A cased 54 bore English transitional revolver owned by Major Henry Williams 3rd Battalion the Staffordshire Rifles.
£2950 SALE £2000
A cased 54 bore English transitional revolver owned by Major Henry Williams 3rd Battalion the Staffordshire Rifles. Scroll engraved double action top hammer lock with finely chequered walnut grips, the butt cap with engraved cover to trap for storage of caps etc, and scroll engraved trigger guard. Birmingham proofed six shot cylinder. Blued octagonal barrel cut with multi groove rifling has scroll engraving to the top flat with Victorian Birmingham proof marks to the under side. Contained in its original green baize lined case c/w a Sykes small pistol flask, combined bullet mould and rammer, nipple key, turn screw, key for case and a tin of original Eley Brothers caps. The case roundel engraved HENy WILLAIMS, BIRMINGHAM ROAD, WEST BROMWICH. The 1871 census confirms that Henry Williams who served as a major in the 3rd battalion of the Staffordshire rifles lived at Rockingham Hall in Birmingham road, West Bromwich at that time and was then also serving as a justice of the peace. Developed from the pepper box revolvers with a short cylinder and separate rifled barrel the transitional revolvers were briefly popular in England until the development of the true revolver by Colt in the US and the likes of Adam’s and Beaumont in the UK. In very good condition with good bore and mechanics with fine grips and a nice set of accessories in a good case with provenance to a serving officer of the Stafford’s who no doubt carried the revolver in his early career.
