Derringers

Derringers are a category of small, compact pistols characterized by their extremely concealable size, simple operating mechanisms, and typically limited ammunition capacity, usually one or two rounds. The name derives from Henry Deringer, a Philadelphia gunsmith who in the mid-19th century produced a line of small, single-shot percussion pistols that became enormously popular as personal defense and concealed-carry weapons. While “Deringer” was Deringer’s own spelling, the doubled-r variant “Derringer” became the generic term for the category, applying to small pocket pistols by any manufacturer.

The original percussion-era derringers were single-shot pistols of small to medium caliber, valued for their ease of concealment in a coat pocket or lady’s reticule during an era when such concealment was not merely convenient but socially significant. These small pistols gained notoriety through their association with some of the most dramatic events of the 19th century, most famously, John Wilkes Booth used a Philadelphia Deringer pistol to assassinate President Abraham Lincoln in 1865, an act that permanently embedded the type in American historical consciousness.

The over-and-under double-barrel derringer format, popularized by Remington’s Model 95 of 1866 and still produced today by manufacturers including Bond Arms and American Derringer Corporation, represents the most recognized modern form of the type. These two-shot pistols, typically chambered for powerful cartridges such as .45 Long Colt/.410 shotshell combinations or .357 Magnum, offer a level of ballistic capability surprising for their compact dimensions, making them viable defensive tools despite their limited capacity.

Modern derringers appeal to collectors for their historical character, to enthusiasts who appreciate their distinctive mechanical simplicity, and to some concealed-carry practitioners who value their extreme compactness for specific carry situations. As collector pieces, fine original 19th-century derringers in good condition are historically significant and highly sought after.