H. E. Dimick
This name will be noted in all of the 1859 Saint Louis City Directories. Dimick was probably the best known and prolific of all the secondary St. Louis riflemakers and his guns stood on their own reputation. He came from Kentucky to establish the St. Louis Gun Shop at 38 North Main Street in 1849. From 1849 through 1864, the firm was known as H. E. Dimick & Co. From 1865 until Mr. Dimick’s death in 1873 the listing was simply H. E. Dimick. Thus, here is a clue towards dating your guns with this mark.
There has been a great deal of confusion about the associates in the H. E. Dimick & Co. plant. Henry Folsom may have been a partner for a few years; he was at least important enough in the firm to be listed along with H. E. Dimick in a City Directory.
F. J. BITTERLICK
#261 Contrary to most derringers made in the South, Bitterlick marked his on both the barrel and the lock. All furniture is of plain, not engraved, German silver and the escutcheon plate under the forearm embraces the screw that attaches the forearm to the barrel. The forearm nose is fluted. The barrel is full octagon, and its caliber is .400.
The markings are to be found identically on the lock and the barrel in two lines with one hand stamp marked as follows:
Fr. J. Bitterlick
Nashville, Tenn.
Franz J. Bitterlick was born July 16, 1829 and died July 12, 1880 at 51 years and 6 days old. His daughter Ann Elizabeth married Charles Evers and their descendents and great grandchildren are living in Nashville today, 1971.
Joseph Legler was born October 21, 1837 and died June 15, 1931 at the age of 93 years and 8 months. His descendents by the name of Legler still live in Nashville today.