#261 Contrary to most derringers made in the South, Bitterlick marked his on both the barrel and the lock. All furniture is of plain, not engraved, German silver and the escutcheon plate under the forearm embraces the screw that attaches the forearm to the barrel. The forearm nose is fluted. The barrel is full octagon, and its caliber is .400.
The markings are to be found identically on the lock and the barrel in two lines with one hand stamp marked as follows:
Fr. J. BitterlickNashville, Tenn.
Franz J. Bitterlick was born July 16, 1829 and died July 12, 1880 at 51 years and 6 days old. His daughter Ann Elizabeth married Charles Evers and their descendents and great grandchildren are living in Nashville today, 1971.
Joseph Legler was born October 21, 1837 and died June 15, 1931 at the age of 93 years and 8 months. His descendents by the name of Legler still live in Nashville today.
Franz Bitterlick and Joseph Legler were brothers-in-law, having married sisters Mary and Helen Lochmann respectively.
There is no record of when Bitterlick first started operating but if he was born in 1829 and started the business when he was 25 years old, that would mean that the Bitterlick Company started about 1854.
The first record of a business using either of these two names is found in King’s City Directory of 1867, the earliest available, and is listed as Bitterlick & Legler, Gunsmiths, 22 Deaderich Street. No City Directories are available before 1867 so it is entirely possible that the combination of the two names originated before that date.
Considering that in 1867, Legler was 30 years old and considering the point that he could have been a partner of Bitterlick as early as 25 years of age means that the Bitterlick & Legler Company could have started around 1862.
In an interview in 1970 with Mr. Bernard Evers, Sr., the grandson of Bitterlick, he stated he believed the gunsmith business started in 1854, give or take a year, and that Bitterlick made himself scarce during the War Between the States by taking a four year “Round the World” trip.
All in all it would average up that the company of Bitterlick operated from perhaps 1854 to 1862 or 1865.
Bitterlick and Legler without a doubt operated from 1862-65 til the last listing of the combination company in the King’s City Directory of 1879.
In 1880 Joseph Legler is listed as a gunsmith and Frank Bitterlick as a grocer at two different addresses.
Thus from these dates that we have accumulated here you can tell approximately when your gun was made according to the name on the barrel, and that no derringers were produced after 1879 because none are known marked “Legler.”
According to a news clipping dated March 1, 1963 of the Nashville Tennessean newspaper, the J. Legler, Gunsmith business was sold on that date and it is noted that the operation was started 95 years ago on Deaderich Street which would make the business starting in 1868. To me this does not quite add up since the City Directories state that they were operating in 1867. I would say that the business started sometime between 1854 and 1867.
Joseph Legler is buried in the Mt. Olive Cemetery near Nashville, Tennessee.
It is interesting to note that the Legler descendents with the same name operated this business as a gunsmith at 321 Deaderich Street until December 31, 1962 when the business was closed out. The building was sold to a real estate agent on March 1, 1963.
All their pistols were high quality. In addition to derringer type pieces it is known that Bitterlick produced and manufactured shotguns and a few target rifles marked “FR. J. Bitterlick & Co., Nashville, Tenn.”. Early double breechloading shotguns with outside hammers are known that are marked “J. Leghler, Nashville, Tenn.” and will you please note the new spelling of Legler in this later breechloading period.
#285 This is a small sized derringer by any standards and is made by Bitterlick. I have never seen a Bitterlick smaller than this one. This gun also has the escutcheon screw plate underneath the forearm attaching that part to the full octagon barrel. The forearm nose is fluted as is common to many of these Nashville and Memphis guns. All furniture is of German silver and is plain, not engraved.
The barrel markings are slightly different from #261 in that the expression “& Co.” has been added as follows:
Fr. J. Bitterlick & Co.Nashville, Tenn.
#285A This is a real old foot powered metal turning lathe that is in our collection here at Dixie Gun Works. It was obtained from the current Snodgrass Gun Shop in Nashville and Mr. Snodgrass states that many, many years ago he got it from the old Legler Gun Shop. There is an awfully good chance that parts such as screws for the Bitterlick or Bitterlick & Legler Derringers were made on this same lathe. Incidentally, Hal Swann of Nashville has a large quantity of Bitterlick or Bitterlick & Legler tools such as files, bullet mould cherries, screwdrivers and even a die stamp reading “Bitterlick & Co.” This die stamp is not the same one that is used on the derringers though. This die stamp has never been seen on a gun.
#266 Lullman and Vienna apparently was a retail store dealing in guns, watches, and jewelry. I have never seen a Lullman and Vienna marked gun except for those that are genuine Henry Deringer guns. Or, in other words, they did not make their own guns.
This specimen is German silver mounted throughout, without ramrod and with a tear drop buttcap. Typical round Henry Deringer barrel with a flat rib on top. Full dovetailed German silver front sight. The breech of the barrel has two silver bands which enhances its value.
All guns by this maker were invariably marked with the same die stamp and two lines with one stamp manufactured as one unit. The stampings reads as follows:
Lullman & Vienna,Memphis, Tenn.
#258 A very desirable sized derringer with a short barrel and many people call this the Abe Lincoln model which is true except for the marking on the barrel. This gun is German silver mounted throughout, and made without ramrod. Solid German silver front sight is dovetailed into position. The rear of the barrel has two silver bands. Has typical Henry Deringer markings on the lock and on the breechplug. The caliber is .410.
The barrel markings are typically as follows:
Lullman & Vienna,Memphis, Tenn.
#254 An even smaller sized Lullman and Vienna derringer is this genuine Henry Deringer gun that is marked with this agent’s name on the barrel. German silver throughout and you will notice that this gun does not have a ramrod like all the others by this same maker in my collection. I wonder if all were sold to Lullman and Vienna without ramrods? Solid German silver front sight dovetailed in place along with two silver barrel bands at the breech. Its caliber is .380.
The barrel markings are typically as follows:
Lullman & Vienna,Memphis, Tenn.
#262 This Bitterlick specimen is typical of his earlier guns except for the later markings on the barrel. The full octagon barrel is held in place by two screws through the forearm and through the trigger plate directly into the barrel. The escutcheons and furniture are all of plain German silver with no engraving whatsoever. Has German silver pin type front sight with gold band at the breech. The breech is marked with the number “I.” All metal parts show old milling marks and file marks because of its excellent condition. Caliber is .470.
The identical markings are to be found on both the barrel and the lock and two different hand stamps are used as follows:
Fr. J. Bitterlick & LeglerNashville, Tenn.
#222 O’Dell guns are often times easily recognized by their characteristic European influence. The grips are a little different in this shape gun in that they are the flat bag type instead of a rounded bag type which is more of an English style than American. The round faced hammer does not follow the characteristics of Southern derringers. All furniture is of German silver and of the highest quality casting and are fully engraved with English line scroll engraving. The trigger plate has a pineapple finial and through the trigger plate is the typical Southern style screw that attaches the forearm to the barrel along with the barrel being held in place by a wedge.
I need to mention that there are several known Henry Deringer made guns that are marked in one line on the barrel and with a hand stamp “S. O’Dell.” In this specimen that we present here that is marked on the lock plate, the name is hand engraved in and is not stamped.
This ornate specimen has five gold and silver bands at the breech. The barrel is rounded with a rib flat on top. The silver front sight is machined into place. The lockplate is filed down to fit the wood with more of a cross curve than Henry Deringer guns show. The caliber is unusually small, it being only .330.
This gun is marked on the lock only as follows:
S. O’Dell
O’Dell came from New York State probably in the late 1830’s or early 1840’s and according to newspaper accounts of that period was murdered in the early 1860’s at Natchez. Although his derringers had bag shaped grips and not bird head grips, I am classifying them as a derringer rather than a pocket pistol. Halfstock rifles with his name are known.
#215 Schneider and Glassick derringers have characteristics of both of these earlier companies that merged to form this one. All furniture is very plain German silver without even the least line engraving. There is a screw through the trigger plate holding the barrel into position along with the typical wedge. The full octagon barrel is rather plain with no embellishments at the breech. The caliber is .450.
The markings are in one line with one stamp on the top flat of the barrel as follows:
Schneider & Glassick, Memphis, Tenn.
Schneider & Glassick, gunsmiths, formed about 1859 by William S. Schneider and Frederick G. Glassick, both of whom had previously operated independently. They early secured a Confederate contract to manufacture revolvers, this being in addition to the repairing of other types of firearms. They advertised in March, 1862, advising persons who had left “guns or pistols longer than three months” to call, as they intended delivering all such arms to the Confederate government as of March 15th.
Shortly after this advertising date of March 7, 1862, Memphis was evacuated by all Confederate Ordnance activities, and the firm was not heard from again.
#6 Although in deplorable condition, this Schneider and Glassick can be restored and I am going to spend upwards of $200 to have the trigger guard and the hammer made new. Notice the extra long length of the grip and of the bird head shape. The barrel is held in place both by a trigger plate screw and a wedge. The front sight is a brass blade milled into the steel barrel with no engraving or ornamentation at the breech. Notice the heavy downward curve of the lock. Caliber is .500.
The barrel markings are done with the same stamp as used on gun #215 which is a one piece stamp in one line as follows:
Schneider & Glassick, Memphis, Tenn.
#225 W. H. Calhoun was a fancy goods merchant in Nashville, Tennessee during and well before the Civil War. Fancy goods merchants sold jewelry, watches, and guns which sort of fitted together in those days and times. Calhoun never made guns himself as far as I know and was not a gunsmith. This is a genuine Henry Deringer gun surcharged or marked with the agent’s name on the barrel. This gun has typical Henry Deringer characteristics such as German silver furniture and a pineapple finial on the trigger plate. The stock is made without ramrod. The caliber is .370.
The barrel markings are in four lines on the top flat and appear to be marked each line individually as follows:
MandforW. H. CalhounAgent,Nashville, Tenn.
#282 L. Swett was a dealer of guns and general merchandise in Vicksburg, Mississippi and as far as I know never made guns himself. The guns that I have seen by this maker were all Henry Deringer agent marked guns. This speciment is very typical of a genuine Henry Deringer such as with ramrod, German silver furniture, and pineapple finial on the trigger plate.
The barrel markings are in three lines and it appears to be one stamp because each line is so perfect when compared with the other. The markings are as follows:
Made forL. Swett & Co.Vicksburg, Miss.
This name represents an agent primarily since no guns not of Henry Deringer manufacture are known. Newspaper advertisements of that period show he operated in the late 1850’s. It is interesting to notice that Mrs. Jefferson Davis carried a Swett derringer in her purse. The gun is now on display in the old capitol museum in Jackson, Mississippi.
J. A. Schafer. Vicksburg, Mississippi, is one gun that I do not have and I would like to obtain. I have heard of three of these guns and they are always Henry Deringer guns surcharged with this agent’s name and without a doubt all will be typical of Henry Deringer manufactury.
#204 Trumpler of Little Rock does not make a gun that looks like a Henry Deringer or a Southern Derringer. His guns are entirely different. Notice the funny nosecap, the tall hammer, and the extra narrow trigger guard and trigger plate. Although the trigger plate ends in a finial of a pineapple, it is not a Henry Deringer type of pineapple. This derringer has a silver band at the breech with a small amount of engraving. The barrel is round with a rib on top. Its caliber is .430.
The only markings are on the barrel as follows in one line:
L. F. Trumpler, L. Rock, Ark.
#278 J. B. Gilmore, Shreveport, Louisiana, produced guns by his own hand and he also used Henry Deringer guns that were surcharged with his own name. This particular gun is rather slender and it has a nice appealing style, it being manufactured by Gilmore himself. Notice the turned down forearm nose. The gun is mounted with German silver furniture lightly engraved. The barrel is round with a flat rib on top. Its caliber is .380.
The only markings are on the top of the barrel flat as follows:
J. B. GILMORE
Jerome Bonaparte Gilmore was born in Jefferson County, Kentucky, in 1827, and came to Shreveport, La. in 1849. There is a strong possibility that he was the son of J. Gilmore, of the firm J. Gilmore and Moses Dickson, Gunmakers, of Louisville (1848-1860), as, according to the census of 1840, J. Gilmore, Sr. had a son of about this age. J. B. Gilmore worked for David Pobst, gunmaker, until about 1853 when young Gilmore went into the gun business for himself. The 1850 census lists both Pobst and Gilmore in the same recordersvisit which usually means that they were members of the same household, possibly roommates. Advertisements for both Pobst and Gilmore appear in the Caddo Gazette in 1853, and seem to indicate that they are competitors. An ad in the Caddo Gazette, 3 Feb., 1855 is as follows:
J. B. Gilmore, Gun Manufacturer,Shreveport, La., two doors below the City Hotel on Texas St.To my friends and customers. After an absence of four months, I am again at my post, during which time I have visited the best Gun Manufacturers of the West and South, that I might make myself acquainted with the more recent and valuable improvements in gunnery. And can now assure my customers that any work entrusted to me will be finished in the best style, with such valuable improvements as have been made in the work. I will keep constantly on hand Shot Guns, Pistols of all kinds, including Colt’s celebrated repeaters of all sizes, Game and Shot bags, Powder Flasks and Horns, Bullet bags, Capprimers, Tubes and tube wrenches, Bullet-moulds, Gun Barrels, Locks, Triggers, Ribbs, Mounting, Baldwin & Anderson’s Patent Wadding, Eley’s wire Cartridge, Cox & Eley’s caps, also Colt’s metal lined for his repeating pistols, and a good assortment of all other kinds. Hazard & Dupont’s powder, both keg and canister of the finest quality. A few of the celebrated patent-muzzle Rifles for long shooting, these guns are far ahead of all others that are made, on account of the great distance as well as the accuracy with which they can be fired. Rifles of all sizes and qualities made to order. All kinds of guns and pistols repaired in the neatest manner, and shortest notice, warranted to stand.
J. B. Gilmore, Gun Manufacturer,Shreveport, La., two doors below the City Hotel on Texas St.
J. B. Gilmore, Gun Manufacturer,
Shreveport, La., two doors below the City Hotel on Texas St.
To my friends and customers. After an absence of four months, I am again at my post, during which time I have visited the best Gun Manufacturers of the West and South, that I might make myself acquainted with the more recent and valuable improvements in gunnery. And can now assure my customers that any work entrusted to me will be finished in the best style, with such valuable improvements as have been made in the work. I will keep constantly on hand Shot Guns, Pistols of all kinds, including Colt’s celebrated repeaters of all sizes, Game and Shot bags, Powder Flasks and Horns, Bullet bags, Capprimers, Tubes and tube wrenches, Bullet-moulds, Gun Barrels, Locks, Triggers, Ribbs, Mounting, Baldwin & Anderson’s Patent Wadding, Eley’s wire Cartridge, Cox & Eley’s caps, also Colt’s metal lined for his repeating pistols, and a good assortment of all other kinds. Hazard & Dupont’s powder, both keg and canister of the finest quality. A few of the celebrated patent-muzzle Rifles for long shooting, these guns are far ahead of all others that are made, on account of the great distance as well as the accuracy with which they can be fired. Rifles of all sizes and qualities made to order. All kinds of guns and pistols repaired in the neatest manner, and shortest notice, warranted to stand.
As Gilmore’s shop was located on the trail to Texas (highway 80 today), it is likely that he furnished many settlers and frontiersmen with guns.
In 1860, Caddo Parish had 1153 registered voters. In 1860 Caddo Parish sent 1500 men to war. On the 17th day of May 1861, J. B. Gilmore entered the military service of the Confederate States of America as Captain of “F” Company, Shreveport Rangers, 3rd Regiment, Louisiana Infantry. His regiment was transported by the steamer “Grand Duke” to New Orleans and then proceeded to Fort Smith, Ark., reporting to General Ben McCulloch, commanding the Army of the West. He served with his command in all the skermishes and fights including the battles of Oak Hills and Elk Horn in Ark. and Mo. On the 1st of May 1862, his regiment arrived at Corinth, Miss., where it was reorganized on the 8th of May. As a result of this reorganization, Gilmore was elected Lt. Colonel. Lt. Colonel Gilmore participated in the skermishes at Farmington and other points near Corinth. Col. F. C. Armstrong was appointed a Brigadier General, and on 6 July took leave of the regiment. Soon after Gilmore was appointed to full Colonel by President Davis and assumed command of the regiment. At the battle of Iuka, Miss., on 19 Sept., 1862, Col. Gilmore was severely wounded and, not being able to withdraw with his regiment, was captured. He was paroled on the 23rd of Sept., and rejoined his regiment at Snyder’s Bluff. He was with the regiment during their investment at Vicksburg, Miss., but being very weak did not assume command. He resigned his command on 7 July, 1863 and was paroled with his regiment but never exchanged.
Upon his return from the war he joined a cotton firm as a buyer. It is probable that his wound prevented him from carrying on his gun business. In 1860 he had purchased three lots from Leroy M. Nutt for $2300, and in 1872 built a substantial residence on this site. The first City Directory (1878) lists him as residing at 506 Cotton St.
Gilmore’s wife’s name was Emma and he had a son, Edwin Vincent. During the carpetbagger era he was Mayor of Shreveport, and was known as a man of fine character. He was a member of the “General LeRoy Stafford Camp No. 3, United Confederate Veterans” and it was men from this camp that served as pall bearers at his funeral in 1900. Jerome Bonaparte Gilmore’s tombstone lies in lot 22, section 33 of the Greenwood Cemetery, Shreveport, La., just 20 steps from the graves of his Confederate comrades in arms.
#258 This is a Gilmore gun that is manufactured by Henry Deringer. It has typical derringer markings on the lock plate and the breechplug. It is mounted in German silver in a typical fashion. The only difference in this and most Henry Deringers is that the trigger plate finial is not a pineapple. Made with ramrod. Its caliber is .440.
Marked on the top barrel flat as follows in three lines:
MandforJ. B. GilmoreShreveport, La.
#205 Linde is a lesser known gunmaker of Memphis and he is authenticated through newspaper advertisements of those days. Little is known of his history. This particular gun has a different shape stock and notice the turned down forearm nose that is fluted. The furniture is not engraved. Notice the different shaped hammer. The barrel is round with a top barrel flat. The front sight is German silver dovetailed into place.
The only markings are on both the barrel and the lock as follows:
A. Linde
#220 Folsom was a well known manufacturer and dealer of New Orleans, Memphis, and St. Louis. This particular handsome little gun with its 1⅞” barrel was manufactured by him and is not a Henry Deringer product although it has characteristics exactly like old Henry of Philadelphia. All furniture is of German silver. This is the size of derringer that I would call a gambler’s vest pocket special. Its caliber is .390.
The only mark is on the lock itself as follows:
H. Folsom
He was a gunsmith and military outfitter who in the late 1850’s was located in St. Louis, Missouri, and who for a time was there connected with H. E. Dimick, a gunsmith and dealer in imitation Colt Navy Revolvers.
Folsom was entirely Southern in feeling and about 1859 left St. Louis for New Orleans, Louisiana. There he opened up a shop at 55 Chartres Street. Imported revolvers are occasionally found bearing his name.
Also to be found with his name and the St. Louis address are various types of swords.
Some rifles are known that are marked “H. Folsom & Co., St. Louis.”
He is first listed in 1866 in the St. Louis City Directory and again in 1870 as a dealer and gunsmith.
It is known that Folsom worked in Memphis at some time and it is possible and reasonable that he made deringers there and in St. Louis but with a different marking, leaving off the St. Louis in the case of the Memphis guns.
#256 Weisgerber was an authenticated maker according to newspapers of those days of derringers, shotguns, and rifles. To date, I know of one rifle and two derringer pistols, one of which is in my collection. Notice the heavy bag grip and the unusual shaped hammer. The forearm nose is fluted. All parts are German silver, not engraved, and the inlays are held in place with wood screws which is contrary to the vast majority of the others in my collection. Its caliber is .440.
The only markings are on the top barrel flat as follows in two lines:
A. Weisgerber & Co.Memphis, Tenn.
#219 Again we have a Memphis maker, whose name was Merriman, that little is known of but he is authenticated as a derringer maker by newspaper accounts. This gun has a rounded face European style hammer that appears to be original with the gun and all furniture is German silver. There is some engraving on the inlays. There is no provision for a ramrod. Its caliber is .410.
The only markings are on the barrel in two lines as follows:
J. F. Merriman & Co.Memphis
As far as I know Hoffman was a derringer maker himself and did not use any Henry Deringer guns that were surcharged. I only know of two of these guns and I am sorry that I am not able to obtain them for photographing. I can tell you that they are highly ornate similar to the O’Dell manufactured guns. Hoffman was located in Vicksburg.
Louis Ferdinand Alexander Hoffmann was born in Berlin, Prussia in 1823. His father was an officer in the Prussian army but died when Louis was 9. His mother died when he was 11, leaving five orphan children. Louis came to America in 1852 settling for a short time in Patterson, New Jersey, then moving to St. Louis, Missouri and on to Vicksburg in 1854.
During his early years in Europe he was brought up in the machine shop of Borsig of Berlin, then the largest of its kind in Europe. This fact later may explain the heavy European influence on Mr. Hoffmann’s guns.
From 1854 til 1857 he worked in Vicksburg at the Zimmerman and Reading Foundry, learning the art of metal craft. In 1857 at the age of 34 he had saved enough money to start his own business.
His first ad in the Vicksburg Daily Whig dated October, 1857 states: “New gun shop—Louis Hoffmann takes pleasure in informing his community and the public generally that he will carry on the gunsmith business and all its branches. It will make rifles to order, stock guns and pistols, etc.”
The 1860 Vicksburg City Directory list six gunsmiths working for him, One of these was Adam Schafer who later went into the retail business himself and Philadelphia Henry Deringers are known to be marked with his agency’s name.
Hoffmann’s earliest known address was listed in 1857 as China Street and later on Washington Street. The Washington Street store burned in 1879 and new buildings were erected on Clay Street. This became known as the famous “Hoffmann Block.”
In 1886 the former Louis Hoffmann or Hoffmann Hardware Company was incorporated and the name changed to Louis Hoffmann Hardware Company, Inc., Hoffmann Block, Vicksburg, Mississippi.
Depending of these mentioned names and addresses, you can date your guns roughly.
The successors of the Hoffmann Hardware & Gun Company is in business today under the name of O’Neill McNamarra Hardware Company.
#241 Generally this Conning derringer follows the description of a genuine Henry Deringer gun in both style and makeup but is not a Henry Deringer. The trigger guard and other furniture is of German silver and there is no provision for a ramrod. Notice the turned down lip at the forearm nose. The round barrel is made with a barrel rib at the top. The only barrel markings underneath the barrel are a cryptic assembly number cut in Roman numerals so this gun is apparently American made because there are no proof marks. I have never heard of another such gun. Its caliber is .410.
The only markings are on the barrel in two lines in script and engraved as follows:
Made forJ. Conning, Mobile
This maker advertised that his shop was open for business at Dauphin and Water Streets in Mobile, Alabama. This will leave the impression that he operated a retail store but so far no actual proof of this has been noted except that on October 21, 1862 he advertised “military buttons just received a few gross of very fine military gold staff buttons, sold by the gross or the set.”
He had some facilities for manufacturing and is well known for his Confederate swords. There is a record of an important contract with the state of Alabama for sabres.
#259 Mendenhall of the little town of DesArc, Arkansas produced derringers that had no characteristics of either the Mississippi derringer makers, those of Nashville or of Memphis. His were entirely different. Notice the heavy walnut stock, the long slender hammer, and the pewter nosecap. Has provision for the ramrod in the nosecap. The trigger guard is of steel and all other furniture is of German silver held in place with pins. There is a screw through the trigger guard that attaches to the barrel along with a wedge to hold the barrel in place. The barrel has two bands of gold and silver at the breech and the front sight is dovetailed German silver. The lockplate is plain with no engraving whatsoever as is the hammer. The grips are checkered with a bird head style. The caliber is .500.
The only markings are on the barrel with a one piece machine made hand stamp in two lines as follows:
A. R. MendenhallDesArc, Ark.
From Charles Elias, North Little Rock, Arkansas comes certain information on this deringer maker that he has dug out of the U.S. Census files of Arkansas taken every decade.
In 1836, the year Arkansas became a state in the Union, the present location of the town of DesArc was known as McNulty’s Bluff and was nothing more than a ferry crossing the White River at this point—the most eastern edge of what was then Pulaski County. It wasn’t until the early 1840’s that the townsite was laid out and became known as DesArc. Today the population is about 500.
A R. Mendenhall was born in 1836. It is realistic to assume that at the age of 25, in 1860, this young man could have had the capabilities of fashioning this type of weapon.
In the year 1860, this man, along with a wagonmaker named John Langford, resided with the family of William H. Harvey whose occupation was listed in the U.S. Census of that year as a “grocery keeper.” Mendenhall was 24 years old and single. His native state was Michigan; his occupation, gunsmith. He owned no real property, but assessed $200.00 in personal property.
Mendenhall’s name appears again in the U.S. Census of 1870. By this time, he had married a young Tennessee woman and gave his native state as Ohio. In both real and personal property, he listed his net worth as a little less than $1,000.00. Residing with him was another man whose occupation was listed as “grocery keeper.” William H. Harvey had disappeared from the scene.
Other sources state that a Mendenhall worked in the “Confederate States Ordnance Works” at Tyler, Texas which operated from 1862 to 1865. According to this book in my library, Mendenhall was the best workman in the armoury and was engaged in some capacity with pistol making. Could this be the same man?
It is reasonable to assume that any Mendenhall Derringer was produced in 1860 or later.
#242 J. Hausmann was an arms dealer before the Civil War in New Orleans. Little is known about him. Notice that this gun has definite Southern characteristics of some of the Memphis and Nashville guns in the screw plate under the forearm that holds the barrel to the forearm, the fluted nose of the forearm, and the full octagon barrel. All furniture is likewise plain as is characteristic of many of these guns. The grips are bird head shaped and are protected at the butt with a tear drop inlay. There is a screw through the trigger plate holding to the barrel. The caliber is .410.
A friend in Memphis has in his collection an identical gun marked #1 on the tang. Mine is marked #2. I got my gun from Bob Elz of California and the #1 was found in Ohio. Neither of us will sell his gun and we are at a standstill about getting these two identical guns into one collection. No other derringers by this maker are known.
The only markings are on the lock plate itself, hand engraved, as follows:
J. Hausmann
A. J. Millspaugh operated in Shreveport, Louisiana. I have never seen one of his guns nor heard of anyone that had one except in one book a mention is made that Philadelphia derringers are known with his name. I do not personally believe he would be any more scarce than a Linde or a Weisgerber.
Holyoake-Lownes of Memphis, Tennessee was an importer of English made derringer type guns with his name surcharged on the barrel. I have heard of one gun only with this marking and it of course has English proof marks but has positive features of a genuine Henry Deringer gun.
A description of the only known gun is as follows: The round barrel with the rib on top is rifled and is caliber .490. Barrel length is 3⅝” and the overall length is 7¾”. Two silver bands at breech. Oval silver wedge escutcheons. Monogram plate in the shape of a rectangle with clipped corners. German silver fore end cap is made for loading rod. Eight cornered daisy design German silver butt cap.
This company advertised guns for sale in the “Memphis Daily Appeal” of Wednesday, May 4, 1853.
The top flat of the barrel is marked in one line with one die stamp “Holyoake-Lownes & Co. Memphis.”
#201 F. Schumann is identified as a maker of derringers by old newspaper accounts. None of my collector friends or dealer friends have ever heard of or seen a genuine Schumann derringer and I am indeed fortunate in obtaining this specimen of a barrel whose caliber is .410 and is full octagon. This barrel turned up in Memphis about twenty-five or thirty years ago in an old gun shop where it was obtained and kept in a collection thereafter. It has never been on a gun and still shows the old original file marks.
#286 Sieber of Nashville, Tennessee is virtually unknown among my gun collector friends and dealers until this gun turned up in Norman Flayderman’s catalog in 1970. It is definitely Nashville made with the characteristics of those guns in the full octagon barrel, the escutcheon plate under the forearm holding the screw to attach the barrel, and the lack of engraving. The buttcap, sideplate, nameplate on the wrist, and escutcheons are of German silver. The trigger guard, believe it or not, is of brass and appears to be original. The barrel is a little different in that the bottom half is rounded with the top half octagon. To say this another way, there are three octagon flats at the top of the barrel with the other part underneath rounded. There is a gold blow-out plug on the breechplug. Two bands at the breech are of gold and silver and one silver band at the muzzle. It is a shame, but someone in the past has sand-papered the barrel which is in extra fine condition. They saw the old brown color and thought they were removing rust when actually the gun had original browning on the barrel and some smart fellow removed all of it. I would call this a high quality but plain derringer. Its caliber is .440.
The only markings are on the top barrel flat as follows:
E. R. Sieber,Nashville, Tenn.
H. G. Newcomb is a little known maker of Vicksburg, Mississippi who made his own derringers. I have only heard of two guns by this maker and they are in a collection in Mississippi and maybe sometime we can obtain this specimen for photographing and describing.
Apparently Newcomb was active about the same time as O’Dell but he lived into the early 1870’s. Two of his derringers are known and one is even more ornate than O’Dell produced guns while the other is very plain. It is rumored that some genuine Henry Deringers were agent marked with Newcomb’s name but I have never personally seen one of these guns.
#221 Here is an unmarked derringer that could have been made either in Nashville or in Memphis according to the sheath trigger and the flat butt. Bitterlick produced guns of this style and marked them but I do not have one for my collection. Notice that this is made of curly maple rather than like all the rest of walnut. The full octagon barrel has one silver band at the breech. The tang is marked with “#1”. There is no way to determine whether this gun was made in Nashville or Memphis. Its caliber is .480.
#212 Having no characteristics whatsoever of any other known Southern derringer maker is this specimen from my collection that I have had for ten or twelve years. The tear drop buttcap, the wedge plate escutcheons, the silver inlay under the barrel and the left hand sideplate and name plate over the wrist are all plain with no engraving which is typical of Southern guns. There is no provision for ramrod. Notice the forearm nose is fluted and that it is turned downward somewhat. The trigger guard is steel and does have the Southern type of screw through the trigger plate attaching to the barrel. The lock plate has a very high radius curve to make it fit the curve of the wrist. The round barrel is flat on top. The dovetailed steel base front sight has a German silver blade. Notice that the hammer is not derringer style in that it has a slightly rounded face. No proof marks under barrel. This gun is in exceedingly fine condition, and I would say almost like new. Its caliber is .450.
#206 Here is an unidentifiable hand made Southern type derringer with markings on the barrel that are hand cut and very crude as follows: “J. E. B.” The wood is curly maple and the trigger guard and trigger plate are steel with no butt cap on the flat butt. There is a screw through the trigger plate attaching the forearm to the barrel. This can be seen in the photograph. The rifled bore is caliber .500.