Remington M95 Derringer

Mr. Mosin said:

Aye. The .45 Auto guys think they have velocity issues compared to more modern cartridges... let em see the epitome of "big & slow", decades before .45 Auto came along.

Click to expand...

As many probably know, the shot itself usually was not fatal, it was the infection caused by these guns and other “stingers” that brought the Grim Reaper to the bedside.

rust collector said:

You are welcome. I didn't know much about them, so it was fun to learn that the muzzle velocity of the .41 rimfire was a whopping 410 fps.

Click to expand...

Actually, some tests disprove that. More like 600 fps.
https://gunsmagazine.com/our-experts/surplus-classic/henry-deringers-pocket-pistol/

In the pre-antibiotic era, a .41 RF Short bullet to the gut was a demise that nobody wanted. Sure, you would probably be alive the next morning, but not next week- where you would be just as dead as the guy to took the .45 Colt to the heart.

Nobody wants to get shot with an outside lubed bullet with medical care being rudimentary and no antibiotics available.

That reality was as much of a deterrent as the gun itself, I'd guess. Very unlikely that a 41rf is going to immediately debilitate an attacker, so psychological deterrence was a factor.

.455_Hunter said:

In the pre-antibiotic era, a .41 RF Short bullet to the gut was a demise that nobody wanted. Sure, you would probably be alive the next morning, but not next week- where you would be just as dead as the guy to took the .45 Colt to the heart.

Click to expand...

silicosys4 said:

Nobody wants to get shot with an outside lubed bullet with medical care being rudimentary and no antibiotics available.

That reality was as much of a deterrent as the gun itself, I'd guess. Very unlikely that a 41rf is going to immediately debilitate an attacker, so psychological deterrence was a factor.

Click to expand...

hso said:

Both a dull "poke in the gut" or a sharp poke in the gut would likely put off all but the stoutest ruffian from intended mayhem.

Click to expand...

Yes, and, a number of tests of the .41 derringer showed sufficient penetration to kill and incapacitate. See what I posted earlier. It sounds like if the bullet placement was right, it would kill (not just based on infection).

A half inch hole (or close enough to it, especially when you factor in the expansion of soft lead) is a half inch hole. I don’t want one in me and neither does anyone else. And at the distances a Derringer was useful, the shooter wouldn’t miss. I don’t think it mattered too much to the guy facing a pair of barrels, whether death was coming through a hit to the vitals, blood loss, or a few days of agony due to sepsis.

And no, I wouldn’t carry one today, myself. People do carry similar things though.

Back in the early 60's I owned and carried one of the originals............Dunno about the ammo tests cited, but I most seriously doubt the stuff I was using achieved anything near 600 fps.............I clearly recall shooting at a phone pole some 25 feet distant and hearing the low boom and 'thunk' when the bullet hit..............as I recall that truncated round did manage to stick (barely) in the wood....mostly. Also, the thing was moderately accurate and had (to me) better ergonomics than the modern copies..........that said it also had the common failure of that design and one of the latch sides on mine was cracked.................Wish I still had it if for only conversation......far as I know ammo is unobtanium and was tough to get way back when!

Sorry that I can't provide any more details on the "production history and manufacturing details," but I can add that in 50+ years of collecting and working in gun shops, I've handled several hundred M95's. The vast majority, at least 75%, of those that passed through my hands had cracked hinges. Some of the cracks were so large that pieces of the hinge were obviously missing and others had cracks so small that they only became clear when examined under macroscopic magnification. Personally, I would not trust an original if you're thinking of firing one. Keep us posted.

Reinz said:

As many probably know, the shot itself usually was not fatal, it was the infection caused by these guns and other “stingers” that brought the Grim Reaper to the bedside.

Click to expand...

That might help in a war, but not in a gunfight.

In a war - I read in a book on naval armaments that some USN turret crews in old battleships carried a derringer in case they were trapped in a sinking turret and could not get out or in a fire. I think they thought the gun was lethal enough for that purpose.

Autodidactic said:

Actually, some tests disprove that. More like 600 fps.
https://gunsmagazine.com/our-experts/surplus-classic/henry-deringers-pocket-pistol/

View attachment 1104896

Click to expand...

The 425 fps I read on Wikipedia seems too low for the original powder charge. But the Navy Arms stuff might be a bit hot. Even at 600 fps it's still pretty weak, about as powerful as a .22.

Here is a good article which mentions tests of the .41 short rimfire: https://www.pyramydair.com/blog/2021/01/bore-size-versus-performance/