Firearms Int'l

kencocoa · Rookie Member Joined: Jul 28, 2013 Posts: 2

Good morning fellow fun seekers. I have a question maybe someone can shed some light on. I went to a gun action with a friend (FFL) recently and bought a little .22 derringer for a $100. It has Firearms Int'l Corp. Washington D.C. on one side and P11566 on the other. The top on one barrel says Cal .22 L.R. and the top of the other says Made in U.S.A. You might ask how the heck can you have two tops on barrels well the barelle rotate via a latch in front of the trigger. You fire one barrel, release the latch rotate the other barrel to fire it. It has a neat little plastic pearl grips. It's a cute little booger which is how it got a $100 bucks out of my pocket to come home with me. Anyone know anything about it?

Kenny

Bushmaster · Posted: Sun Jul 28, 2013 8:22 am Post subject: Re: Firearms Int'l

Got a photo?

Ominivision1 · Posted: Sun Jul 28, 2013 8:49 am Post subject: Re: Firearms Int'l

Welcome aboard kencocoa, firearms int'l corp DC was an importer and dealer of various firearms makers including selling FN rifles. They were taken over by Garcia Sporting Arms about 1970.

As Bushy says, photo would help.

eeyouelder · Member Joined: Jan 26, 2005 Posts: 123 Location: Quebec

Most probably:
Make: FIE
Maker: Firearms International Corporation (FIC)
Model: Panzer
Caliber: 22LR
Multiple barrels (2)
Barrels: 63mm long or 2 1/2 inches
Serial Number: P 11566

Suzanne · Posted: Sun Jul 28, 2013 9:15 am Post subject: Re: Firearms Int'l

Firearms International was an importer of guns from all over the world. They have been out of business for around 40-plus years. After the 1968 Gun Import act took effect there were a number of importers, FI and FIE among them, that were left up the creek with out a paddle. Their entire livelihood depended on importing inexpensive firearms from Europe. What to do? What to do? Well, what several of them did on a short term basis was to set up casting the receivers here in the states, and importing all the other parts. They would assemble the parts with unskilled labor in small shops and stamp them " Made in the USA ". Panzer derringers had the rotating barrels (German made) and I can't seem to find any details of the manufacturer.

Bushmaster · Posted: Sun Jul 28, 2013 10:47 am Post subject: Re: Firearms Int'l

F.I.E. Corp. Miami, FL Importer of the Titan Tiger. A .25 ACP pocket semi-auto and other sizes and calibers. Manufacturing (F. Tanfogilo of Italy) quality is good or better. I have one in front of me right now. Surprisingly accurate. I've had it for years and have not had any failures. You load it and shoot it. Makes a very nice pocket or boot pistol.

kencocoa · Rookie Member Joined: Jul 28, 2013 Posts: 2

Thanks for the info, eeyouelder's picture is right on to what mine looks like sans the Panzer stamp. It's been in the 80's here in St. Louis today so wife and I saddled up the scoot and took a nice motorcycle ride today. The little .22 fits perfectly in my Mustang tank pouch. I know, I know, a .22 derringer, get real, however I adhere to the old adage, "I'd rather be missed by a .45 than hit by a .22." Very Happy

Thanks for the interesting info.

Kenny

St. Louis

Bushmaster · Posted: Sun Jul 28, 2013 3:57 pm Post subject: Re: Firearms Int'l

Welcome to this fine site Kenny. Make sure you pull up a stump next to the fire and grab one of Vince's beers. We are not all in camp right now. Some of us are up a ladder 'cause Suz has a mean switch.

Post a photo of your "Skoot" and make Vince drool all over himself.

Suzanne · Posted: Sun Jul 28, 2013 4:17 pm Post subject: Re: Firearms Int'l

Bushy looks like your Italian gun is floating? picture musta been taken in that antique space ship of yours (judging by the knobs and dials). You oughta have that chromed, it'd look cool.

Ominivision1 · Posted: Mon Jul 29, 2013 4:30 pm Post subject: Re: Firearms Int'l

Suzanne wrote:

Bushy looks like your Italian gun is floating? picture musta been taken in that antique space ship of yours (judging by the knobs and dials).

Ouch, I think Bushy likes his music the analog way. Very Happy

And he ain't the only one who believes in tubes.

Bushmaster · Posted: Mon Jul 29, 2013 6:11 pm Post subject: Re: Firearms Int'l

Tubes? Naw...transisters and IC chips. Knobs, switches and dials.