A while back, my friend Kikilee told me:

"Here's the deal. I have a new in the box, 30 year old (warranty card dated 1978), .45 cal, Philadelphia Derringer kit. This is one of those CVA build it yourself jobs. It even comes with 100 .45 cal lead balls.

I will send this to you absolutely free, but, here is the catch, (you knew there was a catch) you must build it and after it is complete you have to take it out and touch this bad boy off! Fire for effect...

Of course the build and the range trip must be fully documented, in your usual manner, for our enjoyment (picture heavy). Are you up for it? If you are just IM me a mailing address and I will send it out."

How could I pass up on a deal like that? So, I sent him the address and he sent me the kit.

Here it is.

It was just like the day it was shipped in 1978.

As a matter of fact, I bought one of these kits that was a Kentucky Pistol back around 1970 and built it then.

It would be fun to see if I could do a better job on this one.

I looked on their site and it appears that CVA no longer makes or sells these kits. That meant "no spare parts".

Better not mess anything up. We did find some on Dixie Gun Works site, but they now list for over $140.00.

With Tman's help, we unpacked it and looked it over.

The parts "kind of" fit into the inletting, but not quite.

It would take a little final fitting.

To find out where it was rubbing, I smoked the parts with a candle and then pressed them into the stock.

The resulting black marks are where it is rubbing and you simply remove a little wood in that area.

Smoke and fit and remove a little wood. Smoke and fit and remove a little wood.

You get the idea.