Select Category
Typically Germanic with its integral patch or ball box this interesting little carbine has a 16 mm bore octagonal that is only 12" long giving an overall length of 27.5". The carbine features an optimistic leaf sight ( extant) and adjustable foresight. Extremely well made these Jager rifles were built to last in the most rugged of conditions. A handy little carbine that may well have been used for coaching duties also. An interesting firearm of quality.
Code: 50658
2250.00 GBP
This good Queen Anne style brass barrelled flintlock pistol is typical of the type that would be carried by travellers and mail men who expected their firearms to be exposed to weather. The pistol is stamped "Ketland & Co" on the left hand side of the lock and "London" on the right hand side with some floriate engraving. Ketland & Co was a firm of prolific gunmakers and had a workshop at Canon street, London circa 1785-1790. The pistol has a flat sided walnut butt. barrel and London proof mark to the underside of the frame. Oval silver escutcheon inlaid to the rear of the grip with the initials "JP" The screw off 28 bore barrel is 5.5" long and a little longer than those usually encountered. Overall in good condition and interesting to find the escutcheon with the original owners initials. An interesting piece.
Code: 50657
1400.00 GBP
This 120 bore "Pepper Box" revolver is in excellent condition with good timing and strong action. Each of the 2.5" barrels is proof marked and the revolver is graced with foliate engraving on the frame, trigger guard, hammer and butt. The hammer is neatly finished with an escalloped head. Thomas Conway was an English Gunsmith with premises in Manchester at 179 Chapel Street, 3 Market Street & 43 Blackfriars Street, Deansgate between 1803-1852) This revolver was manufactured circa 1845 slightly predating Colt's emergence in the UK market with his new patented revolver. The revolver is contained in a refinished Victorian Case with a contemporary powder flask, powder measure and cleaning rod. The quality of workmanship of this revolver is excellent and an interesting artefact of a transitional period in English gun making.
Code: 50656
2400.00 GBP
This magnificent 54 Bore 4th model Tranter revolver has possibly never been fired. Its condition is outstanding and it is one of the best examples I have seen. The original vibrant fire blue is still extant on the safety catch and Arbor release as is the overall finish elsewhere. Other than a slight loss through rubbing on one edge of the barrel from where it has laid for 163 years, it is a 95%+ gun. The rubbing could be easily addressed but I prefer to leave history as it stands. The photographs do not do the revolver justice and it looks better in the hand. The mechanism of the revolver is perfect, it cocks and locks as it should and locks and rotates on the half cock for loading. Tranter’s famous “patent oval” is present on the frame and rammer and the gun has Birmingham proof marks as it should. The top strap is vacant of any retail address so it was probably sold direct from the factory to the first owner or sent to a retailer who decided against engraving it with their name, quite unusual as the Victorians were rather good at self-promotion and what better place to advertise your business than on the barrel of one of the most innovative and expensive firearms of the time? The checkering of the grips is sharp and I almost used the word best left to eaters of potato snacks when I describe them but that is an overused superlative in this business. This is an early model based on Tranter’s 1856 patent and would have been manufactured at the earliest 1858 and probably no later than early 1860. We can deduce this from a number of items the most obvious being the “safety hook” feature. This safety locates a pin into a machined hole in the nipple dividing walls and was replaced with a less expensive sliding latch. The other feature is the “S” shaped spring holding the Arbor release button. Of general interest to collectors is that this revolver launched the generic term used ever since for “double action” revolvers, a phrase invented by William Tranter. In his 1856 patent, one of his claims is that he has invented a “three single trigger, double action revolver lock mechanism”. From 1858 Tranters advertisements and his loading sheet highlight the words “double action” in capital letters. The case is fitted with all of the original accessories as issued and their condition is contemporary to the revolver. The bullet tin, lubricating tin, cap tin and powder flasks are vacant. Other accessories include the mould, jag and turnscrews, a most complete set. A wonderful piece of investment quality history and deserving of a prominent place in any revolver collection.
Code: 50653
SOLD
The world record for a Colt revolver was made in April 2018 by Rock Island Auctions and was for a Colt Walker, the only one known to survive in a case. The price was a staggering $1.84 million! A “cheaper” one subsequently sold for $340,000. In their excellent book on Colt Brevet Revolvers by Roy Marcot and Ron Paxton they state that “in their multi-year study on Colt Brevet revolvers only three copies of Colt Walkers were found”. I’m not one to disagree with the experts but having been in this business for 40 years I believe I have seen six of these and of course three might have been the ones referred to in the book. Clearly these are rare. For the Colt Collector a Walker is the pinnacle of any collection but for mere mortals the aspiration to own a Walker is beyond us and merely a dream. The 1847 Colt Walker was the largest black powder repeating handgun ever made at that time, but contrary to popular belief in the United States, it was not the most powerful, as some Austrian and British revolvers of the 1850s based on the Adams-Beaumont design were even more powerful because of their large calibres. The Colt Walker was created in the mid-1840s in a collaboration between Texas Ranger Captain Samuel Hamilton Walker (1817–1847) and American firearms inventor Samuel Colt (1814–62), building upon the earlier Colt Paterson design. Walker wanted a handgun that was extremely powerful at close range. Samuel Walker carried two of his namesake revolvers in the Mexican–American War. He was killed in battle the same year his famous handgun was invented, 1847, shortly after he had received them. Only 1,100 of these guns were originally made, 1,000 as part of a military contract and an additional 100 for the civilian market, making original Colt Walker revolvers extremely rare and expensive to acquire. The metal of the Walkers was prone to flaws and it is reported that at least 30% failed because of overloading and cylinders blowing up. Some of this was put down to troops inexperience with the new invention but as a consequence the revolver did not have the best of reputations and the design evolved into the Dragoon. I suspect that a small batch was later ordered in Belgium as there was a requirement for a strong powerful revolver that surpassed the smaller Colt and Remington’s in .44 calibre with shorter cylinders. These revolvers were extremely well made as indeed were most Belgium guns and the Belgium proof house standards were greater than the British Proof House. Much of the components of the English gun trade including Tranter, Adams and Webley were made in Belgium. The metal was superior and quality excellent. This example is, to all intents and purposes, indistinguishable from a Colt Walker with the exception that it was not made by Colt and is not stamped Colt. Everything else is identical even down to weight. The revolver has a serial number stamped in several places including the wedge although it was clearly stamped to intimate that the manufacturer had made hundreds of them which of course from history we know this was not the case. The rifling in the bore is identical to the Colt Walker rifling, and is significantly different from the fast twist rifling of modern reproductions designed for present day shooters. The bore is difficult to photograph but it is clean with deep rifling extant. Mechanically the revolver locks tight on full cock and the half cock works flawlessly. The revolver is stamped US 1847 above the key as the original and the overall finish is excellent as can be seen. The revolver is contained in an older case that clearly was made for it and the case contains and original tin of percussion caps and a reproduction Walker powder flask. Were this a “real” Walker the serial number of 988 would place it as being manufactured during the first year of manufacture. The revolver is superbly made but has no proof marks and the romantic in me says what if……… An interesting contemporary example of an iconic gun and a superb addition to any advanced Colt collection. Seldom seen and I doubt if I will sell another one.
Code: 50633
This is a very good Winchester model 1892 in 44/40 calibre. The Winchester Model 1892 was a lever-action repeating rifle designed by John Browning as a smaller, lighter version of his large-frame Model 1886, and which replaced the Model 1873 as the company's lever-action for pistol-calibre rounds such as the .44-40 When asked by Winchester to design an improved lever action to compete with a recent Marlin offering, John Browning said he would have the prototype completed in under a month or it would be free. Within 2 weeks, Browning had a functioning prototype of the 92. for the rifle vary and some are custom-chambered. The original rounds were the .32-20, .38-40, and .44-40 Winchester centrefire rounds, followed in 1895 by the new .25-20 This particular rifle has a 26” barrel , good mechanics and excellent bore, ideal for the Cowboy shooter who would prefer a lighter rifle than a large frame Winchester. This rifle was recently proofed but given the venerable age of the rifle I elected to black powder proof which will be fine for Cowboy loads. The serial number reveals that the rifle was manufactured in 1894. The original finish has faded but to an even attractive tone and there is no pitting to the barrel either externally or internally. The walnut stock is very good with no notable defects. A decent and historical rifle that covers practical shooting and an iconic investment. This is a Section 1 firearm and will require a Firearms Certificate to purchase. I will store at no charge for variations to be applied for.
Code: 50592
This is a very good example of a cased Beaumont Adams 54 bore (.442” calibre) revolver manufactured in circa 1855. The revolver was retailed by C G Edwards of 2 George Street Plymouth as evidenced by the engraved address on the top of the frame although the case contains an Adams label. The firm traded from this address until 1925 moving to 1 Frankfort Lane when it closed in about 1934. From 1885 to 1903 the firm traded as C G Edwards and Son. That such an advanced revolver was retailed in Plymouth is not a surprise as Plymouth is home to Devonport Naval base that has been supplied from Plymouth since the 17th Century. A Beaumont Adams revolver was supplied with 1500 balls and charges to HMS Excellent the Navy gunnery school in 1855 for testing and shortly afterwards the Government ordered 300 revolvers from Adams. At this time officers were often expected to supply their own sidearm and the Beaumont Adams was the choice of the British Army. On 20th February 1856 Lieutenant Frederick E B Beaumont of the Royal Engineers was granted a British patent for improvements to the Adams revolver which allowed them to be cocked and fired either by manually cocking the hammer as in single actions revolvers such as the Colt or just by pulling the trigger. Beaumont was granted a US patent in June 1856. This revolver revolutionised the revolver as it allowed a greater rate of fire and incorporated many other innovations including Kerr’s patent rammer, an improved frame with integral barrel, a safety catch to lock the cylinder, a rebounding hammer safety and of course at .442 calibre was larger than the .36” calibre Colt revolver. The speed of the Adams trigger cocking action for close quarters fighting together with the larger calibre spelt the death knell for Colt who had set up a factory in London to compete with British manufacturers. The emergence of this vastly superior weapon together with the fact that Colt had been discovered clandestinely supplying weapons to the Russian enemy forced the closure of the Colt London factory soon afterwards. This example features a good action and bore, much original finish and the side safety extant which sometimes is missing. There is much original finish remaining and a full compliment of accessories including a powder flask, mould, tools and key for the military style case which features a vacant brass round escutcheon on the lid. The frame is engraved Adams Patent No 40649 and this number is matched on the 5 shot cylinder. This is not the patent number but the serial number of the revolver. Overall a very decent example of a cased Crimean War era Beaumont Adams 54 bore revolver.
Code: 50649
4250.00 GBP
Single-shot rifles were manufactured in a multitude of designs by a host of makers including Ballard, Maynard, Remington, Sharps, Winchester and Stevens. The most prolific manufacturer of single-shot pistols, rifles and shotguns was Stevens. This is a beautiful Stevens Model 44 rifle in 25-20 centrefire obsolete calibre British Nitro Proofed. The rifle is about as good as you will find and is complete with the original Stevens Scope and mounts and the correct period Lyman Tang sight. The rifle has a very good bore and solid action and the extractor is extant. The original Stevens Bakelite butt plate has also survived and is in remarkable condition. The rifle evidences much original finish including case hardening on the receiver. There is one small sliver of wood missing from the end of the left-hand side of the forend but this is not easy to see unless you look for it and could be simply repaired if you had the time and inclination to do so. J. Stevens and Company was founded at Chicopee Falls, Massachusetts in 1864, Joshua Stevens being the senior partner with W.B. Fay and James Taylor providing financial backing. The company began to produce vest and pocket pistols based on Stevens’ patent of September 6, 1864 as well as a line of precision machine tools. In 1886 the firm was dissolved and the J. Stevens Arms & Tool Company incorporated. Stevens sold his shares in 1896 at which time he ceased to be associated with the company. By 1902 it was promoting itself as the largest producer of sporting arms in the world, a claim that is difficult to disagree with. In 1916 it was reorganised and renamed the J. Stevens Arms Company. In 1920 the Savage Arms Corporation bought the entire stock and the two merged. The J. Stevens Arms Company operated as a Savage subsidiary finally being integrated in 1920. Though never as popular or as highly regarded as the Winchester, Remington or Ballard single-shot rifles, the Stevens Ideal Rifle No. 44 endured and it’s a matter of historical fact they were still being made long after their better named and higher priced competitors such as Ballard ceased trading. In the 1903 catalogue Stevens’ advertising described the Ideal 44 as “manufactured to meet the demand for a reliable and accurate rifle at a moderate price . . . no better or stronger shooting arm can be made for the same cartridges. It is recommended without qualification and fully guaranteed.” If quantity of arms sold proved reliability and reputation then undoubtedly Stevens were ahead of its collective peers in every respect. Good quality US Stevens single shot rifles are becoming scarce and increasing in value as the US market recognises their quality and the scarcity of decent examples. These rifles were “work horses” and not purchased for show so although there are reasonable numbers of good quality functional rifles in the market, it is difficult to find such an example and certainly not with an original scope.
Code: 50648
This is a very good Winchester Model 1885 “High Wall” single shot rifle in obsolete 32-40 calibre. This rifle was manufactured in 1888 as evidenced by its serial number and an original tang sight is attached to the tang. The rifle operates flawlessly and has a 29” barrel with a good bore and I am told is very accurate. It was previously held on a firearms certificate but I am selling this as a collectible rifle and it has been removed from the previous owner’s certificate and reclassified as an antique. The rifle is stamped with the patent date of October 7th 1879 on the bottom tang, and with the two-line Winchester Repeating Arms address on the top flat of the barrel. The extractor is extant and there are no major flaws or blemishes. In 1883, Thomas G. Bennett, Vice-President and General Manager of the Winchester Repeating Arms Company, travelled to Ogden and negotiated the purchase of the single-shot design, as well as the prototype of what would become the Model 1886 lever-action – the beginning of the fruitful 20-year Winchester–Browning collaboration. Winchester's engineers made some improvements to Browning's design, including angling the block at six degrees to create a positive breech seal, and released the rifle as the Model 1885. Two popular models were made, the so-called Low Wall which showed an exposed hammer, firing less powerful cartridges, and the so-called High Wall for stronger cartridges whose steel frame covered most of the firing hammer when viewed from the side; but both were officially marketed by Winchester as the Single Shot Rifle. It was produced principally to satisfy the demands of the growing sport of long-range "Match Shooting", which opened at Creedmoor, New York, on June 21, 1872. Target/Match shooting was extremely popular in the US from about 1871 until about 1917, enjoying a status similar to golf today. From John Campbell’s excellent book on the history and analysis of Winchester single shot rifles it is clear that this was a popular variation. Winchester High-Walls were always in demand for a variety of uses including hunting and target shooting and can be found in a variety of barrel lengths and calibres. This is a decent example of a very popular rifle. An excellent manufacturer and an investment quality iconic firearm requiring no license to own. An international antique and there aren’t going to be any more!
Code: 50647
3600.00 GBP
This is an excellent example of a Manhattan Mk V percussion revolver in 36 calibre. The Mk V is easy to identify as it has a two-line New Jersey Address on the top rib and was modified from 5 to 6 shots, quite a logical thing to do but this only happened in the last series. What is remarkable is that they were able to use the original cylinder tooling so the diameter of the cylinder and the roll forming impressions are the same as that of the 5 shot cylinder and they are always found with the cylinder stamped with the 1859 patent date. The Manhattan Arms Company revolvers were ostensibly copying of Colt revolvers but with improvements. The Manhattan revolvers featured a positive lug safety stop that engaged the hammer between cylinders unlike the Colt safety pins that could slip or wear. Manhattan Firearms produced percussion revolvers until the late 1860’s and it is apparent that they attempted to find a market for their .36 calibre revolvers in England and several of them have appeared with London proof marks as indeed are exhibited on this example. The revolver has evidently been properly maintained and has a good bore and locks and cocks on half and full cock as it should do. This revolver was previously held on a firearms certificate but was removed from the certificate to allow its sale as an antique. Manhattan revolvers are rapidly gaining recognition and values are accelerating. A lovely example for any collection that would be difficult to better. The Manhattan Fire Arms Manufacturing Co. was founded by a group of New Jersey businessmen in 1856. Their goal was to take advantage of Colt's patent for revolving firearms that was due to expire in 1857. The founders hired Thomas Bacon to become the Superintendent of Manufacturing. Manufacturing began in Norwich, Connecticut and in 1859 moved to Newark, New Jersey. Thomas Bacon remained in Norwich and started his own firearms company. During their existence, Manhattan Firearms produced approximately 175,000 pistols. Only Colt, Remington, and Winchester produced more guns during this era in which included the Civil War. While waiting for Colt's patent to expire, Manhattan first made copies of American firearms that no longer had patent protection. These included pepper boxes and various single-shot designs. Shortly thereafter, they turned their attention to making Colt-style revolvers in both the .31 calibre Pocket and .36 calibre Navy styles. Manhattan patented an extra set of cylinder safety notches on these models. Manhattan’s can be easily identified by the many notches on their cylinders as demonstrated by this example. After the Civil War, Manhattan production primarily consisted of a copy of the Smith & Wesson .22 calibre cartridge revolver and a single-shot boot pistol under the name "HERO". Manhattan changed its name in 1868 to American Standard Tool Company and began to market industrial tools as well as firearms. American Standard Tool closed during the financial panic of 1873.Manhattan Firearms also manufactured guns under the trade names "Hero”, “London Pistol Company", and "American Standard Tool". To learn about Manhattan Firearms read the book by Waldo E Nutter (Who wouldn't buy a book by an author named Waldo Nutter!)
Code: 50646
website designed and maintained by Concept500
