While traveling, I bought a magazine: GUNS of the Old West. Winter 2012. On page 32, they are into an article by Denis Prisbrey about the 1874 Sharps reproduction by Pedersoli. Guess this repro. is modeled after the work of Henry Slotterbek.

Mr. Slotterbek immigrated to the U.S. at the approx. age of 10 years. Settled with family in Philadelphia. The article says, "In 1855 his skills landed a job working in Henry Deringer's establishment, apprenticed under his older brother, Charles Slotterbek, who ran Deringer's shop and paid Henry on a per piece basis". I'll paraphrase now. Shortly thereafter; Henry graduated to working directly for Mr. Deringer himself, on the famous pocket pistols Mr. Deringer was known for. In 1859, Henry left to set up his own shop. Evidently Mr. Deringer had taught him well in approx. 4 years. Henry was so grateful, that he started making pistols which he marked "Deringer" (instead of his own name). Because they sold better I suspect. It required Mr. Deringer to sue Henry to get him to stop the fraud of using Deringer's name. After that, Henry marked guns Slotter & Co. .... INCLUDING guns ... marked .... are you ready .... ? .... "J. Deringer". You see ... Henry had hired a man named John Deringer (who was a tailor in Philly) so that he could legally use the Deringer name. Seems like a real Prince.

People ask me, all the time, why I seem secretive about my work, and why I don't hire an apprentice.





Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/17/2012 06:30PM by barnespneumatic.

Hi Gary,

Interesting story. To bad the young Henry didn't make a name for himself rather than try to use someone elses. Sounded like he had the skills to do so.

I quess that rules out volunteering to come and sweep at your shop to? haha.

Thanks for the story....

Pedro

Hey, I thought you guys would have more fun with this one.

There's a kid in town who mows yards. Bobby Girandoni I think it is ... Haha. You think I should hire him to sweep up?

Gary,

"You think I should hire him to sweep up?"

I would test his loyalty by letting him do your roof work first.

Lon

Maybe you could put his name on a ball res gun and retire...

Or maybe he'd hire me to work in his yard business!

That's right. Then pain the ball on top of the flag pole. ;?)

Couple years of stuff like that before I let him see my shop broom. Gotta be careful, ya know.

wax on ,,, wax off.
one day it will all click into place , then what.