Advantage Arms 422

Notes: This is a "pepperbox"-type derringer within four barrels and a (largely superfluous) sighting rib. The barrels may be fired in sequence, or they may all be fired simultaneously (though the recoil may be brutal).

Notes: This double-barreled derringer is based on the a Remington design of 1865. It is chambered for a plethora of rounds and are all tiny (about 120 millimeters long) and very light. There are a variety of deluxe models, differing only cosmetically.

Notes: At the name indicates, this weapon was designed to look like an ordinary pen (superficially); it was basically a simple tapered cylinder containing a single cartridge and a firing mechanism. To fire the weapon, the "cap" is pulled off and the back of the device rotated through 80 degrees to form a "grip." This weapon is considered illegal in most US states, which was probably the reason it was not manufactured much beyond its 1993 introduction date.

Notes: This is a simple tip-up derringer, based loosely on several "Old West" models. It is made of stainless steel and quite tiny at a mere 12.7 centimeters in length. The recoil is very brutal due to the weapon’s low weight, short barrel, and comparatively powerful ammunition.

American Derringer 4

Notes: The Model 4 is quite similar in appearance to a large Model 3 with over-and-under barrels instead of a single barrel. Like the Model 3, it is built largely of stainless steel, and has 4.1-inch barrels. Normally, both barrels of the Model 4 are the same caliber, but a version called the Model 4 Alaskan Survival Model has an upper barrel chambered for .45-70 and the bottom barrel chambered for .45 Long Colt or .410 Gauge 3"; alternately, both barrels may be chambered for either .44 Magnum or .45-70. The Alaskan Survival Model also has oversized rosewood grips, and can be had with an extra-high polish finish. In any case, the two barrels cannot be fired simultaneously, as the hammer must be cocked between each shot (though it may be done quickly).

Notes: This is a long-barreled double-barreled derringer (6-inch barrels), with the barrels enclosed in a flush-sided block and with oversize grips made from rosewood or rubber. It sort of blurs the line between derringers and simple breech-loading pistols. The normal chambering is .410 Gauge/.45 Long Colt, but .357 Magnum and .45 ACP versions were also made.

Notes: This is basically a Model 1 made from light alloy, rendering it very light in weight. In appearance, it resembles a Model 1 derringer, but the frame is of aircraft-quality aluminum alloy, the barrels are of the same alloy with steel liners, and the rest of the metalwork of stainless steel. Some of the more powerful chamberings of the Model 1 are not available, but you probably wouldn’t want them anyway in such a light weapon! Finish is in matte gray, with matte-finished grips of rosewood or bacote.

The Model 10 Lightweight is a stronger version of the Model 7; the frame is still alloy, but almost all the rest of the metalwork is stainless steel, finished in matte gray. Despite this, the Model 10 is relatively lighter than the Model 7. The mix of chamberings is also different, and rosewood grips are standard (though bacote is also available).

Notes: Further blurring the line between derringer and full-sized breech-loading pistol, the American Derringer 8 Target has 8-inch double barrels. The trigger is single-action and the weapon has a manual hammer-block safety that disengages automatically when the hammer is pulled back. Construction is largely of stainless steel, with rosewood or soft rubber grips. The types of rounds used may be mixed or matched between the two barrels, but both barrels cannot be fired simultaneously; like most such American Derringer firearms, the weapon must be cocked between each shot.

Notes: This four-barreled "pepperbox'' firearm was intended as a backup weapon for police officers who forced to give up their main sidearm, or for use by undercover police. It is literally so small that it could conceivably be concealed virtually anywhere on the body, with a length of little over 5.5 inches (for the standard COP; the Mini-COP is even smaller) and a cluster of four 3.14-inch barrels. A "slide" pulls back to allow the barrels to be reloaded. Construction is primarily of stainless steel, with rosewood or checkered black rubber grips. The standard COP is designed for .357 Magnum and .38 Special, while the Mini-COP is chambered for .22 Winchester Magnum Rimfire. It should be noted that the striker mechanism is designed so that all four barrels cannot be fired at once; the fire in sequence with each pull of the trigger (upper left, upper right, lower right, lower left). As with many American Derringer firearms, production of the COP and Mini-COP is described by the company as "temporarily halted."

American Derringer High Standard

Notes: The High Standard double-barreled derringer is intended to serve as a readily concealable defensive weapon; and is both light in weight and small in caliber. The barrels are 3.5 inches and the overall length is slightly over 5 inches total. The finish is generally blued and the oversized grips are of black hard rubber. The barrels must be fired in sequence; they cannot be fired simultaneously, since the weapon must be cocked between each shot. American Derringer describes the production of the High Standard as "temporarily halted."

The DA-38 is a modified and improved version of the High Standard, with 3-inch barrels, a length of less than 5 inches, and a double-action trigger. It is also designed for larger calibers than the High Standard. Most of the DA-38 is made from stainless steel, but the grip frame is made from aluminum with oversized hard black rubber grips or rosewood grips over that.

This highly unusual pistol was first produced about 1994 (by the now-defunct Semmerling Corporation, hence the name "Semmerling" in the designation), and has been built by various companies in rapid succession since then, eventually ending up under American Derringer’s umbrella. It was designed to be a powerful and easily concealable pistol for use by police as a backup or police who work undercover. Currently, American Derringer lists the LM-4 as being in "extremely limited production;" it is virtually handmade, and American Derringer reportedly builds only two per week at a maximum. For that matter, production of the LM-4 by any company has never been great, and they are still very rare weapons.

The most unusual feature of the LM-4 is its action. Despite its appearance, it is not a semiautomatic pistol – the slide must be racked to cock the weapon between each shot. In addition, the slide is worked opposite from a standard slide – one racks it forward and then back to ready the LM-4 for another shot. (In game terms, this gives the LM-4 a "BA" ROF – though "BA" is not an accurate description of the LM-4’s action.) The LM-4 is built of special, lightweight-yet-strong tool-grade steel, usually finished blued, matte steel, or hard chromed. (A stainless steel version is also available; this version is identical for game purposes.) The LM-4 is a mere 5.2 inches long and 3.7 inches high, yet the barrel is 3.45 inches long. Grip plates can be of hard checkered rubber, checkered plastic, smooth wood, or checkered wood; the grip plates may also be thick or thin, in order to fill the hand better or allow even easier concealment. The LM-4 has high visibility (though very low-profile) sights consisting of a simple notch rear sight and ramp front sight.

For a short time, Semmerling produced a 9mm Parabellum version of the LM-4, but it did not sell very well and it was quickly dropped. Ever since, any company producing the LM-4 has chambered it for .45 ACP.

Notes: Though not really a reproduction per se, the Cobra Derringer is sort of an emulation of the various Remington derringers used in the American West from the 1860s to about 1900, chambered for modern ammunition instead of the original ammunition used by those Remington derringers. Like those Remington derringers, the Cobra Derringer is a double-barreled over-and under mousegun. It is single-action operation weapon, requiring the hammer to be cocked before firing each barrel (both barrels cannot be fired simultaneously). The barrels hinge forward for reloading, with a lever on the left side between the barrels being used to partially eject the spent shells (just enough to remove them). One does the reverse to make the Cobra ready for firing. Unlike those "Old West" derringers, the Cobra also has a push-button safety in front of the hammer. Barrels are either 2.7 or 3.5 inches, with several chamberings available. Grips are of laminated rosewood or black synthetic. Like most such weapons, the Cobra is very light in weight, and therefore recoil can be extreme; it is, however, heavier than most such weapons, being constructed largely of heavy steel (black, chromed, or nickel-plated).

Notes: This is another derringer in the ''Old West" pattern, known best for low cost and wrist-breaking recoil. It is a simple steel derringer with wood or simulated pearl grips and normally a nickel-plated finish.

Notes: It is not known who christened this mini-pistol the "Deer Gun," or why they did, but it is a weapon along the same lines as the World War 2 Liberator M-1942. Like the Liberator, the Deer Gun is basically one step more advanced than a zip gun – it is a simple aluminum casting to fire a single bullet in order to capture a more valuable enemy weapon for further use. The Deer Gun was to be used by South Vietnamese guerillas against Viet Cong and North Vietnamese troops; however, by 1964, it was obvious that US involvement in the war would be no small thing and the need for the Deer Gun disappeared.

Twilight 2000 Notes: The Deer Gun reappeared during the Twilight War, used to arm potential insurgents in out of the way areas such as Africa, Central Asia, and the Middle East.

Notes: This tiny weapon is just less than 83mm in length, yet has a barrel of nearly 54mm and fires some pretty powerful cartridges for such a small weapon. It is basically a modern version of a single-shot derringer, and is loaded from a tip-up barrel. The trigger is double-action only.

FIE Derringer

Notes: This is a tiny single-shot chromed derringer. It is an unremarkable weapon except for its small size.

Notes: This is one of a wide range of small-caliber match pistols that High Standard has produced over the years; this one started production in 1950. It was designed for the Olympic rapid-fire shooting event. There have been several models of the Olympic available over the years; the first model had a barrel of 4.5 inches or 6.75 inches, and the barrels were interchangeable. This version had a slide made of light alloy, and has an adjustable rear sight. The second model was introduced in 1951 and built until 1958, and was virtually the same except for a different adjustable rear sight (and identical for game purposes). The third model was made only with a 6.75-inch barrel, but it is a bull barrel for increased accuracy; it was built from 1963-1966. The Olympic had long been out of production by High Standard, but production of the Olympic resumed in 1995.

The Olympic ISU is designed, of course, for ISU competition, and differs somewhat from the standard Olympic. Three versions were built, one manufactured between 1958 and 1966, one manufactured after High Standard reconstituted itself in 1995, and the one designed for military competitions. The older version had a tapering barrel of either 6.75 inches of 8 inches, and had moveable barrel weights for balance adjustments which could be entirely removed if desired. The new model has only a 6.75" barrel, but it has an integrated compensator. The military model has 5.5" barrel, but it is a bull barrel. All have micrometer rear sights.

Twilight 2000 Notes: The post-1995 models never made it into production.

Notes: This is a modern replica of the Remington Model 1866 derringer. It is a very good copy, and looks pretty much like the original, with polished steel metal parts and oil-finished walnut grip plates. However, to meet modern regulations, the IAR Maverick has a crossbolt safety; it also fires modern smokeless ammunition instead of blackpowder rounds. The sights are extremely rudimentary and virtually useless. Both barrels fire at once.

Kimber Predator

Notes: This is a single-shot target and hunting pistol similar in concept and design to the XP-100. It is drilled and tapped for a scope and is usually made from expensive woods.

Notes: This is little more than zip gun produced to manufacturing standards. The Liberator, or OSS, was made to be dropped by the tens of thousands to resistance and civilian personnel in areas where the Allies wanted to foment resistance movements. The pistol was designed to be as simple and cheap as possible. The Liberator is little more than a breech block and barrel attached to a pistol grip and rudimentary trigger. The rear part of the receiver is pulled back, a round manually loaded into the breech, and the round is fired through the stubby barrel. The grip is hollow, with five more rounds carried inside. The idea behind the Liberator was not to function as a primary weapon, or even be used for an extended period of time – one takes the Liberator, kills an enemy soldier with it, and then takes the enemy weapon as his own.

Notes: This fist-sized handgun looks very much like a suitcase handle. The user’s fingers are protected within the gun’s frame and the barrel is positioned between the second and third fingers, with trigger bar underneath the fingers. To fire the weapon, simply squeeze the fist. It was designed as a concealed short-range weapon for clandestine work.

Twilight 2000 Notes: This weapon does not exist.

Merc 2000 Notes: This is an assassin’s favorite.