AMERICAN DERRINGER QUESTION

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Ultraman

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I picked up a nice little NIB American Derringer Model-1 chambered in .9mm Luger at a local gun show last Saturday. It's a real cute little novelty gun. It’s about the perfect size, smaller than a Bond Derringer but built just as nice and bigger than the Davis or Cobra models.

About 3 years ago I bought a Bond Derringer in .38 special and sold it before I ever shot it because it was extremely difficult to cock and even harder to fire. (I later read that you don’t pull back on a derringer’s trigger, you pull back and down.) Anyhow I thought that the American Derringer would be easer due to it being smaller, I was wrong. However pulling back and down helps a great deal with the trigger pull but it’s still a bear to shoot.

I really like this gun and see that they come in .22lr as well. I may order one if the answer to my question is YES.

My question is, can some sort of action work be done on these little cannons to ease cocking and trigger pull?

DISCLAIMER… THIS GUN IS FOR NOVELTY PURPOUS ONLY. I AM NOT CARRING IT. SO PLEASE NO “THERE ARE BETTER CHOICES OUT THERE, GET A KEL-TEC… ECT”.

AmericanDerringer0011145732851.jpg

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i've owned several american derringer models, and have always been favorably impressed by their build quality. you might email a reputable six-gun 'smith like dave clements, gary reeder, or dave cosby and see if they'd perform such work. also, i found that if i placed my index finger more toward the bottom edge of the trigger, it seemed to provide better leverage and an easier trigger pull :)
 
my notion is that they need that heavy hammer spring to keep the safety engaged. A ridge on the side of the hammer fits over a ridge on the spring loaded safety button. If the hammer moves back even a little bit, the safety disengages. Older derringers are notorious for going off when dropped.

I shuttle-cocked mine across the floor and bumped it in several different directions without disengaging the safety but one guy said that the vibration in his motor cycle glove box was enough to take his safety off.
 
Poor Mans Trigger Job...

I oiled the little beast with about a half gallon of oil (only kidding but I did have it almost dripping). Then over the next four days I dry fired it about 500 times. With the combination of my thumb and trigger finger getting stronger ;) , developing cocking / trigger pull direction technique and things naturally working in, I can now easily cock it in my pocket and fire it easily after pulling it out. I'm impressed at how much easier it is to do now than Saturday when I first got it. Tomorrow I plan to actually shoot it. If all goes as I hope and expect... This little popper will be a keeper!

DISCLAIMER… Still THIS GUN IS FOR NOVELTY PURPOSE ONLY. I AM NOT CARRYING IT.
 
How easy are these things to shoot? I used to see them advertized in .44 mag--always thought I'd end up with one embedded in my forehead if I ever tried that chambering.
 
How easy are these things to shoot?

Hopefully I'll find out tomorrow. I don't expect it to be very difficult to shoot at all... holding on to it "after" I shoot it should be interesting though. ;)
 
It's interesting that even here on THR you have make such a large statement about that you're not going to carry it.

You're right, dry firing and shooting it will help both the trigger pull and your strength/agility.

I have one in .45 ACP/AR and I do carry it. I use a handload that throws a 255 grain Keith at about 925 fps.

Have a ball with yours, they are quality arms.


Cat
 
I'm a sick twisted man...
I picked up another American Derringer in .38 special this morning. :D

The hammer pull and trigger is at least 50% easier than my .9 mm. Took the grips off both
guns and they have very different looking main springs. I wonder if somebody changed the
spring in the .38? The .9 mm was NIB but the .38 is used.

Off to the range now to try them out. I will report back later! ;)

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Catshooter... "It's interesting that even here on THR you have make such a large statement about that you're not going to carry it."
Cuts down on the BS post. ;)
 
Shot the two buggers yesterday. What a HOOT! FUN! FUN! FUN! The .9 mm had a marginal amount more recoil than the .38 special which surprised me.
It also surprised me that after shooting 12 rounds through both guns, there were 24 holes all on the 8.5" X 5.5" target at 7 yards! 2 in the black.

Taking my time while shooting, I found that nether gun was what I call inaccurate for what they were designed for, despite what I've read before.

I also called American Derringer today to ask a few questions. The lady who answered the phone was very helpful. She told me that the 9. mm was made in 1983 and the .38 was made in 1986. (Spring Mystery Solved) She also told me that in the .38's and lower, that they put a lighter mainspring in them and in the .9 mm and up a heavier one. She said the heavier spring is for safety. With a lighter spring the larger rounds can cause the hammer to rebound just enough to touch off the second round.

Bottom line... I'm sold on the American Derringer!
 
I used to have one in .357 and would, at least a couple times during each shooting session, touch off some full house 125 gr jhps. Oh yeah it kicked, and burned the hair off my fingers in a basketball sized ball of flame, but the kick really wasn't as bad as you might think. LOVED it, may have to pick up another one someday, maybe in .45 acp.
 
I have always wanted one of those in a ridiculous caliber.
It is one of those things that I will definitely buy if confronted with one face to face, but I don't want one bad enough to order one.


I will never forget reading an article in Soldier of Fortune magazine about those when they first came out; I think it was in the early 80s. He tested one in .44 mag. He said that if wanted to know what it was like to shoot, stand in front of a desk or a solid table. Hold one of your hands above your head and then slam it down on the table as hard as you can.
How about getting one in .223 Remington ?
 
One thing I found interesting was that ADC will build you a derringer in two different calibers.

They are also making the old High Standard type derringer, and for those with deep pockets they are making the Semerling .45.

Well made firearms.


Cat
 
DERRINGER MANIA

Would you believe, I picked up a BOND ARMS derringer today. This one is in .45 LC / .410 2.5

Next I plan to buy a .22 LR barrel for it.

BOND1146783600.45LC009.jpg


For those of you interested, here is a size comparison between a American Derringer and a Bond.

BOND1146783701.45LC008.jpg


Bill
 
Now if only they'd pick up the old COP .357 pepperbox. I know they had a four-piper in development once, but don't think it ever saw shelves...

EDIT: Looks like it's in the pipe. I believe the appropriate neurotypical expression is something like, "woo hoo." Did I get that right?
 
So is American Derringer really in business. I had read that they folded under a law suit. I haven't seen new guns or ads for them.

Sometimes I read articles that just cite their web page which is still up. Has anyone really talked to them recently and know for a fact that they are still producing guns?
 
I stated above (post 10) that I talked to them, just last week. Very nice people. They are sending me a free owners manual too.

Bill
 
Last edited:
I stated above (post 10) that I talked to them, just last week. Very nice people. They are sending me a free owners manual too.

Bill
 
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