Chapter C: Suter

#274 Little is known about this maker, Suter. No guns made by Henry Deringer with Suter’s name on the barrel are known.

This particular piece is a small size and has characteristics of styling that make it desirable. It is German silver mounted throughout with a pineapple finial on the trigger plate. There is no screw through the trigger plate holding the barrel in position. The wedge and the tang screw are the only attachments to the barrel. No provision for ramrod. Round barrel has rib at top flat. The front sight is German silver dovetailed and the rear of the barrel has two gold bands which enhances its value. The condition of the gun is extra nice with real sharp original checkering. The extra thin barrel at the muzzle is caliber .42.

The barrel is marked on the right hand side below the top flat “steel.” The top flat of the barrel is marked in two lines with two different hand stamps as follows:

C. Suter,
Selma, Ala.

C. SUTER

#4 This is a photograph of a genuine Wurfflein Deringer made in Philadelphia. The sideplate of German silver is absolutely identical to those of most Suter Deringers. This will leave some room for thought that Suter Deringers are made by Wurfflein. Notice there is some similarity in the shape and contour of this Suter #274 and the illustrated Wurfflein. Both of these guns are often but not always marked with the word “steel” on the right hand barrel flat immediately below the top flat but always with different size stamps.

C. Suter,
Selma, Ala.

C. SUTER

#264 I have seen Suter derringers in many sizes and this is about as large as they come. Although the barrel is slightly over 4”, other derringer makers made them even longer. The stock is German silver mounted and has provision for a ramrod. The buttcap is a German silver rosette held in place by a steel wood screw. Typical derringer German silver trigger guard with pineapple finial. Suter was good at copying Henry Deringer’s trigger guard. Two gold bands are at the breech of the barrel and the front sight is completely made of German silver that is dovetailed into the flat. Barrel is round with a rib at the top. Caliber is .410.

All markings of Suter guns that I have seen appear to be marked with the same two hand stamps with the name and the town in different stamps. This specimen is marked in one line with two different stamps as follows:

C. Suter, Selma, Ala.