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AS PICTURED AND DESCRIBED IN THE DERINGER IN AMERICA, VOL. TWO BY EBERHART AND WILSON
LOT 207
Exceptional Documented Very Scarce Remington Zig-Zag Derringer with Only Known Factory Box
as Pictured in The Deringer in America - Serial no. 608, 22 RF cal., 3 3/16 inch cluster bbl., blue finish, hard rubber grips. Less than 1,000 of these small pocket pistols were manufactured in 1861-1862. These were the first Remington firearms designed to fire metallic cartridges. Advertisements listed them as “Elliott’s Pocket Revolvers.” Many have been lost or destroyed leaving few to fill their places in advanced Remington collections. The condition of this example certainly makes it a highly sought after piece. The included factory pasteboard box propels this pistol into a catalog of its own that no serious Remington collector can ignore.
The Zig-Zag derringer worked by a double action system that was engaged by a ring trigger. Each pull of the trigger automatically rotated the six-shot barrel cluster. Loading was done through the frame at the breech. The design was patented by one of Remington’s most prolific inventors, William Elliot. It is believed Elliot initially attempted to sell the pistol independently from Remington, the company who manufactured the pistol; which may explain advertisements headlined under the name “Elliott’s Pocket Revolvers.” One of these rare advertisements is included. The frame is stamped with the three-line Elliott’s patent dates marking on the left side and the three-line Remington address on the right side. The pistol wears a set of hard rubber grips. As noted, the pistol comes with the correct factory two piece pasteboard box. The interior of the lid has the “directions for loading and cleaning” paper label.
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