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PARLOR PISTOLA NOVELTY IN THE LINE OF FIREARMS!Percussion Caps and Shot the only Ammunition Required. |
The Remington-Rider Parlor is among the rarest and sought of all Remington handguns. This little single-shot percussion pistol has always been a bit of a conundrum. Little is known as to the reason for its manufacture and its demise while contemplated as possibly just unpopular for its discontinuation it can most assuredly be attributed in some part to Remington’s shift in priorities due to the start of the civil war.
On September 13, 1859 Joseph Rider was issued patent 25,470 for the Remington-Rider Pistol. The two line “RIDER’S PT. SEPT 13, 1859″ is marked (gang stamped) on the left side of the barrel with the total production at estimated 200 from c. 1860-1863. The frame, grips, and 3 inch barrel were of integral sand cast construction of brass. Known examples are found in natural bronze or silver plated finish with few engraved examples They are .17 caliber and predominately smooth bore with only one known to be rifled. This one example being most profusely engraved, inscribed, and dated a probable one of a kind.
These little pistols were intended to be a parlor target pistol and not a defensive weapon. They are designed to use only the pressure generated from the fulminate of a percussion cap and lead shot as the only form of ammunition. There are two types of breech-pieces with no apparent predominance and some debate over their precedence of their manufacture however subsequent discovery of several prototype models all have displayed the one piece design. The one piece design provides no cover to enclose the cap and the locking lever is quite short. The two piece design there is a cone to hold the cap and a cover providing protection from the exploding cap and has a longer lever.
The majority of these pistols were sold in a tight-fitting cardboard box with the loading and cleaning directions on a label pasted inside the top lid. However at least one such pistol has been found with an instruction sheet in an unlabeled box.
It is estimated that no more then 30 of the original specimens exist one of the few in a class of firearms where spurious examples out number the known original that exist.
Thought I would add an engraved example w/ box 
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How much is such a piece worth - it looks amazing!
A plain example will typically bring $10-12,000 depending on condition. I would suspect an engraved example, I believe that only 5 exist, should bring $3-5,000 more, I’ve never actually seen an engraved (known original) example for sale. TWO popped up on auction a few years back (which I had never examined) but it’s doubtful they were real although from photo’s they did look good, unfortunately I didn’t follow them through sale to know a cost. I’ve examined quite a few originals and a WHOLE LOT of fakes, be VERY careful there’s a lot of reproductions out there. It should also be noted there are only TWO known original cardboard boxes that exist, the value of these boxes certainly exceeds the value of the gun!!!
There’s actually more to this story, including several prototypes and two larger versions that exist I’ll post more if there is a interest.
that is one of the most beautiful guns! perfect no nonsense streamline design. YUM!
Added an engraved model in box from my collection ;)
Also beautiful, but being a minimalist I would go for the plain black sleek clean beauty,.
That thing is awesome!
I have five parlor pistols in my collection. Two have are in the original boxes and one of these has the only known loading instruction sheet. Both of the boxed pistols are in excellent condition having 100% of the original silver finish. I have a factory engraved example with the same type of engraving as the one pictured above. My other two are a prototype and a factory miniature. Both of these pistols have been tested by a metallurist and were found to be made of the same brass as the original factory made parlor pistols.
Yes Elliot, you know (of) me, we also met one time in Virginia (I think) at a gun show.
I also have the flatside original prototype pictured on the cover of the American Rifleman in February 1958 (I think), a second prototype acquired from the Rider family (via Doc) and one of the two large examples the other was Slims and was in the Cody until recently.
Do both of your boxes had the label on the lid? I saw one parlor in what appeared to be a vest box but frankly I’m not sure if you could tell the difference.
I don’t know if I have your email, would love to see photo’s.
fagan@fagansplace.com