Deringer (pistol)

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Deringer (pistol)
Deringer by John Wilkes Booth
general information
Developer / Manufacturer: Henry Deringer
Production time: since approx. 1835
Weapon Category: Pocket pistol
Furnishing
Barrel length : 38 mm - 102 mm
Technical specifications
Caliber : .33 (8.38 mm) - .51 (12.95 mm)
Charging principle: Single loader
Lists on the subject

Deringer , incorrectly "Derringer", is a pocket pistol developed in the USA in the early 19th century .

history

The name refers to the American arms manufacturer Henry Deringer (1786–1868), who developed a short, single-shot muzzle - loading pistol with percussion ignition . From 1835 to 1868 Deringer produced approximately 15,000 copies in Philadelphia in calibers from .33 (8.38 mm) to .51 (12.95 mm) and with barrel lengths from 1.5 "(38 mm) to over 4" (102 mm ). With such a Deringer in caliber .44 (11.18 mm), John Wilkes Booth shot and killed the American President Abraham Lincoln on April 14, 1865 .

Since Deringer's development could not be patented, numerous replicas of his pistol quickly came onto the market; at least a dozen manufacturers and dealers are known who sold under their own names. The forerunners of the Deringer were European muzzle-loading pocket pistols of a similar design, the so-called Terzerole .

Muzzle loader

The distinguishing feature of the original Deringer weapons and weapons made by other manufacturers under this designation is the so-called bird's head grip, which appeared on pocket pistols in the late 17th century and was relatively easy to use. With the index finger on the trigger, only the middle and ring fingers remain to hold the small grip. The forward-curved handle, often designed as an animal head (bird, lion, mythical creature, grotesque mask, etc.) on baroque weapons, lies under the ring finger and thus ensures a secure hold, which with the big kickback of the small, light weapon with a big one Caliber is not unimportant. Because of these physical conditions, the combination of a large, powerful caliber and handiness (i.e. low mass) of the weapon always led to a strong kickback.

Breech loader

With the advent of metal cartridges, Deringer pistols were brought onto the market in large numbers by various manufacturers. The best-known are those of Remington Arms from 1866 to 1935 produced over 150,000 Remington Double Deringer with two superimposed runs in the caliber .41 rimfire whose breech - cartridge chamber is accessible by tipping up of the double barrel.

After Colt, Hartford took over National Arms Co. in Brooklyn, NY, Colt, Hartford continued to produce the National Arms Single Shot Deringer in .41 rimfire under the name Colt First Model Deringer from 1870. In contrast to the first model, the Colt Second Model Deringer had wooden grip panels. In the third model , the barrel was swiveled to the side for reloading, while in its predecessors it had to be swiveled to the side in parallel. In total, Colt manufactured a little over 63,000 Deringer between 1870 and 1912. In the form of the third model, Colt briefly launched a fourth model from 1959 and a .22 caliber double cassette called Lord and Lady Model Deringers in 1970 .

Trivia

Due to poor accuracy and short range, the Deringer is only suitable for shots at the shortest distance. In the classic western it is part of the standard equipment of the gambler (professional player).

Later the name was generally transferred in the modified spelling Derringer to single or multi-barrel pocket pistols with a large caliber and short barrel. The handiness of these "typical" derringers with the double barrel for metal cartridges, which are still mostly made in Italy, made them attractive enough for smaller calibers down to .22 (rimfire cartridges).

The German politician Petra Kelly was shot in her sleep by her partner Gert Bastian with a Deringer pistol in autumn 1992 .

  • Branded inscription by Henry Deringer, Philadelphia

  • Remington-Rider Single Shot Deringer (1860–1863)

  • Remington Model 95 Double Deringer cal .41 Rimfire

  • Colt Deringer, below first model (1870 - 1890) above third model (1870 - 1912), .41 Rimfire

  • Colt 2nd Model Deringer

  • COP 357, four-barrel Derringer in .357 Magnum

  • .41 Rimfire

  • Image of President Lincoln's assassination by John Wilkes Booth

literature

  • Charles Edward Chapel: Guns of the Old West. An Illustrated Guide. Dover Publications, Mineola NY 2002, ISBN 0-486-42161-9 .
  • Klaus-Peter König, Martin Hugo: Pocket pistols Pocket and miniature pistols. Verlag Motorbuch Verlag, Stuttgart 1985, ISBN 3-613-01072-0 .
  • Norm Flayderman, Flaydermans Guide to Antique American Firearms 2001 by Krause Publications, Iola, WI, USA. ISBN 0-87349-313-3

Web links

Commons : Deringer  - album with pictures, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ The old man and the girl . In: Der Spiegel . No. 44 , 1992 ( online ).