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LOT 3290
Exceptional Engraved “Peanut” Sized Slotter & Co. “J. Deringer” Percussion Pocket Pistol - Serial no. 12, 41 cal., 1 1/8 inch flat top round bbl., brown/
casehardened/German silver finish, walnut stock. These very small pocket pistols have been nicknamed “peanut Deringers.” In addition to being very small and distinctive, a similar Henry Deringer pocket pistol was used by John Wilkes Booth in the Lincoln assassination, and the “Derringer” spelling for pocket
pistols broadly became popularized due in part to misspelling in newspaper reports of the assassination. This has made these smaller pocket pistols particularly historically significant and highly desirable antique firearms for collectors. This minuscule
pocket pistol is very similar to Henry Deringer’s famous pistols but was actually produced by Slotter & Co. The company was formed by the Schlotterbeck brothers in Philadelphia. Charles Schlotterbeck had worked for Plate, and Frederick and Henry
had formerly worked for Deringer and then opened their own shop in 1860 and produced near exact copies of his famous pistols. Following Henry Deringer’s 1863 lawsuit against A.J. Plate of San Francisco for the illegal use of the “H. Deringer”
trademark, in order to use the “Deringer” name, the Schlotterbecks brought John Deringer in as a partner. He was a tailor of no relation to Henry Deringer and had no experience in the firearms traded, but his inclusion in the firm allowed the company to
legally produce copies of Henry Deringer’s pistols with the name “J. Deringer” marked on them. They ceased production c. 1869. The pistol’s short barrel measures around 1 1/8 inches from the muzzle to the front of the breech plug. The barrel has a faux Damascus finish, five-groove rifling, a brass blade front sight, and “WART/STEEL” on the upper right at the breech. The casehardened breechplug has “J. DERINGER/PHILADELA” on the top flat and wavy
lines on the right (no “P”). The tang has a notch rear sight and engraving. The back action lock is also marked “J. DERINGER/PHILADELA” and has scroll
and floral engraving as does the German silver furniture. The trigger guard tang has the number “12” stamped by the toe and a hand-marked “305” inventory type number behind the bow. The short stock has a pronounced “bird’s head” profile and checkering.
CONDITION: Exceptionally fine with 95% plus original brown finish, 75% original case colors (particularly on the breech plug), attractive aged patina on the
German silver, crisp markings and engraving, nice checkering on the very fine stock, and scattered minor overall wear including some light scratches and dings on the wood. The hammer spur
has been professionally restored/repaired. Mechanically excellent. Given these pistols were specifically designed to be carried in a pocket for self-defense, you almost never find them in high condition let alone the exceptional condition of this highly desirable “J. Deringer” marked “Peanut Derringer.”
Estimate: 5,500 - 7,500
LOT 3291
Very Fine and Desirable Engraved Henry Deringer “Peanut” Percussion Pocket Pistol - NSN, 44 cal., 1 1/4 inch flat top round bbl., brown/ casehardened/German silver finish, walnut stock. Henry Deringer developed his famous pocket pistol designs in the first half of the 19th century and
manufactured them until his death in 1868. Based on his agents and known inscribed examples, it appears they were especially popular with politicians, bankers, and shopkeepers as well as gamblers and miners in the South and California. Less than 20,000 pistols in
a variety of configurations are estimated to have been manufactured in Henry Deringer’s shop before his death, but his design was also often imitated by others, including his own prior employees. This distinctive little pistol is only around 4 inches in overall
length and dates to circa 1855. Collector’s refer to these tiny pistols as “peanut Derringers.” These were the smallest of the pocket pistols produced by Henry Deringer and his many imitators in the mid-19th century. It has seven-groove rifling, an unusual
dovetailed “pinched” blade front sight, faux Damascus finish on the barrel, German silver inlaid bands along with “P” and “DERINGER/ PHILADELA” on the breech plug, a notch rear sight and scroll engraving on the tang, German silver furniture with floral patterns such as
a pineapple finial on the trigger plate, scroll engraved back action lock marked “DERINGER/PHILADELA,” and a checkered walnut stock with birdshead grip. “FB- 310” marked in white on the tear drop inlay on the butt.
CONDITION: Very fine. The barrel retains 95% plus of the original brown striped barrel finish with the original copper faded to a smooth gray patina. The breech plug and lock have dark smoky gray case colors. The German silver has aged patina. The refinished stock is also very fine and has minor edge wear and light handling and storage type marks. The checkering, markings, and engraving are crisp. Mechanically excellent. This is definitely a very attractive example of Henry
Deringer’s most compact pocket pistols.
Provenance: The Fritz Baehr Collection; The Greg Lampe Collection.
Estimate: 5,000 - 8,500
LOT 3292
Outstanding Documented George Wostenholm & Sons I*XL California Etched Blade Bowie Knife with Two Sheaths - Manufactured c. 1850 by the George Wostenholm firm
of Sheffield, England, one of the largest Sheffield manufacturers and importers to the United
States during the gold rush era and beyond. The blade of this knife has crisp period acid etching with
the Wostenholm maker name above “CALIFORNIA KNIFE” and is marked “G. WOSTENHOLM & SONS/I*XL” on the left ricasso. Knives such as this were popular during the California Gold Rush and on through the
Civil War. It measures approximately 12 1/4 inches in overall length with the clip point blade measuring 8 inches long by 1 1/2 inches wide with a 1/8
inch thick spine. It has a elliptical German silver guard and is fitted with smooth antique ivory grip scales with a blank German silver escutcheon on the left. Includes a
red sheath with gilt “I*XL” and accents, as well as German silver fittings, and a brown leather sheath
with light tooling and a belt loop. This knife along with both sheaths are pictured and discussed in the Fall
2020 issue of “The Texas Gun Collector” which is included with the lot along with another issue of the same periodical.
CONDITION: Excellent, the blade is mostly bright with a few scattered patches of light spotting and an extremely crisp etched panel. The German silver is bright. There are a couple short hairline age related stress lines visible in the grip scales and a few light handling marks. The I*XL sheath is very fine with mild wear and some light pitting on the metal, while the brown sheath is fine with mild wear and the tip absent.
Provenance: The TTT Collection.
Estimate: 5,500 - 8,500
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