| Adams was an established gun maker in England and was Sam Colt's principal rival. In 1851, Adams had patented a solid frame self cocking revolver. It was a controversial design as it could be fired only by a direct pull on the trigger, in contrast with the Colt which needed to be cocked first before firing. The Adams was quicker to fire than the Colt but it was impossible to take deliberately aimed shots. The Beaumont-Adams is a later model based on a patent by Beaumont for a dual action locking mechanism which permitted single action cocking for aimed shots and also double action single trigger pull firing. It was adopted by the British Army in 1855. The gun shown is of 'exhibition quality' and is lavishly hand engraved. It represents the height of the domestic gun making industry in the mid-nineteenth century |
| The example shown is a London made Colt Pocket revolver, model of 1849. 31 calibre, in an English style oak case, with powder flask, bullet mould and cap tin. In order to break into the British market, Colt established a manufactory in London at Milbank. Most Colt models were manuafactured there for a period of about three years. Most of the workforce was British, their supervisors having been brought over from Colt's factory in Hartford Conn. The quality of workmanship of the London Colts very often exceeded that of the US made pistols. The British market demanded a higher standard of finish and presentation that was required in the US. |
| After the Adams and Deane partnership dissolved amidst some acrimony, Deane & Son formed a partnership with Harding to produce the Deane Harding revolver. This was a late percussion weapon and many were subsequently converted to cartridge firing. The Harding revolver had an intricate lock which was so constructed that failure of the trigger spring would cause the revolver to become completely inoperable. Lord Roberts dismiised it with the remark that 'it could always be counted on to become out of order at a critical moment'. It's a fairly rare revolver nowadays. This example is an engraved presentation model, owned by an officer of the Royal Lancashire Militia. The case is dated September 1859. |
| Tranter was a noted Birmingham based gunmaker active in the mid nineteenth century. He made Adams revolvers under licence from Adams but also manufactured his own line of distinctive pistols. The pistol shown here is a 120 bore fourth model Tranter, retailed by Truelock & Harris of Dawson Street, Dublin. |
| The Tranter revolver shown here a 54 bore fourth model Tranter. The gun has virtually all of its original charcoal blue finish. The powder flask is unused and is supplied with an unused japanned tin of lubricating compound. This gun has never been fired since proving. |
| The Navy Colt dates from 1851. It is arguably the most elegant of Colt's revolvers. It was manuafactured until the late 1870s and the last gun shipped from the factory was in the 1890s. There are more variations of the 51 Navy than just about any other Colt revolver. At serial number 38385, the example shown is a very early Hartford London model, circa 1856. This model dates from the period after Colt wound up his UK operation but still wanted to serve the British market directly. The Hartford Londons were made in Hartford, as the name suggests, but were stamped 'Col Colt London' and nearly all examples show London or Birmingham proof marks. They were made to the British style of finish and sold, when cased, in a fine oak case, such as the pistol pictured. This revolver is unusual in that it does not have British proof marks. The case appears to be original to the revolver so it is interesting to speculate how it may have escaped proofing. |
| The Webley 80 bore percussion revolver shown is quite unusual in that it features a solid frame and not the usual wedge frame that one sees on Webley type arms that came out of Birmingham in the 1850s. The wedge frame was a device to circumvent Adam's patent solid frame, machined from a single lump of iron. Only a few solid frame Webleys were made towards the end of the percussion period. It's difficult to see why Webley would have adopted the solid frame as it meant paying a royalty to Adams for every gun sold. The wedge frames sold well enough to it's difficult to see the commercial reasoning behind his decision. |
| Tranter started manufacturing breech loading cartridge weapons in the mid 1860s. This was probably done in direct infraction of the Rollin White patent which protected Smith and Wesson's early cartridge pistols in the United States. However, S&W had more work that it knew what to do with in the 1860s, so probably thought it commercially not worthwhile to enforce its patent in the UK. Given the vigour with which S&W pursued patent violators in the US, it could not have been shyness that stopped it! The pistol shown is a 7 shot 33 rimfire revolver. The case is old, fits the gun perfectly and is stamped with the label of a ironmongery in Londonderry. It may be original to the gun but I am not sure. |
| This is a later model Tranter cartidge revolver, again chambered from 32 rimfire. The original cleaning rod and ejector is still with the pistol and can protruding from the butt. |
| This is a third model Tranter, with double trigger, in 80 bore. It is in unfired, untouched condition and has virtually 100% of its original finish remaining. It is extremely rare to encounter thrid model Tranters in this condition. There is one in similar condition in Samuel Colt's private arms collection, which now resides in the Connecticut State Library. |
| A very rare set of 120 bore Deane Harding percussion revolvers. The guns are consecutively numbered and both are in fine condition. One has about 95% of its original finish remaining and the other about 85%. Usually Deane Hardings are found retailed by Deane & Son. These are uncommon as they were retailed by Edward Whistler of The Strand. Both guns are also engraved with Whister's address. The Deane Harding design was widely regarded as inferior so not many other retailers chose to stock them so this particular set is quite uncommon. |
| This gun is British proved and was sold through Colt's London agency in 1867. It has 100% of its original Colt blueing on the barrel, triggerguard and grip strap. All of the vivid colour hardening is still visible. The finish has mostly gone from the cylinder but this is not unusual as only a couple of dunkings in cold water to clean the cylinder would cause the finish to come off. The serial number is stamped 'L' to indicate that it was intended for the British market. The chequered grips are a special item order and are original to the gun. This gun used to be in the collection of the late head of Interpol in France. |
| This is an unembelished 120 bore Beaumont Adams revolver. It retains all of its original Kingfisher blue except for the trigger guard, which has gone plum brown. |
