.41 Caliber Derringer - Civil War Era

fabrowniii

I have a .41 cal. Derringer (non-firing dug find) that I purchased from a Civil War collectors estate years ago.
It was found at Greensboro, N.C.
Neat looking little pistol for it to be dug up.
Has AB25 stamped on the handle.
Does anyone have any info on this ?
Such as year or possible value ?
Thanks, Fred
fabrowniii@hotmail.com
[img][/img]http://usera.ImageCave.com/fabrowniii/P1010174.JPG[img][/img]http://usera.ImageCave.com/fabrowniii/P1010170.JPG[img][/img]http://usera.ImageCave.com/fabrowniii/P1010172.JPG

Bill DeShivs

Colt (or National) model 1 or 2.
1865-1870.
Value- only as a relic.

rhmc24

Agree value as a relic - but some people love dugups. Not Colt, more like National but should have indication of barrel latch on right side - which is not there.

There were many derringers made in the period copying, more or less, that design. Comes to mind that anyone who could make any kind of gun could make a simple derringer - and they were in demand at the time.

The abrupt bend of the handle looks like it may have been damaged and discarded in its use-time rather than being lost while in use.

edit True about Colt & National being alike but not this model. The Colt #2 (only one with bird head wood grip) meets the wood at a curve, not straight like this pix. See Flayderman for pix of National most like the dugup. rufe's blow up of pix shows what may be barrel latch on right side, making it more likely Nationsl.

Bill DeShivs

The Colt and National guns were identical, save markings. The engraving is exactly as the Colts I have pictured in reference books.

rufe-snow

givette

If I didn't know better, I'd swear it looks like the firearms I've seen with fragmentation splatter on them from a close shell hit (shrapnel/explosion).

Do you know where the "dig" site was? There may be the remains of a C/W veteran there. Best, Joe

fabrowniii

I wish I knew the exact site near Greensboro, N.C. Did some research on the web about Greensboro during the Civil war. They had a hospital and a Confederate Arms Factory. Over 40,000 Confederate soldiers were paroled there after the war. Also Confederate Gen. Joseph E. Johnston opposed Shermans troops and there was a lot of fighting in the area. (Sherman's Carolina Campaign was from Feb. 1st to April 26th 1865).
I agree that it is probably a battlefield find.

rufe-snow

quote:Originally posted by fabrowniii
I wish I knew the exact site near Greensboro, N.C. Did some research on the web about Greensboro during the Civil war. They had a hospital and a Confederate Arms Factory. Over 40,000 Confederate soldiers were paroled there after the war. Also Confederate Gen. Joseph E. Johnston opposed Shermans troops and there was a lot of fighting in the area. (Sherman's Carolina Campaign was from Feb. 1st to April 26th 1865).
I agree that it is probably a battlefield find.


It could be possible? The National Derringer and it's .41 Rimfire cartridge dates to 1863, that means it could have been carried by a Civil War soldier?