Rare WH Calhoun Nashville Agent Marked Deringer

.46 caliber. 3" wedge retained octagon to round barrel with full-length top flat. SN: NSN. Browned finish, German silver mountings, checkered walnut bird's head grips stock. Single shot muzzleloading percussion derringer with German silver furniture, fixed notch rear sight and brass post front sight. Back action percussion lock with light foliate engraving is marked in two lines DERINGER/PHIALDELA. Breech with the same two line marking and P proof on the left angled flat. Top flat of barrel marked MAND FOR/W.H. CALHOUN/AGENT/NASHVILLE, TENN. German silver triggerguard with pineapple finial typical of Deringer's work circa 1850. Mountings lightly engraved, including the barrel wedge escutcheons, triggergaurd, shield shaped wrist escutcheon and decorative plate beneath the bolster. An old wooden ramrod is included that appear to be period and original to the gun. Calhoun marked Deringers are quite rare and this is a really lovely example of a scarce Nashville agent marked gun in very nice condition.

William H Calhoun (1815-1865) was a Nashville "Silversmith" according to the 1850 Census, who has been born in Pennsylvania circa 1815 and owned real estate valued at $3,400. By 1860 the Census listed his as a "Jeweler Merchant" who owned real estate valued at $84,300 and had a personal estate valued at $40,000. The 1860 Nashville Business Directory listed him as a Jeweler located at the corner of College Street and Public Square. Like most jewelers, he also dealt in "fancy goods" which included all forms of notions and personal items and usually firearms as well. During the 1850s and 1860s that usually included selling small pocket pistols like those of Henry Deringer and his competitors for self defense carry by the affluent who could afford to purchase items at a shop such as Calhoun's. Calhoun died in 1865 and is buried at the Mount Olivet Cemetery in Nashville.

This lot is located in Cincinnati.