derringer

nukeantz · December 18, 2009, 02:59 PM

Can anybody tell me anything about this derringer? I saw similar ones people were saying were colt. The only markings on it are serial # 552 under where the grip should be, and the top of the barrel has some writing on it but it is very worn and hard to read I can make out CT on the end of the second line.
Ant help would be appreciated.

Ken

RJay · December 18, 2009, 05:04 PM

In 1980's colt marketed a No# 4 Derringer in 22 Short. Thes were not made by Colt but a firm called Butler. These were dropped after a couple of years and Butler continued to manufacture them under the name Butler. In excellent condition value is rather low for either. The one shown, maybe 20 for parts, maybe less.

nukeantz · December 18, 2009, 05:21 PM

The ones that you are talking about had the manufacture stamped on the side of the gun. This one has info stamped on the top of the barrel, and also the other guns had a letter after the serial number, this one does not (as seen in the picture). This was one of the guns my dad had for years and I remember it when I was very young growing up(I am 52 now) and even then it looked old and in bad condition. He said it was called a garter derringer, I just wondered about the history.

Ken

Dragon55 · December 18, 2009, 05:50 PM

I have one of those. Mine still has the grips. It is a Butler as RJay sed.

It will actually shoot maybe 50% of the time.

Bill DeShivs · December 18, 2009, 07:47 PM

The gun pictured is neither a Butler or a Colt.
I would have to do some research as to what it actually is.

Dragon55 · December 18, 2009, 07:56 PM

OK.... well mine is shaped exactly the same and has all the hardware in what appears to be the exact same places ..... and oh yeah it has BUTLER on the top of the barrel.

nukeantz · December 18, 2009, 10:37 PM

Bill,

I do not think it is a butler either, if you find anything about it I would really appreciate it. I know it looks like a butler/colt but I do not think it is. I think it is much older.

To the guy that has a butler, what is the serial number on yours and where is it located and does it have a letter in the number? Can you post a picture of it?

Thanks,
Ken

Bill DeShivs · December 18, 2009, 11:50 PM

The general shape of most single derringers is similar. This barrel is NOT shaped like a Butler/Colt, nor does the Colt have a button on the bottom of the frame.

Bill DeShivs · December 19, 2009, 04:28 AM

Your derringer is a Marlin, made in Norwich, CT.

Tidewater_Kid · December 19, 2009, 03:02 PM

I think Bill nailed it!

http://www.simpsonltd.com/product_in...ducts_id=13877

Sure looks like the one at Simpson's.

TK

nukeantz · December 19, 2009, 04:18 PM

Bill,

Thank you

Ken

Bill DeShivs · December 19, 2009, 07:19 PM

You're very welcome!
Perhaps Dragon should look at your picture and then at his gun again. Maybe he will see the differences.

Winchester_73 · December 19, 2009, 11:58 PM

I actually thought it was a marlin but I wasn't sure so I didn't want to say anything because I didn't want to mislead anyone.

Millbilly · December 21, 2009, 09:52 PM

It looks like a Marlin to me I have one just like it in 30 short rimfire......mine is a Marlin OK....

nukeantz · January 2, 2010, 07:09 PM

Would anyone have any idea where I might be able to buy a set of grips for my marlin derringer?

Thanks,
Ken

James K · January 2, 2010, 08:09 PM

I know of no source for grips, but those are simple and should be easy to make. As incompetent as I am at wood working, I once managed to make a set of grips for a derringer (not a Marlin) and they turned out pretty well. You can buy the screw and ferrule set from www.gungrip.com .

Jim

nukeantz · January 3, 2010, 04:54 PM

Jim,

Thanks, I'll give it a try

Ken

December 18, 2009, 05:50 PM	#4
Dragon55 Senior Member Join Date: March 15, 2009 Location: East Tennessee Posts: 811	I have one of those. Mine still has the grips. It is a Butler as RJay sed. It will actually shoot maybe 50% of the time. __________________ sailing ... A way to spend lots of money and go real S L O W

December 18, 2009, 07:47 PM	#5
Bill DeShivs Senior Member Join Date: April 7, 2006 Posts: 10,985	The gun pictured is neither a Butler or a Colt. I would have to do some research as to what it actually is. __________________ Bill DeShivs, Master Cutler www.billdeshivs.com

December 18, 2009, 07:56 PM	#6
Dragon55 Senior Member Join Date: March 15, 2009 Location: East Tennessee Posts: 811	OK.... well mine is shaped exactly the same and has all the hardware in what appears to be the exact same places ..... and oh yeah it has BUTLER on the top of the barrel. __________________ sailing ... A way to spend lots of money and go real S L O W

December 18, 2009, 11:50 PM	#8
Bill DeShivs Senior Member Join Date: April 7, 2006 Posts: 10,985	The general shape of most single derringers is similar. This barrel is NOT shaped like a Butler/Colt, nor does the Colt have a button on the bottom of the frame. __________________ Bill DeShivs, Master Cutler www.billdeshivs.com

December 19, 2009, 04:28 AM	#9
Bill DeShivs Senior Member Join Date: April 7, 2006 Posts: 10,985	Your derringer is a Marlin, made in Norwich, CT. __________________ Bill DeShivs, Master Cutler www.billdeshivs.com

December 18, 2009, 05:04 PM	#2
RJay Senior Member Join Date: November 2, 2005 Location: Arizona Posts: 1,936	In 1980's colt marketed a No# 4 Derringer in 22 Short. Thes were not made by Colt but a firm called Butler. These were dropped after a couple of years and Butler continued to manufacture them under the name Butler. In excellent condition value is rather low for either. The one shown, maybe 20 for parts, maybe less.

December 18, 2009, 05:21 PM	#3
nukeantz Junior Member Join Date: May 3, 2009 Posts: 10	The ones that you are talking about had the manufacture stamped on the side of the gun. This one has info stamped on the top of the barrel, and also the other guns had a letter after the serial number, this one does not (as seen in the picture). This was one of the guns my dad had for years and I remember it when I was very young growing up(I am 52 now) and even then it looked old and in bad condition. He said it was called a garter derringer, I just wondered about the history. Ken

December 18, 2009, 10:37 PM	#7
nukeantz Junior Member Join Date: May 3, 2009 Posts: 10	Bill, I do not think it is a butler either, if you find anything about it I would really appreciate it. I know it looks like a butler/colt but I do not think it is. I think it is much older. To the guy that has a butler, what is the serial number on yours and where is it located and does it have a letter in the number? Can you post a picture of it? Thanks, Ken

December 19, 2009, 03:02 PM	#10
Tidewater_Kid Senior Member Join Date: July 3, 2005 Location: Alabama Posts: 925	I think Bill nailed it! http://www.simpsonltd.com/product_in...ducts_id=13877 Sure looks like the one at Simpson's. TK

December 19, 2009, 04:18 PM	#11
nukeantz Junior Member Join Date: May 3, 2009 Posts: 10	Bill, Thank you Ken

December 19, 2009, 07:19 PM	#12
Bill DeShivs Senior Member Join Date: April 7, 2006 Posts: 10,985	You're very welcome! Perhaps Dragon should look at your picture and then at his gun again. Maybe he will see the differences. __________________ Bill DeShivs, Master Cutler www.billdeshivs.com

December 19, 2009, 11:58 PM	#13
Winchester_73 Senior Member Join Date: December 20, 2008 Location: Pittsburgh PA Posts: 2,863	I actually thought it was a marlin but I wasn't sure so I didn't want to say anything because I didn't want to mislead anyone. __________________ Winchester 73, the TFL user that won the west

December 21, 2009, 09:52 PM	#14
Millbilly Member Join Date: November 6, 2005 Location: Cooks Mills Illinois,,,,Not even close to Chicago Posts: 47	It looks like a Marlin to me I have one just like it in 30 short rimfire......mine is a Marlin OK....

January 2, 2010, 07:09 PM	#15
nukeantz Junior Member Join Date: May 3, 2009 Posts: 10	Would anyone have any idea where I might be able to buy a set of grips for my marlin derringer? Thanks, Ken

January 2, 2010, 08:09 PM	#16
James K Member In Memoriam Join Date: March 17, 1999 Posts: 24,383	I know of no source for grips, but those are simple and should be easy to make. As incompetent as I am at wood working, I once managed to make a set of grips for a derringer (not a Marlin) and they turned out pretty well. You can buy the screw and ferrule set from www.gungrip.com . Jim

January 3, 2010, 04:54 PM	#17
nukeantz Junior Member Join Date: May 3, 2009 Posts: 10	Jim, Thanks, I'll give it a try Ken