Remington Rider Single Shot Pistol
Encyclopedia
The Remington-Rider Single Shot Derringer Parlor Pistol was made by E. Remington and Sons
between 1860 and 1863. Two hundred were produced.
, featuring a three-inch (7.6 cm) brass
barrel
, a two-piece breech
, a brass grip, wrapped in a silver plate finish.
No serial number
s or barrel markings were printed on the pistols. Fewer than 40 original examples are known to exist today, including two prototypes and several larger model examples.
It is the smallest Remington Pistol ever produced. Little is known of the reason for its manufacture.
This rare handgun was originally made in 1860 and was produced for only three years; the total estimated production quantity is less than two hundred. Not made for use with powder propellants, this diminutive sidearm launches 4.3 mm projectiles at surprisingly high velocities with the use of a percussion cap only.
On September 13, 1859, Joseph Rider was issued patent
25,470 for the Remington-Rider Pistol; this patent is commemorated by the gang stamp RIDER'S PT. SEPT 13, 1859 on the left side of the barrel. The frame, grips, and 3 inch barrel were integrally constructed of sand-cast brass. Some of the known examples have a natural bronze or silver plated finish; a few are engraved. Only one is known to be rifled; this one is also the most profusely engraved, inscribed and dated and is probably unique.
and lead shot
, without gunpowder
. There are two types of breech-pieces, about equal in frequency in existing production guns; all known prototypes have the one-piece design, which provides no cover to enclose the cap, and its locking lever is quite short. The two-piece design has a cone to hold the cap, a cover providing protection from the exploding cap, and 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.
At least one such pistol has been found with an instruction sheet with the following text:
PARLOR PISTOL
A NOVELTY IN THE LINE OF FIREARMS!
Percussion Caps and Shot the only Ammunition Required.
This specimen was found in an unlabeled box. Other known specimens are found with an inside top box label identifying the firearm which also includes the same directions for loading:
The Shot should be of size No. 1 or a very little larger than the bore of the Barrel, and to insure the greatest accuracy and penetration, they should be slightly greased or wet. Percussion caps of right size for Rider’s, Beal’s or Colt’s Revolvers will be suitable for the Parlor Pistol. Should the Breech-piece become dry and inclined to stick, a drop of oil should be put on it, and it should also be oiled after firing, to prevent rusting.
No discussion of the Remington-Rider Parlor pistol would be complete without examining what are believed to be authentic prototypes and exceptions.
E. Remington and Sons
E. Remington and Sons was a manufacturer of firearms and typewriters. Founded in 1816 by Eliphalet Remington in Ilion, New York, on March 1, 1873 it started manufacturing the first commercial typewriter.-Becoming "E. Remington & Sons":...
between 1860 and 1863. Two hundred were produced.
Description
It is a .17 (4.3 mm) caliber pistolPistol
When distinguished as a subset of handguns, a pistol is a handgun with a chamber that is integral with the barrel, as opposed to a revolver, wherein the chamber is separate from the barrel as a revolving cylinder. Typically, pistols have an effective range of about 100 feet.-History:The pistol...
, featuring a three-inch (7.6 cm) brass
Brass
Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc; the proportions of zinc and copper can be varied to create a range of brasses with varying properties.In comparison, bronze is principally an alloy of copper and tin...
barrel
Barrel
A barrel or cask is a hollow cylindrical container, traditionally made of vertical wooden staves and bound by wooden or metal hoops. Traditionally, the barrel was a standard size of measure referring to a set capacity or weight of a given commodity. A small barrel is called a keg.For example, a...
, a two-piece breech
Breech-loading weapon
A breech-loading weapon is a firearm in which the cartridge or shell is inserted or loaded into a chamber integral to the rear portion of a barrel....
, a brass grip, wrapped in a silver plate finish.
No serial number
Serial number
A serial number is a unique number assigned for identification which varies from its successor or predecessor by a fixed discrete integer value...
s or barrel markings were printed on the pistols. Fewer than 40 original examples are known to exist today, including two prototypes and several larger model examples.
It is the smallest Remington Pistol ever produced. Little is known of the reason for its manufacture.
This rare handgun was originally made in 1860 and was produced for only three years; the total estimated production quantity is less than two hundred. Not made for use with powder propellants, this diminutive sidearm launches 4.3 mm projectiles at surprisingly high velocities with the use of a percussion cap only.
On September 13, 1859, Joseph Rider was issued patent
Patent
A patent is a form of intellectual property. It consists of a set of exclusive rights granted by a sovereign state to an inventor or their assignee for a limited period of time in exchange for the public disclosure of an invention....
25,470 for the Remington-Rider Pistol; this patent is commemorated by the gang stamp RIDER'S PT. SEPT 13, 1859 on the left side of the barrel. The frame, grips, and 3 inch barrel were integrally constructed of sand-cast brass. Some of the known examples have a natural bronze or silver plated finish; a few are engraved. Only one is known to be rifled; this one is also the most profusely engraved, inscribed and dated and is probably unique.
Purpose
These little pistols were intended to be a parlor target pistol and not a defensive weapon. They are designed for use with a percussion capPercussion cap
The percussion cap, introduced around 1830, was the crucial invention that enabled muzzleloading firearms to fire reliably in any weather.Before this development, firearms used flintlock ignition systems which produced flint-on-steel sparks to ignite a pan of priming powder and thereby fire the...
and lead shot
Lead shot
Lead shot is a collective term for small balls of lead. These were the original projectiles for muskets and early rifles, but today lead shot is fired primarily from shotguns. It is also used for a variety of other purposes...
, without gunpowder
Gunpowder
Gunpowder, also known since in the late 19th century as black powder, was the first chemical explosive and the only one known until the mid 1800s. It is a mixture of sulfur, charcoal, and potassium nitrate - with the sulfur and charcoal acting as fuels, while the saltpeter works as an oxidizer...
. There are two types of breech-pieces, about equal in frequency in existing production guns; all known prototypes have the one-piece design, which provides no cover to enclose the cap, and its locking lever is quite short. The two-piece design has a cone to hold the cap, a cover providing protection from the exploding cap, and 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.
At least one such pistol has been found with an instruction sheet with the following text:
A NOVELTY IN THE LINE OF FIREARMS!
Percussion Caps and Shot the only Ammunition Required.
This specimen was found in an unlabeled box. Other known specimens are found with an inside top box label identifying the firearm which also includes the same directions for loading:
Cock the Pistol and raise the level connected with the breech-plug, with the muzzle elevated. Take out the Cone from the Breech-piece; put on the cap and replace the Cone. Drop the shot into the Barrel with the muzzle down; replace the Breech-piece and the Pistol is ready to fire.
The Shot should be of size No. 1 or a very little larger than the bore of the Barrel, and to insure the greatest accuracy and penetration, they should be slightly greased or wet. Percussion caps of right size for Rider’s, Beal’s or Colt’s Revolvers will be suitable for the Parlor Pistol. Should the Breech-piece become dry and inclined to stick, a drop of oil should be put on it, and it should also be oiled after firing, to prevent rusting.
No discussion of the Remington-Rider Parlor pistol would be complete without examining what are believed to be authentic prototypes and exceptions.