Southern Derringers of the Mississippi Valley

The booklet surveys derringer-type pistols produced and sold throughout the Mississippi Valley, cataloging twenty-nine authenticated southern makers and offering a rarity ranking for collectors. It compares southern-made examples with Philadelphia-produced Deringers, explains maker markings and stamping variations, and describes construction features such as barrel shapes, escutcheon plates, wedges, and fastenings. The author recounts the origins and growth of his personal collection and exhibition history, outlines the geographic and chronological scope of production, excludes related categories like pocket, overcoat, and dueling pistols, and encourages further research to document additional makers and operational details.