This is the very first type Henry Deringer ever made.  There are about six or seven in existence today.  It is rare beyond belief.  This gun has the very earliest front action lock with the earliest style of marking on the lockplate.  It also has the very earliest style of finial on the trigger guard.  The barrel is 3 3/4 inches long with a 5/8 inch breech and appears to be about .40 caliber.  It has an overall length of 8 1/4 inches.  These guns all have iron trigger guards, generally horn nose caps with German silver escutcheons.  The engraving on the trigger guard, breech, tang, hammer and lock is very pronounced, almost Germanic.  This gun still has nice checkering in the wood and pleasant, smooth patination.  There is no significant pitting and it is overall smooth and attractive.  The ramrod appears to be of horn or ebony with an iron tip.  Don't underestimate the rarity of this little gun.  Doug Eberhart has pictured some of the surviving examples of this first type Deringer in his new book Henry Deringer Pistols from 1826 to 1870.  You may view other examples on pages 10-12.  SOLD!