POTD: Hopkins & Allen Vest Pocket Derringer – The Parrot Beak
Sam.S 07.01.21
Welcome to today’s Photo of the Day! I love finding guns that I have never seen. Today’s example of that is the Parrot Beak pistol. The Parrot Beak was a .22 caliber Derringer made by Hopkins & Allen from 1911 to 1915. Four years really is not that long and this is probably because it did not sell well. It probably did not sell well because… well… it looks weird. Weird guns sell well today when everyone wants to be unique, but back at the beginning of the 20th century weird meant… weird.
“Manufactured from 1911 to 1915. This derringer was also known as “Parrot Beak” and had a total production of around 1,400. It features a 1 3/4 inch hinged barrel that pivots downward for loading and is striker-fired double action only operation, with serrated casehardened folding trigger. The derringer has the standard floral scroll engraving on the sides of the frame and rear sides of the barrel, and zigzag bordering around the frame and barrel sides. The left side of the barrel is marked “HOPKINS & ALLEN ARMS CO / NORWICH, CONN. U.S.A.”. Blade front sight and fitted with two piece pearl grips with inset gilt Hopkins & Allen medallions.
-Rock Island Auction Company”
Lot 1160: Scarce Hopkins & Allen Vest Pocket Derringer with Pearl Grips [Photograph found in Auction Catalog #50, Rock Island Auction Company]. (n.d.). Retrieved June 30, 2021, from https://www.rockislandauction.com/detail/50/1160/scarce-hopkins-allen-vest-pocket-derringer-with-pearl-grips
