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CONNECTICUT ARMS AND MANUFACTURING CO. HAMMOND .44 RIMFIRE “BULLDOG” DERINGER, CA. 1865-1868

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This is the standard configuration for the Connecticut Arms Hammond “Bulldog” pistol, a single-shot .44 cal. Deringer with 4-inch barrel, that would have proved a persuasive at short range. This rates about very good for condition with little finish that has not shifted, but smooth metal, all original parts, sharp lettering, nice grips, a clean bore with good rifling, just a little oxidation at the breech. The blued barrel assembly has shifted to a plum over gray, showing some rubs and spottiness. The receiver and frame show some faint hints of blues from case colors, but mostly as thin caramel. The checkered and notched release button that doubles as a rear sight, however, has strong blue and the markings are sharp: “CONNECTICUT ARMS & MANF’G CO NAUBUC CONN.” on the barrel and “PATENTED OCT 25. 1864”on the forward top edge of the breechblock. The checkered, brown thermoplastic grips are excellent. The lettering is sharp.

Brothers Henry and Lewis Hammond tried to enter the Civil War military arms business by developing a breech-loading single-shot cartridge system in 1863. A patent, however, was only granted in late October 1864 and attempts at a military contract for longarms were unsuccessful. They had a little more luck with their Deringer pistol, which used the same sort of swivel breach block that pivots to the left for inserting a cartridge after placing the hammer at half-cock and depressing a button on top of the block. The button is cross-hatched, but also slotted to function as a rear sight, and the block is fitted with an automatic ejector that will partially lift out the cartridge case for removal.

The pistol is elegantly styled: the rear of the pistol features very round contours with flat-sided but bag-style grips (of then modern thermoplastic) with rounded butt, and rounded sides to the receiver. The barrel, however, is octagon, with the bottom flats having rounded ends giving the impression of flutes in the frame and the barrel giving the appearance of narrowing by a tapering top barrel flat that comes to a point beyond the front sight, effectively making it seven-sided at the muzzle. Along with the use of a spur trigger, those smooth lines may also have given it some appeal to the practical-minded looking for pistol that could be smoothly drawn from a pocket, but the pistol was also robustly constructed to handle the .44 caliber round.

We have not removed the grips to check the serial number on the frame- production data is not available. Flayderman estimated a total quantity of 8,000, but also thought production lasted from 1866 to the late 1880s. More recent research points to a much shorter production run, so the number may be significantly less, though production may have started earlier than Flayderman thought. The ejector and rear sight did not receive patents until mid-1866 and very early 1867, but production may have started as early as 1865 with the stamped October 1864 patent date deemed a sufficient warning. In any case, the NRA museum notes that production ceased in 1868 and Helms notes company assets were sold off in 1872, though many of the pistols remained in dealer inventories and were advertised for sale into the 1880s, perhaps giving the impression of continued, later production.

This would go well in a display of vest and coat-pocket pistols carried for personal defense in the early west. The nickname “bulldog” is a faulty recollection of the barrel inscription “BULL DOZER” found on some of these with a nickel finish, but either nickname suits its power at close range. This is a good example.  [sr][ph:L]

DISCLAIMER: All firearms are sold as collector's items only - we do not accept responsibility as to the shooting safety or reliability of any antique firearm. All firearms are described as accurately as possible, given the restraints of a catalog listing length. We want satisfied customers & often "under" describe the weapons. Any city or state regulations regarding owning antique firearms are the responsibility of the purchaser. All firearms are "mechanically perfect" unless noted, but again, are NOT warranted as safe to fire!

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