In the National Firearms Museum, donations sometimes arrive unexpectedly.

A gift from the Stanley Kellert Trust of Arizona arrived in several boxes one morning and provided staff with the opportunity to unpack true treasure.

This donation provided an incredible group of London-marked Colt derringers, representing all of the many factory variations in finish, casing and grip materials offered.

The collection included the following items:

• Colt New Line .22 revolver SN 2668 engraved with mother-of-pearl grips and gold washed 
• Colt Third Model .41 derringer SN 12413 with ivory grips
• Colt Third Model .41 derringer, SN 7973 with ivory grips, silver-plated and engraved
• Colt Third Model .41 derringer, SN 48164 with ivory grips, silver-plated and engraved
• Colt Third Model .41 derringer, SN 16571 with ivory grips, nickle-plated
• Cased Colt New Line .22 revolver, SN 19933 with mother-of-pearl grips
• Cased pair of Colt Third Model .41 derringers, SN 7059E/7052E with British proofing
• Cased pair of Colt 2nd Model .41 derringers, SN 5476/8160 with British proofing
• Cased pair of Colt Third Model .41 derringers, SN 4915/5043 with checkered ivory grips, silver wash and engraving
• Cased pair of Colt Third Model .41 derringers, SN 17517/44937 with ivory grips, silver wash and engraving
• Cased pair of Colt Third Model .41 derringers, SN 14762/14800 with checkered mother-of-pearl grips, silver-plated and engraving
•  Cased pair of Colt First Model .41 derringers, SN 4289/1025 with British proofing

In short order, these materials were transferred onto the tables of the conservation laboratory and prepared for microcrystalline wax treatment. The eighteen Colt derringers given by the Kellert Trust were added to case 43 as a group, helping better represent the role of the derringer in the American West.