F. H. CLARK
#217 This is as fine a pair of matched derringers by Clark as money can buy anywhere. Beautifully browned barrels with 100% of the fine French varnish on the wood remaining. Has steel trigger guard and thimble, but does not have a screw in the trigger guard finial holding to the barrel. A rather large sized derringer. Bag grips have silver tear drop butt escutcheon.
There is an interesting story about this matched pair of guns and how they were found. About four years ago a friend from England wrote that he had these guns in his possession and he had gotten them from a collection in Norway. How they got to Norway, only Heaven knows. Anyway, they were so high priced that I passed them up. A friend of mine, Cecil Godwin, did get the guns and two years later I wanted them so badly that I paid him a handsome profit so that I could add them to my collection. They are even so fine that they have the original ramrods intact. Caliber is .420.
The breechplug of the barrel on the top flat is marked in two lines with the metal still puffed up around the letters because it is so new and without any wear. They are marked in two lines as follows:
F. H. Clark & Co.
Memphis