Slotter & Co. peanut percussion derringer with no serial number and in .46 calibre was manufactured in the U.S.A. circa 1860- 1870. It is marked “Slotter & Co. Phila” on the lock and breech. There is also a number 6 stamped on the back of the trigger-guard which according to Doug Eberhart the specialist on American deringers it denotes an A.J. Plate, San Francisco inventory number or other Californian agent. The gun measures just under five inches overall with a one and five eights of an inch barrel.
Henry Schlotterbeck who was born in Germany started his business of Slotter & Co. at 400 Lynd Street, Philadelphia and also 1528 Frankford Road in Philadelphia in 1860 a year after leaving the employment of the most famous makers of percussion derringers, Henry Deringer. The last listing for “Slotter & Co.” is in 1870. Henry Schlotterbeck was involved in a lawsuit with Henry Deringer where he was accused of counterfeiting Deringer’s pistols.