Doc Holliday Derringer to be Auctioned 2/2/2013

[Heather Bauer]

I have long been fascinated by the old west and history and thought the Doc Holliday afficianados on here might be interested.

We are offering Doc Holliday's .41 cal. derringer, Ser#474, at public auction this Saturday, February 2, 2013 in Springdale, Arkansas.  Lots of documentation with it, including letters from the previous owners and the history of the gun, magazine articles and one of Doc's business cards from his dental office.  There is also a tintype photo of Doc, Kate and another female. 

If anyone is interested in auction specifics, let me know and I can send the auction link. 

[Heather Bauer]

[Heather Bauer]

[Morgan]

I doubt that is Doc.'s derringer as he died in the hospital in Glenwood Springs, Colorado owing a substantial medical bill. All of his possessions the sold to pay the bill including his guns.

Also the numbers, not "serial" numbers just corruspond to numbers in the production group so there could be several #474's out there. Mine carries the #985 and it's of the 4th variation. A look at the wording on top og the barrel would be more telling of it's age.

[Heather Bauer]

The documentation we have shows that this derringer was used to pay the funeral bill.

[Morgan]

Still like to see the lettering on top of the barrel as it will establish for a date of manufacture.

[Nicholas Narog]

I think I have heard about this gun before. It seems that many people believe that it was Doc's; however many believe the engraving "To Doc from Kate" was added later. Still an interesting piece. I wouldn't mind a link to the auction as well as more photographs and documentation.

[Heather Bauer]

I am going to try to get additional photos this evening and will post them.

 

[anthony martin]

  Heather,

    A very pretty derringer but I have my doubts as well.I've owned a second production batch #562 and a fourth batch#304 so that number is insufficient to determining date provenance.As Morgan said we need the barrel information.The inscription on the backstrap seems a might too convenient and "feels" like something added later.A look at the engraved inscription under magnification would tell us whether it was collateral with the age of the gun or added later.

  A friend owned a size 12 hunter pocketwatch with the engraving "TO J.H.H. FROM W.E. and had worked himself into a lather convincing himself that it was given to Doc BY Wyatt.I.pointed out that  the 12 size came about in the early 1890's and that the serial number on the movement was from 1895,eight years after Holliday died.

[Morgan]

Just some additional info. To be owned by Doc. it would have to be one of the type I variations.

It would have to have one of these characteristics (there are some additional types):

 

Type I                                      1866-1888      

First variation, 1866, had no barrel extractor and was marked on one side of the barrels’ center rib “E. Remington & Sons, Ilion, N.Y.” or “Manufactured By E. Remington & Sons, Ilion, NY” (rare), then “Elliot’s Patent Dec 12, 1865” on the other

Transitional 1867-1868 marked left side  "ELLIOT'S PATENT DEC. 12, 1865"  right side "E.REMINGTON & SONS, ILION, N.Y.".  The left side is fitted with a manual extractor

Third variation:  incarnation of the same gun with the address on the top of the barrels came out in 1868.

Sixth Variation: two line address (top of barrel):: "E. REMINGTON & SONS. ILION. N.Y. ELLIOT'S PATENT DEC 12TH 1865", made with extractor (12,000 to 18,000 produced between 1870 and 1888

[Michael]

Also, from the photo, your Nashville Plow Works CS sword appears to be a reproduction.