Beautiful Original Silver Mounted Small Pocket Size Henry Deringer Circa 1850

This is an original Henry Deringer company small pocket size percussion pistol, about .41 caliber black powder percussion,  with a 2 ½ inch, seven groove, rifled barrel having a very fine dark bore with strong rifling.  The German silver round triggerguard finial details show this to be from circa 1848-1850 with the lockplate and barrel both marked “DERINGER / PHILADEL” with the “P” in starburst logo on the left barrel top facet and marked with “4” on grip side of the silver trigger guard.  The overall length of this tiny pocket pistol is just shy of 6 inches making this example among the smaller ones produced and not fitted for a ramrod.  In excellent condition the barrel retains about half of the original brown finish with the top faded to a very pleasing pewter-gray.  The side plate, hammer and nipple have muted to a very pleasing dark pewter from the original case hardening color.  The ornate silver furniture and embellishments have elegant engraved scroll work with very fine detail having a pleasing aged patina including the barrel inlay and front sight.  The bird's head walnut stock is near excellent with some flattening of the checkering and scattered tiny use marks.  Mechanically it functions properly cocking and firing with a crisp trigger pull.  An excellent, beautiful example of this iconic Philadelphia built Deringer made infamous by John Wilkes Booth who used a similar weapon to assassinate President Lincoln.  Antique