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; add all single-barrel recoil figures together). 

American Derringer 1

     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. The barrel firing sequence is automatic, with the upper barrel firing first and the bottom barrel firing second; both barrels cannot be fired simultaneously. Like all American Derringers, they have a manual hammer-blocking safety.  The safety automatically disengages when the hammer is cocked. A version of the Model 1 is available with custom engraving; for game purposes, however, it is identical to the standard Model 1.

     The American Derringer 7 Ultra-Lightweight 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).  The finish of the Model 7 and Model 10 is available only in Gray Matte, and grips only in black rubber.

American Derringer 2 Pen-Pistol

     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.

American Derringer 3

     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 5 inches in length with only a 2.5-inch barrel.  The recoil is very brutal due to the weapon’s low weight, short barrel, and comparatively powerful ammunition.  Production of the Model 3 has been, according to American Derringer, “temporarily halted.”

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.  Grips are of rosewood. 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). . The barrel firing sequence is automatic, with the upper barrel firing first and the bottom barrel firing second; both barrels cannot be fired simultaneously. The Model 4 is available in a version with custom engraving; however, for game purposes, it is identical to the standard Model 4.

American Derringer 6

     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, walnut, 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 and .22 Magnum versions were also made. The barrel firing sequence is automatic, with the upper barrel firing first and the bottom barrel firing second; both barrels cannot be fired simultaneously. Finish is high-polish stainless or satin.

American Derringer 8 Target

     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. The barrel firing sequence is automatic, with the upper barrel firing first and the bottom barrel firing second; both barrels cannot be fired simultaneously.

American Derringer COP

     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 DA-38

     Notes: The DA-38 is a slab-sided double-action derringer, with no forward trigger guard though it has one on the bottom.  The barrel is 3 inches, and they are blended into the receiver and also have slab sides. Construction is of steel. The DA-38 has a simple V-notch rear sight, though no front sight; due to the short effective range, the sight is largely superfluous.  Grips are of rosewood, walnut, black walnut, or rubber.  Like all American Derringer designs, it has a manual hammer block safety, but it has no hammer to cock the weapon; the safety is removed by that first double-action trigger pull.  The upper barrel fires first and the lower barrel second; both barrels cannot be fired simultaneously.  The DS-22 is largely the same, but has only a single barrel and is chambered for only rimfire cartridges.

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.

American Derringer Semmerling LM-4

     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.

Bond Arms Ranger

     Notes: Like most derringers designed in the modern era, the Ranger is designed to be not only a concealable, last-ditch personal defense weapon, it is also meant to be useful as a home defense weapon, and as a general, quick pest-control weapon.    The Ranger is larger than most derringers, having a pair of 4.25-inch barrels, though it is still a quite small weapon; it is, however, heavy for a derringer.  It is designed for modern ammunition, and like almost all derringers, mounts its barrels in an over-and-under configuration.  The Ranger is constructed largely of stainless steel (with a satin finish), with black ash grips.  The grip is slightly extended, allowing for a better hold than most derringers. The barrels have automatic extractors on them; when the Ranger is broken open, the shells are pushed out enough for them to be easily grasped and removed.  Once unlocked, the opening mechanism is spring-loaded to make opening the Ranger quicker, and the locking lever is cammed to make the fit of the weapon tighter when the Ranger is closed.  The Ranger has a crossbolt manual safety. The Ranger has a rudimentary notch rear sight and a blade front sight.  The trigger mechanism fires the top barrel first, then the bottom barrel.

     The Century 2000, also known as the C2K, is similar to the Ranger below except for having only 3.5-inch barrels.  The Century 2000 has the same features as the Ranger, but the butt is smaller, and it chambered for 3” .410 shotgun shells. The Snake Slayer is essentially the same as the Century 2000 except for the Ranger-style longer grip, and a slight difference in weight as a result.

Bond Arms Texas Defender

     Notes: These derringers come with the same features as the Ranger, but come in a plethora of chamberings, all of which have interchangeable barrel clusters.  They have 3” barrels and laminated black ash or Rosewood grips, which are short as on the Century 2000.  The Cowboy Defender is essentially the same except for being slightly lighter and finished in matte stainless steel instead of bright stainless steel. The Cowboy Century Defender (CCK) is essentially the same as the Texas Defender, but comes only in .22 Long Rifle, .22 Winchester Magnum Rimfire, and .44 Special.

Cobra Derringer

     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).

Davis Derringer D-25

     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, wood grips, or rubber grips and normally a nickel-plated finish, though blued finishes are available. Barrel length is 2.4 inches.  The .380 ACP version is often referred to as the “Big Bore” David Derringer; it is, in a relative sense, the big bore member of the family.

Deer Gun

     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.