Help Me Identify This.

[gjohnsoniv]

We were cleaning out some drawers of my grandfathers due to his passing away this weekend, and happened across this little derringer.

It has no markings, and looks to be about a .45 caliber. The barrel swings to the side to eject the spent casing.

[IMG]http://i1246.photobucket.com/albums/gg609/gjohnsoniv/identify.jpg[/IMG]

[MacGyver]

[size=4]That's an old [font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]Southern Derringer by Merrimack Arms and Brown Mfg. Co. [/font][/size]

If it's a real one, it's in .41 rimfire and worth several hundred dollars in good condition.

Originally made from the mid 1860s to the mid 1870s

[MacGyver]

[size=5][sub]Here's an article from American Rifleman:[/sub][/size]

[size=5][sub][url="http://www.americanrifleman.org/articles/southern-derringer/"]http://www.americanrifleman.org/articles/southern-derringer/[/url][/sub][/size]

[gjohnsoniv]

We didn't even knew it existed until now honestly. No clue where he got it or anything. Thanks for the info though, I knew someone would know what it was.

[Guest sL1k]

Sorry for your loss. Prayers sent up.

[gjohnsoniv]

[quote name='sL1k' timestamp='1352916058' post='845563']
Sorry for your loss. Prayers sent up.
[/quote]I appreciate that.

[Guest 6.8 AR]

I'm sorry for your loss, also. That would be something I would hang on to, if only as an heirloom. Never seen one of those.

[gjohnsoniv]

[quote name='6.8 AR' timestamp='1352923823' post='845646']
I'm sorry for your loss, also. That would be something I would hang on to, if only as an heirloom. Never seen one of those.
[/quote]I would like to hang on to it as well, only problem is that my father has it and no telling what he'll do with it. It might come down to me having to buy it from him, which I would have very little problem with since it is an heirloom.

Also, thanks. Edited November 14, 2012 by gjohnsoniv

[gjohnsoniv]

http://www.hc-collection.com/PBSCCatalog.asp?ActionID=67174912&PBCATID=335272&PBCATName=.41%20RF

In case anyone is looking for a way to shoot it or some other odd ball calibers.

[Slpeod]

That's a nice condition one, sorry you guys had to find it that way though.