Henry Deringer Sr.
Henry Deringer Sr. | |
|---|---|
| Born | Heinrich Deringer 1 January 1756 Thuringia, Holy Roman Empire |
| Died | 28 December 1833 (aged 77) Easton, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Occupation | Gunsmith |
| Spouse | Catherine McQuety (1759–1829) |
| Children | Henry Deringer Jr. |
Henry Deringer Sr. (born Heinrich Deringer; 1 January 1756 – 28 December 1833) was a German-American gunsmith.[1] He was the father and mentor of Henry Deringer Jr., the inventor and namesake of the derringer pistol.[2][3]
He was born on 1 January 1756 in Thuringia in the Holy Roman Empire and moved to America before the Revolutionary War. The surname Deringer stems from the German demonym for a resident of Thuringia, Thüringer, which also gave rise to the surname Döringer (and its variant Doeringer).[4]
Deringer's workshop produced several types of the highly regarded Kentucky rifle and Kentucky pistol using the flintlock action.[5] Originally based in Richmond, Virginia,[1] the family moved to Philadelphia in 1806, where Deringer continued to work on the Kentucky rifle, notably narrowing the stock, adding a more crescent-shaped buttplate, and decorating with more inlay work than on previous models. One of the rifles he developed was a basic version suited for the army, which he supplied to the government under contract.[3]
Deringer's son, Henry Jr., joined as an apprentice in the early 19th century and created in 1825 the first derringer pistol, which would later be known as the Philadelphia Deringer.[3]
Deringer died in Easton, Pennsylvania, on 28 December 1833, and is buried in the Easton German Reformed Graveyard in Northampton, Pennsylvania.[6]
References
- 1 2 Flayderman, Norm (2007). "Percussion Deringers". Flayderman's Guide to Antique American Firearms and Their Values (9 ed.). Iola, Wisconsin: F+W Media, Inc. p. 406. ISBN 978-0-89689-455-6.
- ↑ Taffin, John (2005). Kevin Michalowski (ed.). Cowboy Action Shooting: Gear, Guns, Tactics. Iola, Wisconsin: KP Books, and imprint of F&W Publications. p. 126. ISBN 9780896891401.
- 1 2 3 Chapel, Charles Edward (2002). "6". Guns of the Old West. Courier Dover Publications. p. 102. ISBN 978-0-486-42161-2.
- ↑ Peterson, Harold Leslie; Elman, Robert (1971). The Great Guns. ISBN 978-0448020693.
- ↑ Bulletin of the Public Museum of the city of Milwaukee, Volume 9, Part 2
- ↑ Heller, William J. (1920). History Of Northampton County. Vol. 1. The American Historical Society.