Scarce Williamson single shot Deringer with even scarcer gilt scroll engraving and blued barrel. Invented by David Williamson of New York, these were manufactured by Moore's Patent Firearms Company and the National Patent Firearms Company of New York from 1866 to 1870. This is a very pretty little gun . The barrel preserves a thin coating of plum patina. It has a sharp barrel legend consisting of a large fletched arrow pointing forward engraved on the top of the barrel and the patent stamp on the left of the barrel reading: "Williamson's Pat. Oct.2, 1866 New York," having only the two I's a little light at the top. The floral-scroll engraved brass backstrap, triggerguard and triggerguard tang is deeply cut with prominent designs showing practically no rubbing. Extremely attractive. The walnut grip with checkered butt and side bands is good, but shows wear on the left side, top, around the brass trim at the breech. The rear screw is missing from the triggerguard tang. The forward screw is there and shows an engraved screw head. Even the barrel release button is checkered. The checkering on the buttcap is crisp, with no damage. The checkering and blue on the hammer is very good. Mechanics are excellent. Despite a likely production run of some 10,000, the attrition rate of these pistols is noted to be high and they are considered very scarce by collectors, especially being factory engraved. . The barrel slides forward to receive a single .41 caliber rimfire cartridge. A nice example of an early western coat or vest pocket pistol that would display very well in frontier, gambling or Old West collection.

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