forward observer
Member
There was one true replica of the Lincoln/Booth Deringer on the market for a short while although very pricy when it was issued.
Henry Deringer typically produced and sold his pistols in pairs to give the client a second shot. Some firearms historians have wondered why Booth, who could have afforded a set, only had one and if there is a long-lost mate somewhere. There is no account of where or how he obtained the one he used.
This size of Deringer is referred to by collectors as a "peanut" (barrels below 2 and a half inches.) Note that Henry Deringer spelled his name with only one "r". His pistols were so popular during his life that many makers not only copied them but also stamped them with his name to fool the prospective buyer. However, to avoid litigation--often these forgers would misspell his name with two r's. This latter spelling became the generic name generally used today for all diminutive hideout pistols.
Below is the only accurate copy I am aware of. It was a commemorative set of replicas of the Booth Deringer produced by the US Historical Society back in the early 1980s. It was a limited run of about 900 sets and came in the leather-bound bookcase shown below.
The set came with loading accessories and tools. Like the original, these have 2.5 inch long barrels--not counting the tang.
The trigger guard, backstrap, & escutcheons are all engraved in solid sterling silver. They also made a few sets with the furniture in solid 14kt gold and supposedly a few sets with gold and inset jewels.
They even copied the little springloaded door in the butt that hid an extra nipple. This is also on the Lincoln Deringer but it can't be seen in the picture. I suppose one could use the compartment instead for a percussion cap or two.
Original Deringers start at around $3k and go up. A cased set with tools will bring $10k and up. This reproduction set sold for $2500 back in 1981 which would be equal to
$8,300 in 2023 dollars. I'm assuming the sterling silver and silver-plated accessories contributed to the price. Like all such commemoratives, they haven't kept up with inflation. They come up on Gunbroker occasionally but are usually priced in the $1500 range or more. Pedersoli is the only company today making a decent reproduction and their offering lists for about $500 ea. It's not nearly as nice as these and is just a tad larger. I snagged this set about 3 years ago from a pawn shop for $800 total.
Cheers
Henry Deringer typically produced and sold his pistols in pairs to give the client a second shot. Some firearms historians have wondered why Booth, who could have afforded a set, only had one and if there is a long-lost mate somewhere. There is no account of where or how he obtained the one he used.
This size of Deringer is referred to by collectors as a "peanut" (barrels below 2 and a half inches.) Note that Henry Deringer spelled his name with only one "r". His pistols were so popular during his life that many makers not only copied them but also stamped them with his name to fool the prospective buyer. However, to avoid litigation--often these forgers would misspell his name with two r's. This latter spelling became the generic name generally used today for all diminutive hideout pistols.
Below is the only accurate copy I am aware of. It was a commemorative set of replicas of the Booth Deringer produced by the US Historical Society back in the early 1980s. It was a limited run of about 900 sets and came in the leather-bound bookcase shown below.
The set came with loading accessories and tools. Like the original, these have 2.5 inch long barrels--not counting the tang.
The trigger guard, backstrap, & escutcheons are all engraved in solid sterling silver. They also made a few sets with the furniture in solid 14kt gold and supposedly a few sets with gold and inset jewels.
They even copied the little springloaded door in the butt that hid an extra nipple. This is also on the Lincoln Deringer but it can't be seen in the picture. I suppose one could use the compartment instead for a percussion cap or two.
Original Deringers start at around $3k and go up. A cased set with tools will bring $10k and up. This reproduction set sold for $2500 back in 1981 which would be equal to
$8,300 in 2023 dollars. I'm assuming the sterling silver and silver-plated accessories contributed to the price. Like all such commemoratives, they haven't kept up with inflation. They come up on Gunbroker occasionally but are usually priced in the $1500 range or more. Pedersoli is the only company today making a decent reproduction and their offering lists for about $500 ea. It's not nearly as nice as these and is just a tad larger. I snagged this set about 3 years ago from a pawn shop for $800 total.
Cheers
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