Mossberg Brownie Deringer .22 LR 4-Barrel Derringer, MFD 1924-1932 C&R
Sold For: 1,050
LSB#: 200724JR01
Make: O.F. Mossberg & Sons
Model: Brownie
Serial Number: 30177
Year of Manufacture: 32,000 were made between 1919 and 1932, with the first production guns marked “PAT APPL’D FOR” from approximately 1919-1923 and the first patent marked guns incorrectly marked with “JAN” instead of “JULY”, putting this pistols manufacture date somewhere between 1924 and 1932.
Caliber: .22 Long Rifle
Action Type: 4-Shot, Double Action Only, Tip-Forward Barrel Derringer
Markings: The left side of the barrel set is marked “O.F. MOSSBERG & SONS / NEW HAVEN, CONN. U.S.A”, the right is marked “PAT. JULY 27, 1920”. The butt is marked “30177”. The bottom of the barrel latch and the right of the trigger guard lug are each marked “177”.
Barrel Length: 2 1/2”
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a rounded blade. The rear sight is a shallow groove on the barrel latch.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The two piece grips are two-piece vertically serrated wood panels. The grips have light handling wear with no chips or cracks. Overall, the grips are in about Very Good condition.
Type of Finish: Blue
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The bores are gray with well defined rifling. There is light erosion scattered through the bores.
Overall Condition: This derringer retains approximately 95% of its metal finish. There is some scattered minor surface oxidation, mostly on the right side. There are infrequent minor scuffs and scratches. The action shows operational wear. The screw heads are tool marked with strong slots. The markings are generally clear, the left-side barrel marking is stamped deeper on the top than the bottom. Overall, this pistol is in about Very Good-plus condition.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. The barrels lock up with no play. We did not fire this handgun. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards. Please note: Mossberg Brownie pistols were made with mild steel and may not be safe to fire with modern high-velocity ammunition. This handgun should be inspected by a competent gunsmith prior to firing with any ammunition.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: An extractor tab is stored between the frame and the sideplate/grip on the left side.
Our Assessment: The Brownie is not only Mossberg’s only pistol but the first firearm they every produced at their New Haven plant. It has four barrels in Double Action Only, featuring a tip-forward cluster and compact profile. This one was made sometime between 1924 and 1932, likely closer to the end of production with its late serial number. All of the serialized parts match and the action functions correctly, though given the mild steel used for production, this should be inspected by a qualified gunsmith prior to firing and likely should not be fired at all with high-velocity ammunition. This example is in just about as good condition as we have seen and comes with the easily-lost extractor tab. As the Mossberg Brownie has a significant place in the history of their company and there are a few different marking variations to collect, this late-production pistol is likely to appreciate in value as fewer and fewer of these derringers remain. Please see our photos and good luck!
CA Legal or CA Private Party Transferable (THIS SECTION DOES NOT APPLY TO OUT-OF-STATE RESIDENTS): This C&R Pistol CAN be sold as a dealer sale in California and CAN be transferred as a Private Party Transfer (PPT) as our Simi Valley location. All C&R firearms must be transferred through your local dealer OR at our Simi Valley location; we cannot ship directly to a C&R holder in California. Out of state residents can disregard this section – your local laws apply.
