GUN SPRING 2017
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 4/11/2017
EXTREMELY FINE ELABORATELY ENGRAVED AND GOLD MOUNTED HENRY DERINGER PERCUSSION PISTOL.HENRY DERINGERSINGLE SHOTNSN52Cal. 52. This gun measures 7-1/4 overall, 2-7/8" bbl with 3-9/16" including breech. Lock and breech are both full firm marked "DERINGER PHILADELa". This is possibly the most elaborate Henry Deringer pistol noted, with great collection history. There is nothing in Doug Eberhart's The Deringer in America that approaches the level of engraving or quantity of gold mountings. The few other known gold mounted guns are less elaborate and this is among the few large bore smooth bores known. Engraving covers fully 100% of steel of lock, hammer face, breech, bbl tang, bolster face, key face, trapdoor in butt, hammer screw, tang screw, both lock screws, top flat of bbl and about 1/3 of remainder of bbl. Even the trigger plate which can hardly be seen is also fully engraved. Engraving is also by a much finer hand than encountered on other Deringers. Gold mountings on this gun include trigger guard, both lock escutcheons, key way escutcheons, nosecap, thimble, ramrod tip, front sight, breech bands, butt escutcheon and shield shaped thumbplate with the logo of owner "GD". Gold mountings on this gun are also profusely engraved with exception of ramrod tip, bbl bands, and front sight. This Philadelphia made Henry Deringer is a true piece of art and there is not a more elaborate example known. PROVENANCE: Ex-Fred Clough Collection; Ex-Doug Eberhart Collection. CONDITION: Very fine overall. Gun appears unfired or very little, with a crisp smooth bore and breech. Traces of muted case color are found on breech, lock, trigger and hammer, but mostly a crisp silver/grey color overall. The bbl retains thin traces of blue finish unlike the typical striped brown finishes seen on standard production pistols. This gun indeed was especially made for an important client whoever the initials "GD" represent. Gold mountings are well fit with crisp arabesque and foliate engraving into deluxe selected walnut stock with beautiful grain and color. The orig ramrod has internal case hardened steel worm screwed to jag. Stock is sound and solid with strong checkering. There are two 1/2" hairline cracks both on left side; one just rear of key way escutcheon and one in checkering near butt that do not affect the overall aesthetics of this little gem. Mechanically, gun functions well including adjustable set trigger screw. Bore is smooth with scattered areas of light pitting. 50412-46 JS (15,000-25,000)