#241 Generally this Conning derringer follows the description of a
genuine Henry Deringer gun in both style and makeup but is not a Henry
Deringer. The trigger guard and other furniture is of German silver and
there is no provision for a ramrod. Notice the turned down lip at the
forearm nose. The round barrel is made with a barrel rib at the top. The
only barrel markings underneath the barrel are a cryptic assembly number
cut in Roman numerals so this gun is apparently American made because
there are no proof marks. I have never heard of another such gun. Its
caliber is .410.
The only markings are on the barrel in two lines in script and engraved
as follows:
Made for
J. Conning, Mobile
This maker advertised that his shop was open for business at Dauphin and
Water Streets in Mobile, Alabama. This will leave the impression that he
operated a retail store but so far no actual proof of this has been
noted except that on October 21, 1862 he advertised “military buttons
just received a few gross of very fine military gold staff buttons, sold
by the gross or the set.”
He had some facilities for manufacturing and is well known for his
Confederate swords. There is a record of an important contract with the
state of Alabama for sabres.