Dixie Derringer

This solid brass .41 caliber derringer is a reproduction not an original. They are made for Dixie Gun Works in Tennessee and were the brain-child of... more

by Kevin Callahan

Title

Dixie Derringer

Artist

Kevin Callahan

Medium

Painting - Watercolor

Description

This solid brass .41 caliber derringer is a reproduction not an original. They are made for Dixie Gun Works in Tennessee and were the brain-child of Dixie founder Turner Kirkland. Kirkland wrote the definitive book Southern Derringers of the Mississippi Valley in 1972.

This model follows a "type" dating back to the flintlock pocket pistols through the caplock and finally the cartridge era. Such guns were made with center (boxlock) hammers, side hammers, and even under hammers, where the hammer is mounted on the bottom of the barrel. This gun shoots a .39 patched ball in front of 10 grains of black powder. At the distance of 5-10 feet it was a formidable threat. The shot may not kill but the resulting infection certainly could have. Favorites of the gamblers who plied their trade up and down the Mighty Miss on paddle wheelers they were easily tucked into pockets or sleeves. This early association between gun and game earned them the sobriquet "the fifth ace."

I purchased this pistol from Dixie in 1972 paying less than $50 brand new. Today they go for over 3 times that price. Still a good bargain for a fun gun. This one has an interesting and slightly frightening past however. As a young undergrad at Drake I lived on the wrong side of campus in a pretty rough area. I often carried my derringer in my jacket pocket. One day I was assaulted by two young toughs who made the usual demand "give us your money." With one hand covering the two quarters in my left pocket (my sole fortune at that moment) and my right wrapped around the pistol in my jacket I started laughing. I was laughing at the absurdity of anyone stupid enough to try robbing the brokest guy in the neighborhood. They just shook their heads and walked away.

A few years later on a night Karen was traveling I got an itch to shoot the little pistol. Temporary insanity call it. I went into our basement and set up a plywood backing, marked a target and stepped back a few feet. Now keep in mind this was during my "cowboy" phase. Boots, hats and big buckles. Well I took careful aim and let 'er rip. Bang! and in the next moment I was struck by the ball bouncing straight back off of the plywood. The shot was too weak to penetrate the wood but not weak when it hit me! The ball bounced off of my big buckle. Higher and I would have had a bruise to contend with, in my face I might have been dead. Well I can tell you the gun works just fine even if my brain is a bit fogged at times.

Uploaded

December 30th, 2013