Philly Derringers?

[Smokey Plainsman]

Does anyone own a Philadelphia Derringer?

If so, are they fun to shoot? Trying to decide if I want one to mess around with in the woods. Thoughts?

 

[Kansas Jake]

I’ve shot one a few times. Years ago a club I belonged to had “under the table shoots.” The contestant sat at a table held a derringer under the table where they couldn’t see it and shot at a target about 5 or 6 yards away. Hitting it accurately was harder than one would imagine.

 

[flntlokr]

We used to have such derringer shoots as well.We had a 'Bad Bart' figure with an animatronic arm that would raise ind 'shoot' you if you wern't fast enough and accurate enough. The contestant had to hold down Bart's starter button, yell something like 'ya cheatin' varmint', then release the button (with his shooting hand) grab and cock,'aim' and fire in the 2 seconds or so it took Bart's hand to rise and his gun to 'fire'. Lots, of fun, but many of those little guns wouldn't put a ball through the 1/4" plywood figure, and a bunch of shooters missed it entirely from 4 feet away.

 

[Eutycus]

I got one but it isn't presently in working order. I need to either inlet the lock a little more or bend the hammer. The alignment isn't "dead on" between the nipple and the hammer and it sometimes misfires. It did operate fairly well at one time and yes they are fun to shoot.I'm guessing my grandson or nephew dropped it and bent the hammer.I don't have a torch and I'm leery about trying to bend the hammer cold, CVA hammers tend to break fairly easy.

 

[ZUG]

In the 60's I would buy the Dixie Philly Derringer kits and assemble them and sell them. They were ok as a novelty but that was all - shoot them a few times and then put it away for a LONG time. Your milage may vary

 

[hanshi]

John Wilkes Booth seemed to like them pretty well.

 

[DOUBLEDEUCE 1]

I have one. I used it to shoot in one of those gambler across the card table deals too. I even hit a 12” or 14” metal gong, a hundred yards away with it. It was all pure rainbow shot and a Hail Mary…

 

[SDSmlf]

I have owned a Pedersoli and a couple of CVAs. They all shot about the same, accurate at card table distances. Still have one of the CVAs, misspelled name and all.

 

[nhmoose]

When you cannot hit an opponent 4 feet away under the table you deserve to be killed for the attempt IMHO. A derringer shot to the nuts, pelvis or stomach was a kill shot in the day when followed up by a dagger it was certain

 

[1942farmall]

Just finished rehabbing this one 6 months ago from a badly butchered kit.
Haven't shot it yet

 

[Eutycus]

When you cannot hit an opponent 4 feet away under the table you deserve to be killed for the attempt IMHO. A derringer shot to the nuts, pelvis or stomach was a kill shot in the day when followed up by a dagger it was certain

If mine were more dependable and fired everytime I wouldn't be hesitant about using it for self-defence.It fits in the pocket real well, It's a large caliber and you could always throw it at the attacker like they do in movies. I'm pretty sure it would "bewilder" the arresting officer and judge too.

 

[2 shots]

carry mine big game hunting as a coup de grace havent needed it yet but figure its better than a close up shot with the big bores. also fun when your rifle is in the truck and someone comes by and asks what you are hunting with, watch their face when you pull it out of your pocket.

 

[Eutycus]

If mine were more dependable and fired everytime I wouldn't be hesitant about using it for self-defence.It fits in the pocket real well, It's a large caliber and you could always throw it at the attacker like they do in movies. I'm pretty sure it would "bewilder" the arresting officer and judge too.

It even looks "scary ", if you ever had one pointed in your direction you'd swear you could drop a silver dollar down the muzzle.

 

[sussexmuzllodr]

Even with the leige pistol.... it has to loaded from the muzzle with 20 grains to have any power.

 

[Brazos John]

Just finished rehabbing this one 6 months ago from a badly butchered kit.
Haven't shot it yet

The inset wood pieces, which I figure are repairs, really look nice! They dress up a standard stock to something much more interesting! Nice work!

 

[Bighorserider]

My first BP gun was a CVA derringer I built from a kit. It came out nice and got me started building guns. I only shot it a few times because there seemed to be a leak between the breech plug and barrel. There was a distinct discoleration alomg the joint.

 

[toot]

Does anyone own a Philadelphia Derringer?

If so, are they fun to shoot? Trying to decide if I want one to mess around with in the woods. Thoughts?

yes I do. I have 6 of them, all different in subtle little differences. but all the same. I load them with 10 GRS of 3 fg. and a wad of paper and a RB, and a wad over it =. a lot of fu shooting them. and very fast clean up with the short barrels.

 

[Pork Chop]

I have a couple. They are fun to shoot, but other than a gun that explodes, what gun ISN'T fun to shoot??

 

[Dave Fox]

Years ago I shot an age-hardened 4x4 pine post with an original. Ball bounced off and gave me a rap on the chest.

 

[Loyalist Dave]

John Wilkes Booth seemed to like them pretty well.

Yes and he had a brace of them. Seems that was more common than originally thought, that folks carrying them carried more than one.

LD