Welcome to right now’s Photo of the Day! Right here we’ve got a manufacturing unit engraved Butterfield Patent self-priming derringer, one of many rarest and most sought-after derringer variations in American firearms gathering. This pistol makes use of an computerized priming system that feeds mercury-fulminate pellets to the nipple with every hammer cock.
Jesse S. Butterfield and Simeon Marshall of Philadelphia acquired U.S. Patent 24,372 on December 11, 1855 for his or her “enchancment in self-priming gun-locks.” Their patent mannequin, constructed as a Henry Deringer model pocket pistol, resides within the Smithsonian beneath accession quantity 49064. In addition they acquired U.S. Patent 14,850 on Could 13, 1856 for an improved cartridge opener.
The self-priming mechanism makes use of a spring-loaded tube carrying mercury-fulminate pellets related to a reciprocating arm hooked up to the hammer. Every time the hammer is cocked, a contemporary pellet robotically strains up with the nipple. This eradicated the necessity to manually place percussion caps, theoretically making the pistol quicker to reload and extra dependable in hostile situations.
The lock is marked “BUTTERFIELD’S/PATENT DEC. 11. 1855” with scroll engraving. The barrel has seven-groove rifling, brass blade entrance sight, and a casehardened breech plug with inlaid German silver bands. Wavy line engraving seems on the higher left barrel flat, and the tang carries scroll engraving with a notch rear sight. German silver mounts characteristic scroll engraving, a pineapple finial on the set off plate, and shaded borders on the wrist escutcheon and pommel inlay. The inventory has a Schnabel forend tip and checkered fowl’s head grip within the Henry Deringer model.
Solely a small variety of Butterfield derringers are identified to exist. Flayderman’s Information notes “Butterfields are among the many most wanted of all variations of derringer pistols.” The rarity stems from restricted manufacturing and the complexity of the self-priming system, which doubtless made these pistols costly and troublesome to fabricate in amount.
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“Engraved Butterfield Patent Self-Priming Derringer.” Rock Island Public sale, www.rockislandauction.com/element/4096/74/engraved-butterfield-patent-selfpriming-derringer. Accessed 5 Feb. 2026.
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