#285 This is a small sized derringer by any standards and is made by
Bitterlick. I have never seen a Bitterlick smaller than this one. This
gun also has the escutcheon screw plate underneath the forearm attaching
that part to the full octagon barrel. The forearm nose is fluted as is
common to many of these Nashville and Memphis guns. All furniture is of
German silver and is plain, not engraved.
The barrel markings are slightly different from #261 in that the
expression “& Co.” has been added as follows:
Fr. J. Bitterlick & Co.
Nashville, Tenn.
{FOOT-POWERED LATHE}
#285A This is a real old foot powered metal turning lathe that is in our
collection here at Dixie Gun Works. It was obtained from the current
Snodgrass Gun Shop in Nashville and Mr. Snodgrass states that many, many
years ago he got it from the old Legler Gun Shop. There is an awfully
good chance that parts such as screws for the Bitterlick or Bitterlick &
Legler Derringers were made on this same lathe. Incidentally, Hal Swann
of Nashville has a large quantity of Bitterlick or Bitterlick & Legler
tools such as files, bullet mould cherries, screwdrivers and even a die
stamp reading “Bitterlick & Co.” This die stamp is not the same one that
is used on the derringers though. This die stamp has never been seen on
a gun.