’s advantage over a knife is the potential for a “psychological stop” due to the bang and attacker’s realization that he/she just suffered a gunshot wound–versus stabbing an attacker which does not carry anywhere near the same level of “shock and awe” of a gunshot.

    • “I am really having a hard time seeing any advantage of a one-shot or even a two-shot derringer pistol over a simple knife.”

      If you’re at arm’s length in a fight for your life, I’d take the over-under High Standard any day. Using Federal’s nickle-plated truncated cone ‘Punch’ ammo, I’d be able to put one in the brain box to stop the attack…

    • Ummm… I would love to have a derringer in my pocket vs getting into a knife fight with a coked up perp. The main problem with knives is you have to be in arms reach to deploy them, and if you’re in reach so are they. That’s especially problematic when the victim is a woman and the perp is a man. I admit fully there are always better guns than derringers, but my little Bond arms has a place in my carry rotation. See JWT’s excellent reviews for use cases.

    • Clarification:

      My commentary above assumed that I was at contact distance.

      Of course an attacker suddenly attacking you at contact distance really sucks big time–especially if your attacker is a reasonably fit male. Even if all he has are fists and feet, he can deliver severely debilitating (and easily fatal) strikes. And if he has a bludgeon, knife, or firearm, well that ups the ante even more. At any rate, if an attacker springs upon me at contact range, the more pain/damage I can inflict in the shortest time possible, the greater the odds (it would seem) of stopping his/her attack as soon as possible. And if my choice is between a one or two-shot derringer and a good knife, I am wondering if my odds of survival are better with a knife.

      • hush…Perhaps you can present a better way to make a Glock Safer for people who may not be quite ready to carry around a chambered Glock? And do not give me any holster crap because newbe ADs happen with holsters, etc.

        So you can put up or stfu.

        For those who may not know a commerical Glock Safety Plug is available. For the competent DIYer a trigger plug can be made from the base portion of a common tire valve stem. Insert a bolt in the base, use a bench grinder to shape. Works on Revolvers or firearms with adequate space behind the trigger.

        • I agree, Geoff. A bad idea all around to stuff anything into the trigger guard besides your bang hook. Despite protest, a good quality holster that covers the trigger will prevent most accidents.

          And it takes two separate movements — push the trigger block out from behind the trigger, then move the finger to the front of the trigger. Using another finger to push out the block while placing the index finger on the trigger could leave one with two fingers in the trigger guard, unable to fire the weapon.

          If someone is uncomfortable carrying a Glock, perhaps they should choose a different type of carry gun.

        • “And it takes two separate movements — ”

          That’s my biggest gripe. When your heart is in your throat, and your fingers are flippers from that massive adrenaline dump, even one extra step is one step to many.

          I have to say, looking at that High Standard has me browsing gunbroker. Looks like I can find a well-used example for not much more than 200 bucks. *Perfect* to tuck in my back pocket… 🙂

        • I used a Glock safety plug when I carried my gun using a Techna clip.

          That lasted about a week, I hated it and bought differ IWB holsters and finally found one I like and is super comfortable.

          Raven Concealment Vanguard. I can carry my G43X MOS all day (even sitting). Small, Comfy, and Safe.

        • cato…That’s funny I carried a 17 and 20 for years with trigger plugs I made. I also carry a revolver with a trigger plug. I couldn’t hate trigger plugs if I tried….What model did you use? Post a link.

        • If you cannot handle stress and prone to forget to disengage a safety or pop a plug then what you need is a whistle.

    • no-name…My personal experience and manufacturer tests show Removing Trigger Plugs is faster than operating a manual safety. Plugs account for 0 that is ZERO added time to draw, push out and fire. In other words if you cannot handle a manual safety or a simple Trigger Plug you should not be handling firearms.

      In the hands of a newbe a holster is a safety joke for chambered Glocks. If a newbe listens to you and has an AD you and “you don’t need that plug” won’t be anywhere around…guaranteed.

      Fact is lots of people who buy Glocks are told that little thingy in the trigger is the Safety which is the farthest thing from the truth. Most newbes find that out when they unintentionally squeeze off a round.

      Glock Trigger Plugs are a successful million dollar product sold worldwide. That kind of success is something not to argue with anymore than you can argue with how to make Trigger Plugs.

      • “My personal experience and manufacturer tests show Removing Trigger Plugs is faster than operating a manual safety.”

        Speed isn’t the whole story.

        It’s the fact that taking that extra step may slip your mind in it’s entirety in an extremely high-stress situation. That’s a risk I’m unwilling to take with a gadget like that…

      • “no-name…My personal experience and manufacturer tests show …”

        You were involved in a stressful real-life self-defense experience where you drew your weapon, pushed out the trigger plug and then fired?

        And how exactly did the manufacturer duplicate that experience in their tests?

        “In other words if you cannot handle a manual safety or a simple Trigger Plug you should not be handling firearms. … If you cannot handle stress and prone to forget to disengage a safety or pop a plug then what you need is a whistle.”

        I’ll repeat: If someone is uncomfortable carrying a Glock, perhaps they should choose a different type of carry gun.

        “Glock Trigger Plugs are a successful million dollar product sold worldwide. That kind of success is something not to argue with …”

        So was the Pet Rock. I wouldn’t rely on one for self-defense, though.

  2. If I want to buy something in the case, just show it to me.

    This article does present some interesting history though. But it’s just like Crescent Wrenches, 1911’s, and AR15’s. Things change and the name carries on in a generic form when the patent runs out.

    If a derringer is desired then I certainly suggest Bond Arms but at this point there little if any reason to carry one for self defense. Do as you will. There is plenty to choose from.

    • A Bond over-under makes a perfectly serviceable back-pocket chunk that won’t get damaged if you plop your backside down on a concrete wall.

      I’d consider one…

    • The Bond is a great deep concealment piece, it’s hard to describe how small they actually are until you handle one, it’s clearly a size smaller than my go-to snubby. I bought the Rough one for $225 used on GB, I wouldn’t pay $400+ for a derringer mainly because I won’t get the mileage out of it compared to what else I could buy with that money. That being said it’s a big compromise, I’ll never carry it when I can bring something bigger, but as a back up, boot gun, tux gun or something you can throw in your pocket in a sticky holster when walking the dog etc it excels even compared to like a J frame. Also it’s just plain fun, I’ve wanted a Bond for years but couldn’t justify the price for the swankier models.

  3. How is an LCP an example of a derringer, if following this authors own description.

    “They are typically small enough to conceal easily in a pocket, may or may not have rudimentary sights and are absolutely never semi-automatics or revolvers.”

    • If you’ll kindly please look under the photo, you’ll see this text:

      Not derringers: Ruger LCP .380ACP (top), North American Arms Mini-Revolver .22 LR (below)

      • Well, the NAA *is* a fixed-barrel weapon. The chamber may not be fixed, but the barrel damn sure is…

      • I guess my brain went past that. I scrolled past it twice before I realized it wasnt image copyright type. Thanks.

        • If you’re old like I am, you can use the excuse that the captions text is tiny compared to the main text.

          “Honesh, ossifer, nobody wuz driving. We wuz all in the back seat, shinging.”

  4. I learned a lot about Deringers and Derringers from this essay. Have considered a Bond Arms rough, but, then I think about that Bear Creek 10mm carbine….and then I think about paying down the mortgage…oh well!

    • Aw, you can live out of your car. Your wife might divorce you, but if that happens, there’s more room in your car for guns-n-blammo… 🙂

  5. A Derringer of unknown vintage/maker saved my life in a Minneapolis parking lot many years ago. While I had 2 shots, and there were 3 punks, none wanted to take the chance of being the single survivor able to carry out the robbery. Bringing a metal pipe or a knife to a gunfight didn’t hold much appeal when they realized I was armed.
    Still have the little 44 special weapon. No name, serial number or makers mark besides the “Caliber .44 special” stamped onto the top barrel. Brown Bakelite grip panels. Blued steel frame and barrels. Bought it at a gunshop in North Carolina around 1976.

    • I always have a knife & a SabreRed pepper gel thing on me unless I go somewhere totally illegal. Sometimes a gat. Derringers seem like an anachronism to me. Especially with abundance of tiny gats(I have one). Whatever you want to carry is ok to me🙄

  6. My Sig P238 (1911 style) isn’t any bigger than a derringer. And it has a safety so you can carry it in a pocket holster with one in the barrel.

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