Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1907-09-19
The Derinqer and the
Bowie Knife.

Two Of the most deadly Weapons
Yer invented are the Deringer and
The Bowie knife. once they were the
most popular arms In the southern
states, and from lS40 10 1866 the
Deringer was a part OF every south
ern gentleman's personal equipment
Usually re had a pair OF them and
they We're called bone breakers
They were Intended for close quar-
lets would smash an arm or leg into
splinters. Hardly more thar three
inches In the barrel. and carrying
about sixty bullets to the pound, by
reason Of the popularity In the man
ner OF boring and the rangemen OF
the powder chamber. no other small
pistol ever drove a ball with such
terrible power and deadly effect.
The wonderful little Deringer he
came world renowned. In every sec
ton Of the continent and every coun-
try Of Europe the Deringer became a
household symbol OF safety. which has
given the name a place In history. u
has been the unerring arbiter In duels
and encounters. the most fatal Meme
sis In the hands of ~retrihution. the
most pitiless harbinger Of revenge
and hate. the most unfaltering ally of
Justice or OF crime the world has aver
- II vas - ~ - WV ~
these deadly weapons hat crashed
through the brain OF President Lin
coin and plunged a nation into grief.
Booth selected the Deringer as the
surest messenger Of death. and after
he had fired the fatal shot the pistol
was dropped to the floor In the box
OF the theater. II was used against
the cOnspirators as evidence and IS
now In the possession OF the war dc
partment.
Wherever the Derlnger has been
the messenger of fate To man records
witness TO the irresistible power
which turks In these light and DELFT
cate servants of purple death. Juft
behind the line which separates an,
Of Columbia from Maryla M.
the town Of Bladcnsburg. Is "a
Sc, luded spot, cmbowcred with trees
and known as blood Run" whitl
has witnessed many tragic Genes in
which the Deringer has figured.
About 1889 there lived in Philadel-
phia q gunsmith named Deringer.
who was noted for the exquisite fine
of his work on firearms and its
general excellence. especially 90 pis-
lois. The flintlOck WAS then used.
ana To insure its not missing fire the
work had To be done With "A great
deal Of care. In 1888 the contract
u Isl HAA ~ Nv 80 NNN NHN ~ NHA"
pistols with which Co arm the First
regiment 81 Dragons. Just created by
act Of congress. Two thousand hul-
ter pistols. carrying thirty bullets 90
pound. wanted Deringer
got the contract and also "a contract
'or thirty-six pair OF officers pistols
II a finer quality. From that time
lutil 1859 he was the first small arms
maker IN the United states In the
OF pistols. General John Ma
a famous officer 81 the artil-
cry in the old army and a Confedcr-
tie major general. owned the finest
most elaborate pair OF pistols
hat Derinrer ever turned out They
rad two sets 81 barrels fitted 90 each
,tock. one set was four Inches and
he other six inches In length. Each
.arried sixty bullets 10 the pound.
rhe pistols were gold-mounted. With
,eautiful inlald york. wherever 10
be placed. In silver and gold,
rhe locks were made by BraEier. the
'oremost maker 81 gunlocks I'm Eng
and they cost $50 alone. Cap
ain Magruder said that these nerin-
rers had saved his life three times
Nth them ne could "a the spots bal
n the tout OF spades al twelve PAGES
rhe cost OF these pistols could hot
been less than te15 They were
presented TO b captain when De
vent 10 Mexico 10 take command OF
lis battery Of the First artillery.
Another costly per 90 DcrinEers
vas presented to General Bcaurc-
iard late In 1859 by a creole gentle
nan OF New Orleans They were
.auaiiy a. pretty as those % Captain
IN those DAYS these pis-
ois-now known as the nerlnEer-
we're not sold singly, but only IN pairs q
nd the COS Of the cneap~St make