The identical markings are to be found on both the barrel and the lock and two different hand stamps are used as follows:
Fr. J. Bitterlick & Legler
Nashville, Tenn.
STEPHEN O’DELL
#222 O’Dell guns are often times easily recognized by their characteristic European influence. The grips are a little different in this shape gun in that they are the flat bag type instead of a rounded bag type which is more of an English style than American. The round faced hammer does not follow the characteristics of Southern derringers. All furniture is of German silver and of the highest quality casting and are fully engraved with English line scroll engraving. The trigger plate has a pineapple finial and through the trigger plate is the typical Southern style screw that attaches the forearm to the barrel along with the barrel being held in place by a wedge.
I need to mention that there are several known Henry Deringer made guns that are marked in one line on the barrel and with a hand stamp “S. O’Dell.” In this specimen that we present here that is marked on the lock plate, the name is hand engraved in and is not stamped.
This ornate specimen has five gold and silver bands at the breech. The barrel is rounded with a rib flat on top. The silver front sight is machined into place. The lockplate is filed down to fit the wood with more of a cross curve than Henry Deringer guns show. The caliber is unusually small, it being only .330.
This gun is marked on the lock only as follows:
S. O’Dell
O’Dell came from New York State probably in the late 1830’s or early 1840’s and according to newspaper accounts of that period was murdered in the early 1860’s at Natchez. Although his derringers had bag shaped grips and not bird head grips, I am classifying them as a derringer rather than a pocket pistol. Halfstock rifles with his name are known.