GUN SPRING 2017
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 4/11/2017
FINE SET OF CASED GOLD AND SILVER MOUNTED HENRY DERINGER PISTOLS.HENRY / DERINGER3.5NSN46ESAThis is a beautiful deluxe cased set of Henry Deringer's with 4" bbls including breech with gold bands and thumb plate, silver escutcheons and trigger guard. German silver front sights and typical Deringer fixed rear sights as part of the top tangs. Top of breech plugs & lockplates have the "DERINGER PHILADEL'A" manufacturer's markings. Top left flats of breech plugs have the Deringer "P" proof. They are mounted in 1-pc walnut stocks with silver and German silver mountings that are all nicely engraved in foliate & floral patterns with nicely detailed pineapple finials. Butts of stocks have German silver teardrop shaped plates with iron engraved cap boxes. Top of wrists of stocks are inlaid with engraved gold shield shaped thumbplates and grips are nicely checkered. Bbls are secured with a sgl wedge through engraved, silver, dog-bone shaped escutcheons and tips of stocks have engraved German silver nose caps. Pistols are accompanied by an orig Deringer black leather covered, purple velvet lined hinged casing with recessed folding handle in lid. Bottom is recessed for the pistols, a 3-compartment floral decorated, copper & brass charger; a rosewood handled nipple wrench and screwdriver; a nutcracker style ball mold with sprue cutter marked "60" on left arm and wood handled cleaning rod with brass jag, and a fitted tin powder measure completes all the compartment slots. Case also has covered compartments in left rear & right front, one for cast lead balls and the other containing a functioning key. Altogether a wonderful & rarely encountered pair of Henry Deringer pistols in original case in beautiful displayable condition. PROVENANCE: Ex-Doug Eberhart Collection. CONDITION: Fine to very fine overall. Bbls retain strong traces of original bright brown finish with balance a mottled gray/plum with scattered small scratches and abrasions on 1 bbl on right side. Locks retain traces of case colors. Metal overall including steel breeches, locks and hammers, silver and German silver mountings are all well fit with crisp engraving. Guns appear to have been shot very little with no flash pitting around nipples or breech. Bores are quite clean and smooth with light pitting and rifling. Mechanically both guns function well. Stocks are sound and well fit, retaining most of their original varnish though thinning in some areas. Casing and accessories overall are in similar fine condition with some pitting to blade of nipple, wrench, screwdriver and ball mold. Finials on compartment doors are ivory. 50412-43 JS (15,000-25,000)