Militarypol21
Expert
I received a Derringer Philidelphia from a close relative and was doing some research to determine the value/date. According to GunBroker.com some models run around $50 a pop. But I also found this out from a seperate site:
"The gun, actually the pistol you are discribing was invented and made by Henry Deringer, who made about 15,000 of them from the late 1830's until 1868, when cartridge guns made them obsolete. His name is now used as a noun to include all pocket pistols that can be carried in a pocket or purse, as was the custom of the period. The correct marking should be DERINGER-PHILADEL and usually but not always have a P within a circle sunburst motif on the left side of the breach. You are correct when you say they were a black powder gun with a percussion lock, that is a hammer gun. They come in diffrent calibres depending on the barrel size, which you do not mention. The small is 2.5 inches with no ramrod, the medium is about 3.5 inches usually fitted with a ramrod, and the large are Dueling size of 7 to 9 inches. Agent markings on the top of the barrel increase the value, and real ones bring $350 for a well worn common pistol to several thousands for really new ones with all the original finish. They were widely copied during his life time, so fakes from the period are worth considerably more than current replicas. Only an expert can determine value whiuch depends on condition, and authenticity, by sight."
So here are the pictures (sorry the picture quality does no justice). How would one deterime if it has its original finish? It looks as if it has been stored in a case for years as there is absoultely no noticable rust. It also has all working parts.
"The gun, actually the pistol you are discribing was invented and made by Henry Deringer, who made about 15,000 of them from the late 1830's until 1868, when cartridge guns made them obsolete. His name is now used as a noun to include all pocket pistols that can be carried in a pocket or purse, as was the custom of the period. The correct marking should be DERINGER-PHILADEL and usually but not always have a P within a circle sunburst motif on the left side of the breach. You are correct when you say they were a black powder gun with a percussion lock, that is a hammer gun. They come in diffrent calibres depending on the barrel size, which you do not mention. The small is 2.5 inches with no ramrod, the medium is about 3.5 inches usually fitted with a ramrod, and the large are Dueling size of 7 to 9 inches. Agent markings on the top of the barrel increase the value, and real ones bring $350 for a well worn common pistol to several thousands for really new ones with all the original finish. They were widely copied during his life time, so fakes from the period are worth considerably more than current replicas. Only an expert can determine value whiuch depends on condition, and authenticity, by sight."
So here are the pictures (sorry the picture quality does no justice). How would one deterime if it has its original finish? It looks as if it has been stored in a case for years as there is absoultely no noticable rust. It also has all working parts.
Thanks for the info. I've never shot a black powder but this little thing looks fun to play with.
