Winchester Repeating Arms Company. Herb Houze
Model Deringer (actual Colt terminology). Made c. 1870-90; total production about 6,500.
41 rimfire caliber. Single shot. 2-1/2" barrel, pivoting down and to the left for loading.
All steel construction, without wooden grips. Barrel standard either blued, or nickel or silver plated; the frames nickel or silver plated. A few with solid silver frames/handles are known (made on special order). Extremely rare and worth considerable premium.
Serial numbered in its own range, beginning with 1 and continuing through approximately 6500. Barrel marking: COLT’S PT.F.A.MFG.CO/ HARTFORD CT. U.S.A./NO 1. 41 CAL may be found beneath barrel release button, on right side of the frame. Scroll engraving standard, and this was one of the very few Colt arms issued with that feature on the complete production. (a plain, unengraved specimen considered a rarity!)
The model was based on the design of the National No. 1 Deringer, and was the first single shot pistol made by the Colt company. The National Arms Company (original mfrs. of this pistol) was purchased in its entirety by Colt in 1870.
5B-154
| 5B-154 | Values—Good $625 | Fine $2,750 |
Colt Second Model Deringer
Second Model Deringer (actual Colt terminology). Made c. 1870-90; in total quantity of about 9,000.
41 rimfire caliber. Single shot. 2-1/2" barrel, pivoting down and to the left for loading. Approximately 200 reportedly made in caliber 41 centerfire (very rare: worth premium if authenticated).
Checkered and varnished walnut grips. Barrel standard either blued, or nickel or silver plated; the frames nickel or silver plated. A few with solid silver frames (made on special order) are known. Extremely rare and valuable.
Serial numbered in its own range, beginning with 1 and continuing through approximately 9000. Barrel marking: COLT’S PT.F.A.MFG.CO/HARTFORD CT. U.S.A./NO 2. 41 CAL may be found beneath barrel release button, on right side of the frame. Scroll engraving standard, and the No. 2 was among the very few Colt arms issued with that feature on the complete production.
Quickly identifiable by the NO 2 marking on top of the barrel, and from the presence of grips. Design source for this model was the National No. 2 Deringer (q.v.).
Major variations are:
Standard model, the frame of iron, varnished and checkered walnut grips:
5B-155
| 5B-155 | Values—Good $550 | Fine $2,000 |
Early model, (first 200) frame of iron, varnished and checkered walnut grips, the barrel marking: ADDRESS COL.COLT/HARTFORD CT. U.S.A.:
| 5B-156 | Values—Good $1,000 | Fine $3,250 |
Brass frame model. A few with brass frames and the First Type barrel markings are known (rare and worth premium); they appear in the serial 1500 range. More often encountered are brass frames in the serial range 2500 with the second type marks:
| 5B-156.5 | Values—Good $900 | Fine $3,250 |
41 Centerfire Model. Likely less than 200 were chambered for centerfire; most being sold through Colt’s London agency. Standard iron frame type with special C.F. hammer and round recoil plate:
| 5B-157 | Values—Good $1,250 | Fine $3,750 |
Colt Third Model Deringer
Third Model Deringer (collector terminology; also known as the “Thuer”). Made c. 1870 - 1912; the production total approximately 48,000. Yearly production quantities and serial ranges unknown.
41 rimfire caliber. Single shot. 2-1/2" barrel, pivoting to the right for loading.
Varnished walnut grips. Blued barrels, the bronze frames nickel or silver plated. Plating not uncommon on the barrels as well.
Serial numbered in its own range, beginning with 1 and continuing through approximately 48,000. Barrel marking: -COLT - in italics for most of the production, but in tiny block letters for the first 200 pistols. 41 CAL usually stamped on left side of the frame. Unlike the No. 1 and No. 2 Deringer pistols, engraving was not standard on the Third Model series.
Identifiable by their 41 caliber and the barrel pivoting sideways.
Intermittently since 1959 the Colt factory has manufactured 22 caliber versions of the Third Model, but a 41 caliber pistol has not been re-introduced. The Third or Thuer Deringer outsold by nearly three times its No. 1 and No. 2 companions.
(Note: A premium added if the rampant colt and C marking present on the frame, or for Colt London Agency markings, or chambered for 41 centerfire.)
First type, earliest production: Quickly distinguished by the relief bolster (raised area) through which the barrel screw is fitted on the forward, underside of the frame. Barrel markings -COLT - (in tiny block letters). Short, high hammer spur. Serial number range approx. 1 to 200:
5B-158 First Type
| 5B-158 | Values—Good $1,450 | Fine $6,500 |
First type, later production: As above with the raised bolster on forward section of frame, high hammer spur but with - COLT -in large italic letter markings on the barrel (the same as found on the standard last model). Serial approx. 200 to 2,000:
| 5B-159 | Values—Good $725 | Fine $2,600 |
Standard Model: Distinguished by the absence of the raised bolster on forward frame. Earlier production has the short high hammer; later production with a sloping hammer and a more moderate curve to the handle. (On medium and lower conditioned specimens, values usually the same for either type. In top grades of condition the short, high hammer spur style brings a small premium.) Markings - COLT - (in large italic letters on barrel). Varnished walnut grips, plated frame and blued or plated barrel:
5B-160 Standard Model with sloping hammer
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5B-160
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