Henry Deringer developed his famous pocket pistol designs in the first half of the 19th century and manufactured them until his death in 1868. Based on his agents and known inscribed examples, it appears they were especially popular with politicians, bankers, and shopkeepers as well as gamblers and miners in the South and California. Less than 20,000 pistols in a variety of configurations are estimated to have been manufactured in Henry Deringer's shop before his death, and many have since been lost or destroyed. The barrel has a dovetailed German silver front sight, Deringer's classic brown and copper imitation Damascus finish, a German silver banded breech plug with "DERINGER/PHILADELA" on top, "P" flanked by sun burst designs on the upper left, German silver bands, and a notch rear sight on the integral tang. The floral engraved lock has "DERINGER/PHILADELA" near the tail. Most of the furniture is German silver and engraved with primarily scroll patterns. The stock is stamped "C D" on the left side of the wrist.

Fine with 80% original brown finish, gray patina where the copper finish has faded, traces of original case colors, minor oxidation, and mild overall wear. The hammer has a "saw cut" visible at the tip. The partially unscrewed nipple appears to be a period replacement. The stock is very good and has mostly crisp checkering, mild dings and scratches, faint hairline cracks at the forend tip and lock screw, and some golden residue. Mechanically fine. A solid representative example of one of the 19th century's most famous firearms.