The Bond derringer: a modern concealed carry option — as a back-up.
Henry Deringer gave his name to a whole class of firearms. He even donated an extra “R.”
Everyone is familiar with the derringer pistol, a little two-shot gun just the right size to fit up a gambler’s sleeve or in a whore’s garter. The original Deringer was, however, a single-shot percussion pocket pistol. John Wilkes Booth used one to kill President Abraham Lincoln.
The Booth Deringer.
Henry Deringer was a gunsmith in Philadelphia, PA, in the early-to-mid-19th Century — the apogee of muzzleloading firearms. He started out producing rifles for military contracts and the Indian trade. He made some excellent rifles that ended up in the hands of mountain men in the Rocky Mountains, and some exquisite presentation-grade rifles.
Henry Deringer is known for his pocket pistol, but he also built some fine rifles.
But the pocket pistol was the hot seller: he sold ’em as fast as he could make ’em. He didn’t patent the pistol — it wasn’t really an invention. Competitors made knockoffs and his own workmen left his shop to produce “Deringer” pistols. Somewhere along the line, the term — sporting two Rs — became a generic term for any pocket pistol.
I have a retired cop friend who carries a .22 derringer as his back-up-back-up pistol. It’s not a first choice, but it’ll do for an “Oh no you don’t pistol.” And it looks good on Megan Fox. But then, what doesn’t.
Did I really do a whole piece just as an excuse to post pictures of Megan Fox with a derringer? Nah… would I do that?
You’re welcome.
Norm Andrews says
In my view this is a very worthwhile and interesting post .
Thank you ,
Norm.
JimC says
Why thank you Norm! You have excellent tastes.
Paul McNamee says
Did I really do a whole piece just as an excuse to post pictures of Megan Fox with a derringer? Nah… would I do that?
Nah. You wouldn’t do that.
John says
Gratuitous Megan Fox pictures? Yes, please. I am totally down with that. If you can figure out a way to feature Salma Hayek, please do so.
Deep trivia note: The pistol that Booth killed President Lincoln with was rifled with a left-hand twist, very unusual for a Deringer pistol.
John C.
JimC says
Salma Hayek… Hmmm….
Norm Andrews says
I had not heard of this young Lady, but now I see she has some wonderful assets .
Norm.
John says
She does, Norm. This is her famous Snake Dance, from “From Dusk Til Dawn.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UYxxgvA8rlM
Norm Andrews says
Good lord , some snakes get all the luck.
Norm.
JimC says
Hah!
Eccentric Cowboy says
Should I feel bad that I spent just as much time ogling the Derringer rifle as I did other beautiful and well built items in this post? 😀
JimC says
Hey, whatever trips your trigger… In a manner of speaking.
John says
I think that it was Randy Wayne White who wrote about “trigger fingers and tallywhackers”. It’s good to see a post that addresses both.
John C.
JimC says
And both should be exercised regularly.
john maddox roberts says
Fun fact: The family of John Dillinger, the Depression outlaw, pronounced their name with the last two syllables rhyming with “slinger.” But J. Edgar Hoover gave it the familiar pronunciation to rhyme with “Derringer,” to make it sound more ominous.
JimC says
Never heard that. And it DOES sound more ominous.
LynnW says
I think the “dress” may be vintage. I want one, too… Might have to buy some lipstick to go with it. Definitely would have to procure a derringer to complete the outfit. Bet you guys didn’t notice the dress… it’s ok, I understand.