Skip to main content
Rock Island Auction Company
AuctionsConsignmentLatestFAQAbout us
Log InCreate Account
Rock Island Auction CompanyRock Island Auction Company
Contact us
1-309-797-15001-800-238-8022[email protected]
Locations
Bedford, TX
3600 Harwood RoadBedford, Texas 76021, USA
Rock Island, IL
7819 42nd Street WestRock Island, Illinois 61201, USA
Hours
Monday - Friday8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Navigation
AuctionsConsignmentLatestFAQAbout usAccount
More Info
Terms & ConditionsPrivacy PolicyJob postings & CareersOrder a catalogContact
Social media
© 2025 Rock Island Auction Company. RIAC believes that this website is accessible to the widest possible audience pursuant to the guidelines of the Americans with Disability Act. Click here for more information.
Healthcare Transparency in Coverage.
Disconnected
Unable to connect to live update server, attempting reconnection. If this persists, please try refreshing your browser.
Disconnected state indicated by at top of page. If you cannot see this icon, you are connected.
Rock Island Auction Company
Hello.
Please Log In, or .

Home
Auctions
Consignment
Latest
FAQ
About us

  • /Auctions...
  • /Catalog...
  • /Lot 1084

Lot 1084:Cased Pair of F.J. Bitterlich & Co. Percussion Derringer Pistols

December 9th, 2023|Bedford, TX
  • /Auctions...
  • /Catalog...
  • /Lot 1084

Lot 1084:Cased Pair of F.J. Bitterlich & Co. Percussion Derringer Pistols

December 9th, 2023|Bedford, TX
Price Realized:
Login to viewLogin to view
Price obfuscated
Estimated Price$27,500 - $42,500
Log In to use Wishlists
Share

Rare Documented NRA Silver Medal Award Winning One of Two Known Cased Pairs of Fr. J. Bitterlich & Co. Nashville Tennessee Percussion Southern Derringer Pocket Pistols

A) Bitterlich Derringer Pocket Pistol

Among the very few Southern makers of derringer pistols was Franz J. Bitterlich of Nashville, Tennessee, who was one of the rare makers in the day. He was born in Bohemia and married Mary Lachman of Illinois. The Daily Nashville Patriot on August 6, 1860, announced that he had "recently opened a gunsmith's shop over Barkhorn's on Deaderick street" and noted his "guns and pistols are equal in every respect to those of Eastern manufacture, and some have even pronounced them superior to all others. For some three or four years Mr. Bitterlich has been associated with Schneider & Co., of Memphis, which house is justly celebrated for the superiority of its work. We had thought, until we saw some of Mr. Bitterlich's work, that the far-famed Derringer was the pistol, but after testing both 'the 'Derringer' and Mr. Bitterlich's pocket pistols, we are strongly inclined to yield the palm to the latter." The local papers also reported his residence was robbed of around $170-180 that same July. He ran advertisements in 1861, and then falls out of the papers for a period during the Civil War. His shop reportedly was destroyed by a fire in 1862, the year the city was captured by Union forces. In 1865 he was listed as a "Gun and Pistol Repairer." By 1866, he was again a gunmaker and formed Bitterlich & Legler with Joseph Legler which lasted until 1880. This extraordinary set thus dates to c.1860-1862. It is featured on page 180 of "The Deringer in America" by R.L. Wilson and L.D. Eberhart where it is noted that the set was the only known cased pair and was stolen in the 1970s. It was later recovered and transferred from the Dr. Wilmot N. "Bo" Harper Estate to well-known dealer Bobby Wayne Smith and received one of just 10 silver medals at the NRA's Annual Meeting in 2013 (medal and certificate plaque included). The certificate notes that one other pair from Bitterlich & Co. is also now known. Southern made derringer pistols are much rarer than their northern counterparts, and examples by Bitterlich are rarely encountered. The rifled barrels have brass post front sights and are marked "FR J. BITTERLICH & CO/NASHVILLE. TENN." The upper tangs have notch rear sights. There are "P" marks on the locks at the front edges. Nickel plated belt hooks are fitted on the left sides. The other furniture is German silver. The stocks have carved shell patterns at the forend tips and checkered wrists. The mahogany case has green lining and contains a nickel plated powder flask, ball mold, nipple wrench with pick, two sets of ramrods (one pair nickeled), and compartments with an oiler, balls, and key. The first pistol still has a ball in the barrel, but the powder was removed from the breech end by removal of the nipple.

ConditionVery fine with 90% plus original brown finish remaining on the barrel, 85% plus original case colors on the breech plug and lock, crack at the screw in the upper tang, aged patina on the German silver, and essentially all of the bright nickel remaining on the belt hook. The stock is also very fine and has crisp checkering and some minor dings. Mechanically excellent. The case is fine with a slight stress crack at the rear of the lid and minor age and storage related wear, and the accessories are very fine with slight age and bright nickel.
Details
ManufacturerAmerican
ModelPercussion
TypePistol
ClassAntique
Caliber / Gauge41
Barrel2 1/2 inch octagon
Finishbrown/casehardened/German silver
Stockwalnut

Item LocationBedford, TX
Views1074
Catalog page78

B) Bitterlich Derringer Pocket Pistol

See "A." Provenance: The Dr. Wilmot N. "Bo" Harper Collection; The Bobby Wayne Smith Collection; Property of a Gentleman

ConditionFine. Unlike its mate, this pistol appears to have actually been used by its original owner, and the barrel exhibits strong original brown finish in the protected areas and otherwise mostly gray and brown patina and some light pitting. The lock and breech retain 30% original case colors, and the German silver furniture has an aged patina while the belt hook remains bright nickel aside from a few small flakes. The stock is very fine and has crisp checkering and light handling and storage marks. Mechanically fine.
Details
ManufacturerAmerican
ModelPercussion
TypePistol
ClassAntique
Caliber / Gauge41
Barrel2 1/2 inch octagon
Finishbrown/casehardened/German silver
Stockwalnut

Item LocationBedford, TX
Views1074
Catalog page78
Find MoreRelated Items
Lot 1109"Peanut" Size Deringer and Plate Marked Pocket Pistol
View Lot
Lot 343Ed McGivern's Smith & Wesson K-22 Outdoorsman Revolver
View Lot
Lot 3347Cased Pair of C. L. von der Fecht Percussion Pistols
View Lot
Lot 318Cased Pair of J. E. Evans Percussion Dueling pistols
View Lot
Show More