Small flintlock pocket pistol in the "Derringer" style, probably made in France in the 1810s-1820s. Functional, this pistol was restored in 2025 to its original condition.


 It's worth remembering that the French supported the Americans during the Revolutionary War. Gunsmiths from both nations at that time exchanged styles and techniques. This explains the distinct style of the American Deringer pistol, but with a typically French firing mechanism. Or is it the other way around? Perhaps Deringer was inspired by French pocket pistols to create his famous pistol...


 The Deringer gunsmith, most famously Henry Deringer (1786-1868), was an American gunsmith from Philadelphia who invented the pocket pistol that bears his name. His invention, the Derringer pistol, became famous for its small size and has been historically associated with figures such as gamblers of the American West and, more tragically, with the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln in 1865.


 In accordance with Canadian firearms law, this pistol is considered a historical firearm and does not require a permit for its acquisition and possession.