Back in September 1992 (Oh my gawd - that's 32 years ago) I imported from Waco Texas an unusual gun .. it was a made to order American Derringer Corporation M-1 Stainless steel two shot 'Derringer' in 10mm Auto caliber.
As a certified FIT & PROPER PERSON I could own this gun here in New Zealand on my 'C' Category endorsed Firearms Licence .. but I was not permitted by Police regulation to shoot it.
It is a strange situation here whereby our "authorities" forbid even licensed citizens from using their own property - while issuing semi-auto 9mm pistols and MSSA "assault rifles" to UNLICENSED POLICE to use as weapons whenever they feel justified. - Police are required to have a NZ Driving Licence to drive patrol vehicles but are not required to have a NZ Firearms Licence to shoot guns.
Equally as strange - the NZ Police management hierarchy now forbid sworn police officers from joining a Pistol Club to obtain their Endorsed Firearms Licence. I used to have a very decent Senior Detective Sergeant as a Pistol Club shooting Mate before the Big C got him.
NZ Police used also "encourage" sworn officers to obtain their Firearms Licence .. ..
Whatever .. This American designed & made derringer was finely built and I enjoyed custody of it for some years before passing it on at an auction to , I believe, a lady owner.
I chose the Derringer to partner with my Glock G20 semi-auto pistol and a S&W M-610 revolver also chambered in 10mm Auto - both guns I shot competatively and used in firearms Induction-Training Courses at the Garden City Pistol Club indoor range.
The Texan makers of these derringers seemed to fade from the U S marketing scene - and I often wondered what had happened .. until I found a recently published story about these pistols and their maker:
https://smallarmsreview.com/heirloom-quality-backup-the-american-derringer-corporation-model-1/
The sad history is that the brilliant founder and designer of these all-american pocket pistols - Robert Saunders - developed Pancreatic Cancer and died the year following my purchase, in 1993 leaving his widow Elizabeth to decide how to carry-on.
Elizabeth Saunders knew that she was not going to let her husbands dream end there - so she went back to school and qualified with an engineering degree and determined to continue to produce these hand made beauties - albeit on a reduced scale - together with newly qualified engineer & Vietnam Veteran John Price - having let-go other employees over work issues. Link to their website ..
These are a range of high quality low volume niche weapons that deserve support from all shooters.
Please take a look at their site and consider if there could be room for one of these beautiful unique tools in your life.
Marty K.
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