(A) CASED MATCHED PAIR BITTERLICH NASHVILLE TENNESSEE DERINGERS.

This is a fine pair of derringers made by Franz J. Bitterlich in Nashville, Tennessee. Bitterlich was in business in the 1850s through the burning of his factory in 1862 so these guns date just prior or early part of the Civil War. This is an elegant well made pair with plain German silver mounts and simplistic engraved borders. Though these guns are unnumbered they appear as made as a pair, measuring about 5 - 1/4" overall with 1 - 15/16" barrels, 2 - 1/2" including breech. Guns are totally German silver mounted. Marked both on lock and barrel “FR J. BITTERLICH & CO/NASHVILLE.TENN”. This is a nice matching pair with good markings, original, authentic and complete. PROVENANCE: Collection of John Montague. CONDITION: Very good overall. One gun has seen more use than the other. One gun has lighter wood, smoother metal and retains much of its original brown finish though thinning. Breech, lock and hammer are smooth and gray overall with staining and pitting, traces of case color at breech. Stock is sound, solid and mounts are well fit; retaining about 80% original varnish to finish. Gun two is gray overall with no finish, light pitting especially at breech. Mounts are fairly well fit though there are more dings, dents and blemishes in the German silver and several wood chips especially around front finial on trigger guard. Stock has a hand worn patina and a thin revarnished surface is retained. Accompanying case is for display only and not contemporary to manufacture of guns, though casing is a typical brass banded mahogany box typical of the mid 19th century. There is a longitudinal crack on top of box and brass plaque is inscribed “H Gilder”. Lining and partitions are a more recent addition. Casing has a powder flask, scissor mold, loading tool and nipple wrench. Mechanically guns function, bores are pitted with barely discernible rifling.

Name

Value

Accessories

Case

Barrel Length

(BOTH) 1 - 15/16"

Caliber/Bore

(BOTH) .42 Rifled

FFL Status

Antique

Manufacturer

(BOTH) Bitterlich