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Zig-Zag DerringerProduction 1961-1862, less then 1000 produced. |
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This is the Remington Zig-Zag derringer which was obviously named for the zig-zag groves in the breech end of the rotating barrel which is a key part of the revolving mechanism. This is the first Remington firearm designed for the then new metallic cartridge. This 22 short in a six-shot rotating barrel ring trigger type double action with a concealed hammer which extends into the grip. The firearm is loaded through a port in the frame at the breech and actually fires from the bottom barrel. In my research I have located nearly 150 examples from around the world with serials from no 2 to 987, Do to is complicated mechanism they are quite delicate and expensive to produce. The new Remington-Elliot 5 barrel (fixed barrel) was designed and in production before all the previously manufactured parts we assembled into firearms. During that period of production no parts were ever wasted! This is again one of the cases where the survival rates of boxes makes the box actually more valueable then the firearm. This box (one of two that exists) has a card which were commonly handed out on the street in the days surounding the civil war. This card has become one with the box and interesting enough has 34 stars which represents Kansas the 34th state in 1861 which dates exactly to the production date of the firearm.
I love that mechanism. Is this yours? How did you come about it?
That’s a story in itself…
When I first started collector 20 years or so ago (and I’m still considered the kid). I got good advice about read, read, and don’t buy 10 brown guns save and buy 1 good gun w/ condition. In all my reading this was the one that stuck out and I just had to have. It took me 2 years to find my first one and over the next 20 years with my research (posted on the Remington Society of America,~ 150 found) I eventually at one time or another owned 14 of them, I’m now down to 3. This one I actually purchase 10 years or so ago from a cop who was given the collection after the death in the family because he was the only one that had any "gun" experience to sell. He invited me to his house to look at the collection and brought out one item at a time with a price. He brought out the ZigZag which he told me he wanted 800.00 for when and I saw it was in the box I couldn’t give him the money fast enough, made several purchases that day. I had never before seen a box and have since found only one other. There currently is a ZigZag on Rock Island Auction. I think there must be a pot farm on fire upwind, but it’s estimate is listed at $15,000-22,500. If it was in the box I’d agree with that but without, I just don’t see it bringing that kind of money.
thats pretty cool,,wow ya got some really intresting firearms ,,might make a great catagory ..just doing articles on old firearms ,,pretty cool..
bigcurt
walther p38 9mm. pistol
Love the death to traitors card on the top of the box. Very interesting about the 31 stars and the production date of the weapon matching. Give the little thing so much more history and character. Odd how the mindset of Americans has changed so much. Anyone handing out a card on the street that said something like that would probably be thought of as a nut. Back then, the person put it in the box with their pocket pistol, probably to remind them who to shoot!