This little gun and its flask came out of the woods together.  The gun is untouched in a basic attic condition with smooth brown barrel and lock and tarnished German silver mountings.  There is a hairline crack in the wood on either side of the trigger guard and an extra screw in the tang.  You will note the pronounced oversize bag grip.  This is a gun which has all the characteristics of having been made around 1860-1865 except the bag grips.  Doug Eberhart, in his book, Henry Deringer Pistols From 1826-1870, pictures such a gun on page 76.  He indicates that it is the only bag grip gun of that type that he has ever seen.  This one would make number two.  It has a barrel length including breech, of 3 inches with an overall length of 6 inches.  And with the pronounced bag grip, I would say it is an extremely rare variation.  The flask has no dents and very nice patination.  There is an eagle embossed on both sides, gripping a revolver and flask in its feet.  This flask was generally available during the time frame and I have no doubt that the two were actually used together.  Click on image for additional views.   SOLD!!

Even though this pistol is unmarked, it has all the characteristics of a Lins family pistol, probably made by Frederick.  Notice the daisy petalled inlay on the butt, along with the distinctive lock screw escutcheon and the flat step-down on the side of the breech.  The dovetail front sight and the smooth elliptical escutcheons around the barrel key, along with the distinctive bolster, all indicate that is is a Lins product.  The gun has a 3 3/4 inch .42 caliber barrel with an overall length of 7 1/4 inches.  You may find pistols with similar characteristics on pages 80 and 81 of Doug Eberhart's book The Deringer in America.  On page 146 you will see a gun that is virtually identical, which is agent marked C. Suter, Selma, Alabama.  The gun is well used, but not overly pitted or beat up.  The hammer has loosened on the tumbler and has a little play in it and there are signs of an old crack through the grip, which has been resealed.  All in all, not a bad little gun, for the price.  Click on image for additional views.  SOLD!!

A wonderfully patinaed, sharp and crisp, U.S. Model 1842 Aston Pistol.  The gun is smooth, with light patination and is uncleaned.  It has unusually sharp lock markings and barrel markings.  The cartouches, opposite the lock, are virtually perfect.  The wood has its original, linseed oil finish with minimal dings.  The U. S. sub-inspector mark, which on this gun is a "W", is found on the barrel band, the side plate, trigger guard, back strap and the end of the ramrod.  It is also found on the left barrel flat.  Simply put, the gun has, sharp and clear, all of its original inspection and sub-inspection marks and the patination to its iron and brasses is very nice.  Click on image for additional views.  SOLD!!

A solid, very good .40 caliber Henry Deringer.  It has a barrel length of 3 1/2 inches with an overall length of 6 1/2 inches.  This is a deluxe gun with German silver nose cap and provision for a ramrod, German silver bands at the breech and a cap box in the butt.  It is marked, on the lock, Deringer, Philadela and also at the breech of the barrel.  It has the "P" proof with sunburst on the left rear barrel flat.  The top barrel flat, forward of the breech, is marked Wolf & Durringer, Louisville, Kentucky, Agents.  As is usual, the die was tilted and the right hand side of the marking is much stronger than the left side.  It is pretty much all visible with a lupe, but very difficult to photograph.  The wood on this gun is very sound, with no repairs, no fiddling around.  Just an all around, solid, very good, agent marked Henry Deringer.  Click on image for additional views.  SOLD!!

This is the iron mounted version of the Palmetto Musket, with the Bushy Tree lockplate markings.  The Bushy Tree marking is an authentic variant in Palmetto production, which is usually found on guns with iron bands.  This gun is in solid, very good condition with extensive signs of moderate wear and use.  The lock is marked Palmetto Armory, SC around the Palmetto tree, forward of the hammer, and Columbia, SC, 1852 behind the hammer.  The rear of the barrel is marked P V over Palmetto tree and WG&CO on the left flat.  The butt plate tang is marked SC.  The lock functions correctly.  The gun has a relatively smooth, brown patination, with some pitting and burn-out at the bolster.  It appears to be original with the possible exception of the ramrod, which may be a replacement.  Click on image for additional views.  SOLD!!

A large number of London Armoury Company Adams Revolvers made their way into the South during the Civil War.  A couple of them in the 36,000 range are on the Pratt issue list.  This particular gun is in the 39,000 range and would have been manufactured during the Civil War, certainly before 1865.  It retains about 90-95% of the original bright blue finish.  The grips are sharp as a tack and virtually 100 percent.  The action functions nicely and it is complete and matching in all respects.  The LAC mark is found on the left barrel flat and on the left frame.  It is dealer marked Geo. Gibbs, Gun Maker, Bristol, on the top strap.  An excellent condition, London Armoury Company Adams.  Click on image for additional views.  SOLD!!

One of the larger size Henry Deringers, this gun has a barrel that measures 4 inches with an overall length of 8 inches.  It is in .44 caliber and solid very good condition.  It has sharp engraving and strong markings on the lock, top of the breech and an unusually clear "P" proof with sunburst on the left rear barrel flat.  It is German silver mounted with a provision for ramrod.  It has a nice brown patina with a little frost around the hammer and bolster.  The wood is smooth, with sharp checkering.  Click on image for additional views.  SOLD!!

This is an honest to gosh, straight out of the attic, Civil War issue .44 caliber single action Starr.  It is not working and somebody tried to convert it to cartridge.  They cut off the back of the cylinder and added a small point to the tip of the hammer to act as a firing pin.  I don't see any signs of a plate at the back of the cylinder.  I would not like to have been around when this went off.  There is a crack in the frame on the right side, above the cylinder.  Even so, there is a lot of gun left here.  The grips are nice and still show vestiges of the cartouches.  The military sub-inspection is still on the barrel, frame, etc., and the gun is in a pleasant, chocolate brown patina.  If you need parts or want to try your hand at putting it back together, I think it would be of interest.  Click on image for additional views.  SOLD!!

This Henry Deringer is in .44 caliber with a 3 1/8 inch barrel and an overall length of 7 inches.  It is in very good condition, with a little frost on the barrel and lock.  The lock is marked Deringer, Philadela behind the hammer and at the breech of the barrel.   The "P" proof is on the left barrel flat.  It is in an unusual configuration.  It has provisions for a ramrod and you will note that the barrel starts as an octagonal and then abruptly changes to round sides.  Not something I have seen much of and I suspect it is a fairly early and unusual feature.  Click on image for additional views.  SOLD!!

This is a neat, interesting, little peanut Deringer.  The barrel is about 2 1/4 inches in length, with an overall length of 4 1/2 inches.  It was made by Slotter & Company of Philadelphia.  Henry Schlotterbeck worked for Henry Deringer making Deringers.  He left Henry's employ and in 1859 started knocking off perfect copies of the Henry Deringer.  He flagrantly counterfeited them.  In 1863, Deringer brought suit against him.  By then, his business, Slotter & Company, engaged in further subterfuge to capitalize on the popularity of Deringer's little gun.  They took into partnership, according to Wilson & Eberhart, one John Deringer, a tailor who reportedly never set foot in the shop.  Mr. J. Deringer provided the name for them to legally continue making Deringer marked pistols.  It is a high quality little gun with a very interesting background.  No doubt, a testimony to entrepreneurial tenacity.  Click on image for additional views.   SOLD!!

A very pleasant, smooth and sharp, 1836 Johnson Pistol, dated 1842.  The metal on this gun is nicely patinaed and smooth with very little to no pitting.  It is original Flint with an exceptionally smooth lock that is well marked.  The wood has minimal dings and gouges and sharp cartouches.  It is untouched and very honest and smooth.  It is missing its top jaw due to a broken bolt but is authentic and very nice.  Click on image for additional views.  SOLD!!

This is the earliest configuration of the Cook & Brother Bayonet.  It was probably made in 1861.  It has a 22 1/2 inch Yatagan blade with an overall length of 27 1/2 inches.  Few people take note, but Cook made bayonets for other manufacturers.  There was a fairly large shipment of bayonets shipped to Tennessee early in the War, which were to be fitted to other rifles.   The unique features of these bayonets are the thin profile to the cross guard, the T-slot milling with provision for a rail at the pommel and the enlarged dimensions of the cross guard where the barrel goes through.  The barrel diameter that this bayonet was used on is not that of a Cook Rifle.  It would be the same diameter as a Mississippi Rifle.  The gun would have either had a bayonet adaptor milled in a "T" configuration or an affixed bayonet lug in "T" configuration with a rail running forward along the side of the barrel.  If you have a Confederate Rifle in Mississippi configuration, this would fit it and be correct.  It is a very rare item.  We have done comparative photos of it along side an Alabama Contract '62 production New Orleans Bayonet.  You will note the basic differences in the guard, the bayonet lug milling at the pommel and the size of the opening for the barrel.  Click on image for additional views.   SOLD!!

This old .36 caliber Remington Navy came out of the woods locally, right here in Montgomery.  It shows moderate wear and an even, brown patina.  It is complete and the action works, but is a little hit & miss, probably could use some attention to some of the springs.  It has a good bore and matching numbers with a really nice barrel address.  Military sub-inspector marks are visible on the left side of the frame, barrel and trigger guard and while the grips appear to be military oil finish, I don't really see a cartouche, maybe just a vestige.  There is a name scratched on the butt but I can't quite make it out.  This gun was made in 1862 under contract with the Federal Government.  Judging from where it came from, I suspect it is a US issue gun that was captured and drug back home by a Southern soldier.  SOLD!! 

This little gun is one of the many copies made during the period of Henry Deringer's famous Philadelphia Deringer.  I do not know exactly who made it, but I don't think it is from overseas.  I believe it is an American made copy.  The word "Deringe" is stamped on the top of the breech.  It is nicely engraved with German silver mountings.  The trigger guard has been replaced.  The gun shows moderate wear but no major repairs or cracks, just a replaced trigger guard.  I'm sure one of the restorers could improve on that feature.  It is an interesting little gun with a barrel length of 1 1/2 inches and an overall length of 5 1/2 inches.   SOLD!!