Historic Firearms and Early Militaria April 27, 2011 10:00 am edt
Jack Lewis - Historic Firearms and Early Militaria 513.871.1670 ext. 27 | firearms@cowans.com 6270 Este Avenue | Cincinnati, OH 45232 513.871.1670 | Fax 513.871.8670
Ames Naval Officers Sword 1841, engraved and and adorned by Bailey and company of Philadelphia.
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Volume One, Number One-2011
FEATURE ARTICLES Patents - Infringements and Circumventions By EditorialStaff A Tavern Tell By Larry Hannusch A Self-Loading Masterpiece By Mike Clark Loading the Thuer Cartridge By Dick Salzer FOUNDER Dick Salzer EDITOR Richard Overall Q & A EDITOR Mike Carrick (I have this gun…) BUSINESS MANAGER Beverly Thurman LAYOUT DESIGN Susan Zarate WEBSITE, SOFTWARE 30 Degrees North
REGULAR DEPARTMENTS Blowback “I have this gun….” Auction Report Tidbits Your Arms Library The Cartridge Hound Gun Shows Armsources Clubs, Contacts and Resources Research Assistance Request The Last Word EDITORIAL STAFF David Carroll Frank Graves Bob Berryman David Carter Roy Marcot Mike Clark Flem Rogers George S.Lewis, Jr. Danny Clark Wayne Warren John Sexton Andrew F. Lustyik
On the Cover - Colt’s impatience with waiting for the Rollin White patent to expire in1872 is evidenced by their manufacture of a conversion which would not only evade the restrictions imposed by that patent, but would utilize a reloadable centerfire cartridge. Using features inherent to the gun itself, it easily converts to a reloading tool. Cased sets such as this one contained everything necessary to its use and also retained the original percussion cylinder. These Thuer conversions were not particularly popular in their day but are a delight to today’s collectors. The ARMS HERITAGE MAGAZINE is published on-line bi-monthly at 703 Salerno Street, Sugar Land, Texas 77478 USA. ISSN 2159-4619 Telephone number 281-242-8450, website: www.armsheritagemagazine.com Subscriptions US $19 per year, domestic or foreign. Copyright 2011 by International Arms Heritage LLC. Notice: The one-click access feature allowing instant connection to advertisers and other websites is provided as a convenience to our readers. Any business transactions that may occur between parties as a result of that connection are totally the responsibility of the involved parties.
VOLCANIC .41 PISTOL SERIAL NUMBER 705 AND NEW HAVEN VOLCANIC .31 PISTOL SERIAL NUMBER 899 WITH A RARE CIVIL WAR MELAINOTYPE SHOWING A SERGEANT WITH HIS VOLCANIC PISTOL ALL CIRCA 1855-60
COLLECTING FINE AMERICAN FIREARMS FRANK GRAVES WALNUT GROVE, TEXAS FGRAVES@GVTC.COM 830-230-5220
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Patents – Circumventions
and
Infringements
Seventeen years is a long time to wait, especially when you’re watching the hottest arms market is history pass you by. That was the plight of almost all arms makers during the period 1855 through 1872 when competing gun manufacturers were enjoined by patent restrictions from producing the latest revolvers . How could they manage to capitalize on that fast escaping market? Here’s what happened and here’s what they did: In 1855 Rollin White was issued a U.S. patent (No. 12649) for an extremely complex and impractical pistol that had a cylinder that was automatically reloaded from a vertical magazine hung on the side. It was rife with levers, gears and numerous moving parts. Hardly noticeable among all of the gadgetry was a golden feature, the bored-through cylinder, allowing metallic cartridges to be inserted from the rear. While White may not have realized the significance of that isolated feature, another man did. On October 31, 1856, D.B.Wesson wrote: I notice in a patent granted to you under date of Apr. 3, 1855 one claim =viz= extending the chambers of the rotating cylinder right through the rear end of said cylinder so as to enable the said chambers to be charged from the rear end, either by hand or by means of a sliding charger operating substantially as described. Which I should like to make arrangements with you to use in the manufacture of firearms. My object in this letter is to enquire if such an arrangement could be made and if so, on what terms. By replying to the above at your earliest convenience you note conforming at favor. I am sir yours respectfully D.B.Wesson Those simple words set off a chain of events that would ensure Smith and Wesson’s success and frustrate the competition until 1872, bypassing the Civil War and well into westward expansion. The concept was simple and elegant. Rimfire cartridges, pioneered by Smith and Wesson, were the obvious perfect match for the concept. Initially only available in .22 caliber, soon .32 caliber rounds were produced and before the end of the Civil War, rimfire cartridges up to .56 caliber were widely available.
Figure 1-The Rollin White Patent drawings. Note that the bored through cylinder is only one of the features claimed.
A royalty agreement was made between S&W and White. Payment on a per gun basis should have made him a rich man but there was a sneaky little clause hidden in the agreement – White was required to defend any challenges to the patent. There were numerous such challenges because of infringements resulting, in disastrous legal expenses. Even though the courts ultimately found for White, he never recovered financially. (Even then, the lawyers came out on top).
So there you were, an arms manufacture, salivating at the possibilities, and watching S&W sop up all the gravy. What did you do? Figure 2-A late version of the frontloading .42 caliber Plant revolver
Different manufacturers took different approaches. Some played by the rules and developed arms that circumvented the Rollin White patent. Others ignored the patent protection afforded to S&W and just went ahead and produced handguns that infringed on the patent. As we will see, the circumventors produced a bizarre collection of designs that loaded cartridges from the front of the cylinder, often requiring specially designed cartridges. The infringers went merrily ahead and produced arms with bored-through cylinders. Some actually got away with their transgressions while others were subject to costly and humiliating lawsuits. Several firms, Brooklyn Arms, Moore and Pond hedged their bets and did both. Lets look first at those who played by the rules:
Figure 3-The smaller Eagle Arms version of the Plant along with its original box
Plant Manufacturing Company (New Haven, CT) and Eagle Manufacturing Company (New York City) manufactured similar design front-loading pistols using similar proprietary metallic cartridges. Cartridges were cylindrical with a cupped base whose rims contained fulminate, thus they could be loaded easily from the front of the cylinder. (see The Cartridge Hound Department, this issue for details) Connecticut Arms Company (Norfolk, CT) manufactured a graceful pocket pistol using the same “cup fire� cartridges as did the Plant and Eagle arms
Figure 4-Connecticut Arms front loader, the integral hinged lever enables the fired cartridge to be extracted
Figure 5-Brooklyn Arms Slocum Patent revolver
Brooklyn Arms Company ( Brooklyn, NY) produced one of the most complex pistols in which sliding chambers moved forward to admit standard .32 caliber rimfire cartridges into the rear of the chambers, thus barely avoiding the patent restrictions of the White patent. A similar, infringing version was also produced.
Figure 6-The slide-forward chambers on the cylinder allow the cartridge to be inserted, technically avoiding conflict with the White patent.
Moore’s Patent Firearms Company (Brooklyn, NY) and National Arms Company (Brooklyn, NY) produced one of the simplest complying pistols, a compact spur trigger revolver utilizing a unique .32 caliber “teat fire” cartridge, a slightly flared mouth and a projecting “teat” filled with fulminate, enabled this cartridge to be inserted from the front of the cylinder. National Arms also manufactured a .45 caliber version of the design. The .32 caliber version was quite successful, 30,000 having been made. Moore also produced a highly popular seven-shot rimfire pistol that found great favor with Union troops. More than 5000 were made before the S&W patent litigation cut matter short. See the following section. Lucius Pond hit the market with a design that rivaled the Slocum in complexity and concept. Separate chamber liners were slid forward from the front of the cylinder, enabling .32 caliber rimfire cartridges to be loaded. The chamber liners were then returned to Figure 7-Two versions of the Moore Teatposition. An angled “arm” prevented the chambers from being lost Fire revolver, the wood handled pin was during this action. Pond also produced an infringing design as described and pictured in the following section
Figure 8-The Pond revolver
provided as an ejector for fired cartridges. The lower specimen has a built-in extractor.
Colt Patent Firearms Company – Colt had too much to lose by infringing on S&W’s patent. They made a single stab at the circumvention market with the well-known Thuer Conversion of their percussion line. The system was complex but had a few advantages: ➢ The converting parts were a separate “kit” that could be removed allowing the gun to easily revert to percussion
Figure 9-The cylinder liner in the Pond slides forward, admitting a cartridge, much like the Slocum.
➢ It was, unlike other complying weapons, a full size military pistol ➢ The cartridges were reloadable using tools supplied with the gun In spite of the touted advantages, the system didn’t achieve popularity and much of the inventory was sold to foreign buyers.
Figure 10-Colt’s entry- The Thuer Patent conversion, using a frontloading, tapered, reloadable cartridge
Figure 11-The Thuer reloading device in place.
Now for the “bad boys” who unconscionably ignored and infringed on the White patent Bacon Manufacturing Company (Norwich, CT) manufactured numerous infringing pistols, most notable were those in .38 rimfire. Four distinct variations are known. Figure 12-Two of the four variations of the Bacon Navy .38 rimfire revolver.
Brooklyn Arms Company (Brooklyn, NY) manufacture a .32 caliber rimfire version of the Slocum patent revolver shown above. Moore’s Patent Firearms Company (Brooklyn, NY) the popular Moore seven shot revolver was a clear infringement. No only that, it shamelessly copied many of the mechanical details from the Colt percussions. E.A.Prescott (Worcester, MA) – Prescott produced a series of pistols, one of which looked very much like the Smith and Wesson No. 2 Army, a double insult! Lucius Pond (Worcester, MA) – The Pond complying pistol is shown above in Figure 8, alongside the two examples of the Moore teat fire revolver.
Figure 13-Moore’s Seven Shooter, note the similarity to the Colt percussion revolver. This is one of those ceded to S&W, the barrel stamping “MANUfg FOR SMITH & WESSON BY MOORES PAT. F.A. CO” tells the story.
They all got their come-uppance when the judge made findings on the patent infringement lawsuits that were favorable to Smith & Wesson. As a partial settlement, the remaining inventory of pistols from the losers were ordered to be turned over to Smith & Wesson. Guns so ceded with marked in a variety of ways, see Figures 13 and 14. There were probably others who “jumped the gun” as the 1872 expiration date approached. If you ever wondered why Colt’s first true cartridge revolver was the 1872 “Open Top” now you know! In a future article we’ll look at the wild world of Colt’s experimental toolroom as they tried to figure out what to do with their unsold inventory of percussion revolvers. Further Reading • Jinks, Roy, History of Smith & Wesson, Beinfeld Publishing, Inc., North Hollywood, CA, 1977
Figure 14-The “stamp” (from a Pond). MANUF’D FOR SMITH & WESSON PAT’D APRIL 3, 1855”
• McDowell, Bruce, A Study of Colt Conversions and Other Percussion Revolvers, Krause Publications, Iola, WI, 1997 • Winant, Lewis, Firearms Curiosa, Greenberg Books, New York, NY, 1955
www.collectorsfirearms.com info@collectorfirearms.com
A Tav ern Tell By Larry Hannusch There are not too many airgunners out there the novelty of the shooting game to their who will ‘fess up to a lucky shot. Usually such a customers. In our present day litigious shot will be explained away through some tall, world, it is almost inconceivable to trash-talking tale referencing years of experience, imagine having customers shooting amazing intuition, and copious amounts of higher “live” rounds in a local bar, even if it intelligence. Not that I think this is some modern was only from an air powered pistol. phenomenon. I’m fairly convinced such nonsense has been encountered around airgunners for quite some time. No doubt German airgunners from a century ago were bragging ill of Oscar W gaming y b e d a in just such a manner as m pistol for tte game hich ell roule ovel use of an air to a fixed post w T is they sat around enjoying -Th 1 Figure early, n I was mounted target. y was an their lager and spending German The sightless Tell to their intended . their evenings and wages purposes eep most darts in k to d e v r e s gambling with this tavern airgun shooting game. And shooting skill had nothing to do with it. The basic apparatus as seen here consists of a large, break-barrel air pistol affixed to a stationary post while sighted towards a rotating target face. This target face is marked with a series of pie-shaped sections which are numbered in a similar fashion to a dart board. Indeed, this target is a dart board, as it receives the air gun dart projectile fired from the air pistol. I have heard several explanations about the games played on these dart roulette wheels. One has the participant paying the house for each shot taken, in the hope of winning a prize of some sort, most likely involving an adult beverage. This would be very similar to a carnival type scenario. The second game would involve the participants betting against one another in some fashion, perhaps like throwing darts. My understanding is that these shooting games were purchased both by carnival type operations as well as tavern owners who sought to increase the number of patrons and revenues by offering
The removable target face is mounted on a spindle which is attached to a fixed post. It freely spins as the operator sets it into motion. The pistol is mounted upon its own post which has only slight, limited lateral movement...not enough to threaten the obnoxious bully beside you at the bar. The pistol post also has an adjustment for vertical movement, which the proprietor can use to position the pistol to fire at a fresh area of the target as needed. This target face can be reversed to give more use from the target on the back side. The whole unit is only 40 inches long, so we’re not talking about long range shooting here. The huge air pistol deserves special mention because it is quite unique in its own right. It is a
Figure 2-The pistol was mounted in a collar which allowed the gun to be cocked without removing it from its post. The roulette version of the Tell I had no trigger guard, nor was the grip ever drilled for one. Another distinguishing feature of the roulette gaming version of the Tell I is that it had no sights, nor was the barrel ever cut for sights.
specially designed Tell I from Oscar Will of Zella St. Blasii, Germany. Will’s factory, founded in 1844, was called Venuswaffenwerke, and was one of the premier airgun makers of Germany for almost a century. I have never encountered any early pneumatic airguns made by Will, but he was quite prolific as a maker of spring piston gallery airguns. His early airguns include crank cocking rifles and pistols, with either attached or detachable cranks/levers. Later, he made trigger-guard cocking rifles, commonly known as Bugelspanners, literally by the thousands and these are the most widely encountered antique gallery airguns today. Surprisingly, the Bugelspanner was still being offered to the shooting public in the 1930’s on a limited basis. But by the turn of the century, Will was producing a large number of more conventional spring piston airguns. The Tell tradename as used by Will began appearing on his airguns around 1905. The Tell I pistol as outfitted for this shooting game is a little different than the normal Tell I, which is itself a scarce collectible.One can see from the photos that the gaming Tell I has no sights, nor was the barrel ever machined for the front and rear sights (though this feature is present in Tell I models destined for regular carnival use). The gaming Tell I also has no trigger guard, as it would not have been necessary to help steady the post-mounted pistol. The unwieldy long weight of the standard Tell created the need for a trigger guard which would have been used to help steady the piece. In the old movie “The Thin Man”, we see the hero trying to manage the size of his Tell I by steadying it across his leg. Another feature difference is that the gaming Tell I has a round barrel with full nickel finish, whereas the standard Tell I has an octagonal to round barrel that is blued in contrast to the nickel receiver. This gaming pistol is stamped with the serial number 72. Although it is unmarked as to its maker, it is unmistakably a Will Tell I. In fact, the standard model shown in the photos for comparison is also unmarked. A few Tell I’s are marked “Tellow” on the top barrel flat ( Tell O.W.), but I have never encountered a specimen marked “Tell I”. The tavern Tell seen here is a huge pistol by anyone’s standards. It is a full 21 ½ inches in overall length. The smoothbore barrel is .21” caliber and is 10 inches in length. Of course, darts were the proper diet for
Figure 3 -The rotating target is constructed of wood and is overlaid with a paper face printed with the scoring sections. The target face may be quickly replaced from the game with the removal of the wing nut from the front of the spindle.
this beast. The wooden grip appears to be oak, but much of the German Black Forest walnut is very light in color without much grain, so perhaps that is the type of wood used. The bottom of the receiver is threaded to accept a triggerguard screw as seen on the standard Tell I. This indicates both variations came from the same production processes, at least to a point. The post that holds the pistol features a collar that holds the receiver of the pistol firmly. A recessed area in the bottom of this collar is relieved with a channel that provides clearance for the cocking arm as it comes back during the cocking sequence. A long, flat wire spring provides the energy to push the leatherheaded piston forwards during the firing cycle. I believe this type of shooting game fitted with an air pistol was made from the early 1900’s through the 1920’s in very limited numbers. In a 1911 German ALFA arms catalog, we find a very similar unit offered for sale, though the air pistol appears to be a different unknown air pistol called the “Hasard”. But the same general features of the pistol, target, and overall design principles of operation are nearly identical. In a 1927 Gustav Genschow catalog from Berlin, advertising under the familiar
GECO tradename, we see the Tell I version that is seen on these pages. GECO even offered what looks like a blowgun version of the rotating target game. In actuality, it may be a spring loaded air tube that is cocked and released manually. This second explanation is definitely more palatable in my opinion, as the thought of swapping spit with a burly beer drinking gent next to me at a tavern would not be my idea of fun.
the trade seemed a little one sided to me, I really wanted it and decided to go ahead and bite the bullet and do the trade. After all, I figured that sooner or later, I could find another Red Ryder.
The wooden base and support posts on this game are painted a dull green color. Most of the mountings associated with this unit are cast iron. The 12 inch target face is made of wood, and covered on both sides with a colorful paper label that shows the scoring. When one side of the target face is hopelessly mangled from all the dart punctures, the target can be quickly flipped to the other side. This specimen in fact came with an extra, well shot up target face that looks like it tangled with a psychotic beaver on a carousel. Fortunately, the original concessionaire that operated this specimen couldn’t bear to throw anything out, which gives us present day collectors a little better insight as to how this shooting game was well used and enjoyed by shooters of yesteryear. There do not seem to be too many of these sets floating around among collectors, though I’m sure more exist in German airgun collections. Its rarity is without dispute, but value is anybody’s guess. My friend Wes Powers discovered this nice specimen some years back, and he was adamant about demanding at least an above average Red Ryder in trade for it. Though
Figure 4 -A page from a German 1911 ALFA catalog shows a simliar “Hasard” air pistol in a roulette shooting game.
CASED TARGET PISTOL POSSIBLY BY BLUNT & SYMS .36 CALIBER WITH 10-1/2” BARREL GOLD AND SILVER BANDS WITH GERMAN SILVER FITTINGS
WANTED PUSH DAGGERS AND BOWIE KNIVES ROBERT B. BERRYMAN 830-660-6800
A Self-Loading Masterpiece By Mike Clark
This is one of the most fascinating guns I’ve ever handled. It abounds with original and wellconceived details—from its push button trigger to its revolving turret nipple array. It was made by Valentin Sylvestre Fombuena of Madrid. Fombuena was a craftsman/engineer/ inventor with a series of patents over a vast range of subjects. When one sees a gun so different from the usual, one has to admire not only the workmanship, but the ingenuity that went into its design.
The photographs tell the story. A magazine for round balls was provided in the buttstock. The lever, mounted on the side is a gunpowder storage magazine. When the barrel is pointed downward and the lever is rotated, a ball falls into the chamber through a hole in the lever drum. As the lever drum is further rotated, a measured charge of powder follows the ball into the chamber. This action also cocks the hammer and rotates a percussion cap into place. Returning the lever to its stowed position seals the chamber. The gun can then be fired by pressing the cross-hatched button below the hammer.
Figure 1- The gun shoots round balls and is not rifled. Apparently the maker was more interested in gadgetry than accuracy.
Figure 2- A closeup of the action. The circular cross-hatched button is the trigger.
Figure 3- The sink marks of Madrid gunmaker Valentin Sylvestre Fombuena
Figure 4- About a dozen 50 caliber balls are loaded into a magazine in the buttstock of the weapon.
Figure 5- The long cylindrical tube alongside the barrel is the gunpowder reservoir. It also serves as a lever for the loading process.
Figure 6- The loading lever in the first position. With the barrel pointed down, gravity brings the ball into a recess in the drum.
Figure 7- The lever in the fully rotated position. This permits a measured powder charge to enter behind the ball. Returning the lever to its original position seals the breech.
Figure 9- The number “8� is apparently a serial number
Figure 8- As the hammer is drawn back, the nipple turret advances one position to place a new nipple beneath the hammer face.
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Magnificent, Fine And Rare Cased French Set Of Exquisite Boutet Flintlock Pistols. (Est: $250,000-500,000) (March ‘10)
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Extraordinary Panel Scene Eng. Colt SAA (Dr. Murphy Coll. March ‘09) Est. $350,000-600,000
SOLD $701,500 Contact Bill Taylor, Wes Dillon or Judy Labbe Email: firearms@jamesdjulia.com James D. Julia, Inc., 203 Skowhegan Rd., Fairfield, ME 04937 www.jamesdjulia.com Tel: (207) 453-7125 Fax: (207) 453-2502 Auctioneer: James D. Julia Lic#: ME: AR83 NH: 2511
Important Firearms Auction Event March 14 & 15, 2011 in Fairfield, Maine
This sale will include an outstanding array of quality firearms and militaria. Included is a portion of a private collection of Winchesters and volcanic arms from noted author and collector, Dr. Ed Lewis; outstanding Marlins from the collection of George Peters; select quality arms from the Robert Petersen coll. and Walker Inman Trust; the collection of the late Fred McDonald of Houston, Texas. Also select items from various other estates and collections incl. rare and important Colts from a superb, old time Colt collection; superb, high-quality sporting rifles and shotguns, incl. the Ernest Hemingway Westley Richards double rifle; a single owner collection of nearly 50 rare Browning shotguns, incl. some one of a kind; an extraord. Browning A-5 lavish, gold inlaid made for President Nixon; outstanding Winchesters, many from an old private, single owner coll.; rare Civil War; Class III, and much more! Catalogs: $39 each or both for $75.
The Immortal & Legendary Ernest Hemingway Westley Richards Droplock 577NE w/orig case & accessories as used on his 1953 African Safari and chronicled by Look Magazine
Rare and extraord. set of 3 gold inlaid Kornbrath eng. Colt SAAs owned by Pres. of Argentina, M.T. Alvear (only 16 first gen. Colt SAs were ever gold inlaid, these being 3 of the 16)
Finest Fully Marked Colt SAA Pinch Frame Known. Also 1 of only 2 w/ Shoulder Stocks; Extrod. Colt 3rd Mod Dragoon w/ Matching Stock ; Ext. Rare London Cased Colt SAA w/Stock ; Fine Pair of Robt. Wogdon Flintlock Carbines w/Stock and Extra BBLs
Fabulous Best Quality Dlx Purdey 28 Bore Very Rare Singer MFG Co. 1911A-1 U.S.Army pistol (S800379)with exceptional original finish.
Rare Colt Walker A Company No 119
Winchester 1886 DLX Factory Engr. with Maple Stock and Cheek Piece
Rare and extraordinary Browning A-5. Made for Pres. Nixon, Exquisitely inlaid with gold. SN 2,000,000.
Rare, magnificent fact. silver plated & engr. 25� volcanic carbine in orig. pres. case (only 1 known to exist) Lewis Coll.
game guns w/Harry Kell’s Finest Engr.
Magnificent Ken Hunt Engr John Rigby Sidelock Ejector .470NE Dbl rifle w/case Robert E. Petersen Coll.
Fantastic Tiffany & Co pres Minerva Statue hilt sword to Gen. Lewis Merrill w/ full prov. McDonald Coll.
Contact Bill Taylor, Wes Dillon or Judy Labbe Email: firearms@jamesdjulia.com James D. Julia, Inc., 203 Skowhegan Rd., Fairfield, ME 04937 www.jamesdjulia.com Tel: (207) 453-7125 Fax: (207) 453-2502 Auctioneer: James D. Julia Lic#: ME: AR83 NH: 2511
A regular feature on cartridge collecting written and provided by members of the International Ammunition Association. The publication on the right is only one of several that can be found in their entirety on the I.A.A. website, www.cartridgecollectors.org.
Our feature article in this issue deals with circumventions of the Rollin White Patent. Special cartridges were required for several of these revolvers. A surprising number of varieties of the packets for those cartridges were made. In this issue, we illustrate a selection of their labels.
Figure 2. - The basic front-loader cartridges, l to r, 32 caliber Cup Fire, 42 caliber Cup Fire, 32 Flat Teat Fire, 32 caliber Round Teat Fire and 36 caliber Thuer.
Figure 3. - A loose-pack box for the 32 caliber Teat Fire, by Crittenden & Tibbals
Figure 1. - These descriptive sketches were taken from the International Ammunition Association publication “A Guide to Ammunition Collecting� The entire book can be viewed on their website listed under Clubs, Contacts and Resources in this issue of Heritage Arms Magazine.
Figure 4. - A 32 caliber Flat Teat Fire box, maker unknown
Figure 5. - A 32 caliber Round Teat Fire box, maker unknown Figure 6. - A 32 caliber Round Teat Fire box, maker unknown
Figure 7. - A box for the Plant Revolver, 30 caliber Cup Fire Figure 8. - A 30 caliber Cup Fire box
Figure 9. - A 42 caliber Cup Fire box annotated “REYNOLDS, PLANT’s & HOTCHKISS”
Figure 10. - A 42 caliber Cup Fire box by Phoenix
Figure 11. - A 42 caliber Cup Fire box for the Plant Revolver Figure 12. - A 28 caliber Cup Fire box annoted “For WOOD’S REVOLVER” for the Connecticut Arms Co. revolver.
Figure 13. - Fifty 36 caliber Thuer Patent Reloadable Cartridges. These rounds were also produced in 44, 36 pocket and 31 calibers
1808 37th Ave. NW Salem, OR 97304 (503) 566-8800 Phone (503) 566-8596 Fax eric@wardscollectibles.com www.wardscollectibles. com
Dick Salzer dick@armsheritagemagazine.com This will be a regular column that wll present interesting arms related items — the go-with things that make collecting fun. Please share some of your favorites with us. If you don’t exactly know what they are, perhaps our staff can help, if not we’ll turn them loose on our subscribers
Broadside advetisement for Bacon pistols
Moore/National Arms Teatfire pistol
Moore Seven Shot Revolver
Brooklyn Arms Co. Slocum Patent Revolver
It seems that every ethnic division since the beginning of recorded history has developed its own version of cutting tools. As time went by, flint knives transitioned from the most basic forms to some of the bizarre forms we encounter in the collecting of arms. In each issue of Arms Heritage we will illustrate and describe some of these unique weapons.
With its wickedly curved blade, the Jambiya is the classic Arabian knife. Its form varies from country to country. In Morocco, for example, the blades are longer and straighter while in Saudi Arabia, blades are shorter, wider and usually double-edged for their entire length.
An unusual form of Maylayan knife, the Bade-Bade is native to the Acheen and Rendyang areas of Sumatra. The narrow incurved blade is sharpened on one side only. The hilts and scabbards vary widely in form.
MARCH 26TH, 2011 AUCTIONNO.82 FEATURING: The LELAND SCHLEGEL COLLECTION formerly on loan to the Frazier Museum, an Excellent Collection of Rare and Very Fine Stevens Rifles, The JAKE SIMMONS COLLECTION of Fine Single Shot Cartridge and Percussion Rifles and a Large Selection of Excellent Winchester 1885 Rifles
Morgan James Percussion Picket Rifle with Telescopic Sight
William Billinghurst Underhammer Buggy Rifle Cased with Detachable Stock, Two Scopes and Accessories
Stevens Ideal No. 49 Etched Frame Rifle
Smith & Wesson No. 3 American Revolver Serial Number “86”
Stevens Ideal No. 54 Deluxe Schuetzen Rifle in .32-40 with Pope Barrel
Marlin-Ballard Rifle by Hendrick in .32-40
Marlin-Ballard Rifle by Zischang in .32-40
Winchester Model 1885 High Wall Deluxe Schuetzen Rifle with Pope Barrel
King Modified Smith & Wesson 38/44 Outdoorsman Revolver with Three Color Gold Inlays, Engraved by Orville Kuhl in Original Blue Box with King Paper Label
Extremely Rare K-32 Hand Ejector First Model Revolver
Winchester Model 1885 High Wall Deluxe Schuetzen Rifle with A5 Scope
Ver y Fine First Mar tial Contract Range Henr y Rifle
First Model Open Top 1876 Rifle
Beautiful Smith & Wesson New Model No. 3 Revolver with Special Order 4” Barrel
Winchester 1876 Saddle Ring Carbine
Winchester Model 1894 First Model Lever Action Rifle with Deluxe Wood
Extremely Rare Thomas Turner Lightweight Semi-Hammerless Sidelock Double
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mikecarrick@armsheritagemagazine.com
Quest ion: from: Bill Calhoun, Arkansas The revolver shown in the attached photos was brought home from WW2 by my grandfather. I know it is Japanese, but I don’t know too much other than that. I have figured out how to open it for cleaning. Isn’t this a great system! I just open the top, push the triggerguard forward, pivot the side open, and lift out the left grip. How about ammo? I don’t know the caliber, and nothing I’ve tried seems to fit properly.
ANSWER: You have a Japanese Military Revolver developed in the 26th year of the reign of Emperor Meiji. Collectors call it the Type 26. These were made between 1893 and 1935 in the Tokyo Arsenal, and about 59,000 were produced. I’m sure you noticed that you can’t cock it by hand; it is double-action only. The cartridge for this revolver is 9 x 22 mm centerfire; it is unique. Original cartridges are quite scarce. I have added a photo of an original 9 mm cartridge from my collection alongside a .38 Special cartridge for comparison. I have some modern cartridges headstamped “Midway 9 mm Jap Rev.” I don’t know if this ammunition is still available. You can learn pretty much all there is to know about this revolver in “Japanese Military Cartridge Handguns 1893–1945,” Atglen, PA: Schiffer Military History, 2003, 384 pages, by Harry Derby and James D. Brown. MFC
Quest ion: from Kaleo Waterstone, Hawaii I have a Winchester Rifle, caliber. .45-70, 26� round barrel, full magazine, factory swivels. Buttstock marked C.G.H. (or maybe O.G.H.) on both sides. Rear sight is ladder flip-up style marked 2 to 10. Serial number is in the 99,XXX range. Have you any idea of the meaning of the letters?
ANSWER: The letters are C.G.H., standing for the Citizens Guard of Hawaii. The C.G.H. was a volunteer militia that saw combat when it aided the National Guard of Hawaii in putting down the Rebellion of 1895. The volunteers were primarily armed with Winchester Model 1876 muskets and Model 1886 rifles, such as yours. This is a difficult collecting specialty because the members of the C.G.H. could also carry their personal weapons in addition to, or instead of, the issued rifles. And, not all of the issued weapons were stamped C.G.H. Some records are extant in the State Archives listing the guns by serial number, but at least one of the ledgers is missing. And to make matters worse, the late John A. Bell — a recognized authority on weapons of Hawaii, reported that there have been instances of fake C.G.H. stampings. However, your rifle is in the correct serial number range, and the style of the letters on the buttstock is correct. It is correct for the rifle to have a round barrel and factory-installed swivels. MFC
Quest ion, from H. Mull, The Net herlands Enclosed is a photo of a small Russian pistol that came out of the Soviet Union a few years ago. I can see from the printing on the barrel that it is caliber 5.45 x 18 mm. It is very flat. The grip panels are no wider than the slide, and they seem to be made of aluminium. There are a few other marks, but they don’t tell me much. There is an 85 by the serial number on the frame, could that be for 1985? What exactly is this little pistol? Answer: You have a pistol called the Model PSM, after the Russian designation Pistolet Samozaryadniy Malogabaritniy (pistol, self-loading, small,). This pistol was introduced for use by the Soviet military and police about 1975, and the 85 on your pistol does indicate manufacture in 1985. These pistols are manufactured by the Izhevsk arsenal.
This pistol has about the same overall dimensions as the Walther PPK, but is about a third of an inch thinner. Supposedly this small, flat, thin pistol was designed for carry by high-ranking military and police officers, and undercover officers, so that they wouldn’t be burdened with the size and weight of the Makarov. Because the bullet will penetrate the standard 20-layer Kevlar police vest, some people claim this is a KGB or assassin’s gun. I had some business with the Soviet Police about twenty years ago, and during a visit to their headquarters at Petrovka 38 in Moscow, I was allowed to fire the PSM at a couple of American-made Kevlar vests they had. I can personally attest that the bullets easily penetrated the vest. I fired the complete magazine of eight cartridges at two different brands of vests. Also shown is a photo of two 5.45 mm cartridges from my collection alongside a 9 mm Parabellum round. MFC
Quest ion from Philip Boulton, England Attached is a photo of the left grip on a Colt Model 1862 Police revolver, serial no. 45600 with post-1868 small London proof marks. You will see a quatrefoil figure stamped into the grip. This fourleaf emblem is found in heraldry, architecture, military, and other decorative uses. Have any of your readers seen this mark on other firearms? What might it mean? Answer: We have not seen this mark on other firearms. In the U.S. Marine Corps, quatrefoil refers to a four-lobed decoration on the top of a warrant or commissioned Marine officer’s dress and service caps. Perhaps some of our worldwide readers can comment on this mark as used on a Colt revolver. MFC
Quest ion: from Plimsol, Texas For many years I have had this exquisite little carbine in my gun collection without really knowing much about it. Overall length is 27-1/2” and the barrel is about 14 inches. The caliber seems to be about .69. You can see the lock is marked Brescia 1862, but that is about all I know. Answer: The designation of this Italian carbine is Pistolone da falegnami di fanteria modello 1860 according to Luciano Salvatici in his excellent book “Pistole Militari Italiane 1814 – 1940.” This translates to pistol for carpenters of the infantry. These would probably be the soldiers called sappers or pioneers in other armies. This short carbine was manufactured in the government arsenal in Brescia, Italy. MFC
… s y a w l A
Smith & Wesson
Photos by Paul Goodwin
For those who do not have Internet access to our monthly updated online catalog, several extensive Print Catalogs of S&Ws/related items are published each year. Subscription is $10 per year U.S.; $20 per year Foreign.
Always Seeking Fine Smith & Wessons David Carroll, P.O. Box 312, Clay, Alabama 35048 205-531-7002 • Visit our website: www.dcarroll.net
Your Arms Library
conducted by Frank Graves
In addition to reviewing recently issued books, we will also be taking a retro look at some of the old classics from time to time. Although most are out of print, copies are not hard to find at gun shows or from the book search sites noted in the Clubs, Organizations and Resources section of this magazine. If all else fails, please contact us, we have access to a substantial source of used arms books.
Next to the arms themselves, books are the best investment a collector can make. During the “golden age” of collecting in the 1930’s and 40’s, when great finds could still be made, the adage “buy a book for every gun” was coined. At the time only a small fraction of today’s books were available. Today’s offerings plus the internet allow us all to become expert in our areas of interest.
A Basic Primer on Colts A History Of The Colt Revolver, Charles T. Haven and Frank A. Belton, Morrow, 1940. (about 700 pages) I’ve lost track of the dozens of books on all phases of the Colt story. One of the best is this pioneering tome. It covers virtually every model of Colt handgun and longarm from the Paterson through the Colt woodsman with clear photographs and excellent descriptions. Although these have all been done better in subsequent books, this book really shines in the second section, which contains a wealth of primary source material including correspondence, broadsides and documentation. My favorite section, however, is a seventeenpage excerpt from a March 1857 copy of United States Magazine, titled “A Day at the Armory of
Colt’s Patent Manufacturing Company, Hartford. Connecticut”. It presents a fascinating, step-by-step, description of every phase of the manufacture of a Colt percussion revolver with numerous engraved illustrations. It’s “must reading” for anyone interested in early Colts.
Another section that makes the book indispensable is the section on the Walker and Whitneyville revolvers. It presents 29 pages of documentation on the origins of the Walker. The book, I believe, is long out of print. I checked one of the online sites alluded to above and found numerous copies available from $25 to $50. DS The Brown Bess The British Brown Bess is one of the dozen most important guns in arms history (we believe), yet until recently definitive information has been hard to find. Howard Blackmore’s 1961 book British Military Firearms is a useful publication but only touches the surface of this subject. In recent years, several great publications have become available which thoroughly cover the standard models. DeWitt Bailey’s Pattern Dates For British Ordnance Small Arms 1718-1783 (Thomas Publications, Gettysburg, PA, 1997) is such a book, it provides a world of information on British Longarms and Pistols of the period. It also provided the setting for two additional and more recent books. Small Arms Of The British Forces In America 16641815 (Mowbray, Woonsocket, RI, 2009) It covers British Arms in America from colonial times through the war of 1812. Virtually every standard issue type is discussed in detail along with background and historical notes. An extensive chapter on accoutrements such as bayonets, tools and cartridge pouches is included. The depth and scope of the book show why Mr Bailey is the leading authority on early British military weaponry. Early American Underhammer Firearms, A Collector’s Guide to the Pistols and Longarms Made Between 1826 and 1840, Nicholas L. Chandler, Andrew Mowbray Incorporated, Woonsocket, RI, 2010 (191 pages) Hardcover, $59.99. This writer and many others have regarded the underhammer percussion single shot pistols, seen in many forms, as just moderately interesting and similar to many guns from the 1830’s to the 1860’s that were made by various New England gunmakers of the time. There was a lack of any information on them other than Underhammer Guns by
A second recent book, “The Brown Bess” by Erik Goldstein and Stuart Mowbray (Mowbray, Woonsocket, RI- 2010) is a study guide to the intimate details to fourteen models of Brown Bess. Crystal clear color photographs show disassembled guns and locks in their naked splendor. Comments discuss what is right and wrong and what the collector needs to know to determine the purity and authenticity of each model. This latter is most important since a lot of “cannibalization” took place in the field and in arsenals during and after the period of use.
Herschel C. Logan that was published in 1960. That book concentrated more on a general overview of these types of guns from many different areas and lacked a lot of detail. Nicholas L. Chandler, a collector of underhammer firearms for some 50 years, has compiled information on the Ruggles Brothers, Fordyce and Adin, who were the first makers of these pistols in Stafford, Connecticut. Fordyce Ruggles was granted the first American patent for a percussion firearm in 1826, which I didn’t know. As Nick says in his intro, “It was a uniquely American design that could be made by any competent mechanic – not just professional gunmakers. Ruggles-style guns were simple and sturdy, a triumph of ‘Yankee Ingenuity’ that included many ‘firsts’ including the first use of cast steel barrels.” They didn’t get rich with this invention, but these pistols were a less expensive and reliable alternative to the European imports that were about the only other pistols available at that time. There were many makers who copied the Ruggles patent,
but there are so many variations and “improvements” that these pistols and their interest to the gun collecting fraternity have taken on a whole new light. The book contains a wonderful story about the Ruggles brothers and their relationships with other makers of these interesting pistols in the area. The chapters read as a story and easily flow showing the relationships between the makers of Connecticut and Massachusetts. The quality of the book is excellent and each illustration is detailed, clear and in color – all of them, and most are full sized. It is obvious from the depth of research and presentation that Nick Chandler worked at this for a very long time – he has really has presented it well. This book is a must for any gun collector and does represent a comprehensive work on a type of firearm that is available for an affordable price for either the beginning collector or one wishing to broaden his collecting interests. It is available from Mowbray Publishing for $59.99 – well worth the price.
Your Source for rare and unusual accoutrements Gun Tools Cap, Primer Tins Collection Antique Guns Cartridges Paper, Books Miscellaneous Wanted Parts Bullet Molds
www.dicksalzer.com
Volume 1, Number 1
Once
you’ve navigated yourself around our pages we’d appreciate your telling us what you think about your experience. To this end you are invited to forward your comments, criticisms and suggestions to the editor so that we can adjust to your interests and needs. Here’s the straight skinny. We’re a bunch of aging, somewhat demented life-long arms collectors, not magazine publishers. We’ve put together a team of professional layout people, web designers, software guys and gals who can handle the technical stuff. What’s left is content and organization, and that’s where you come in. This magazine is based on our conception of what we think you, the readers, will really like to see, but in order to make it what you will enjoy most requires what we think of as “blowback”. This whole project is a work in progress. “Blowback” gives you all an opportunity to mold this magazine to your liking. We need to hear about what you like, what you hate, what’s missing and what we need more of. We’d also like to receive quality articles for publication; we ask only that photos be sharp and clear, on neutral backgrounds and that articles have a point, and impart knowledge. Common guns with inscriptions, for
example, are pretty much of interest only to their owners. Likewise, the story of how you found a bargain at a garage sale. One of the first things you will notice is that content doesn’t end with what’s between these virtual covers. We are indeed an endless gateway to dealer websites, clubs, museums, resources and each other. The fields of interests addressed by Arms Heritage are vast and varied, and the possibilities for suitable content are boundless. It’s up to us to provide the kind of material that’ll grab your interest and keep you coming back, so that, at the end of the day, you’ll consider your subscription to be not only money well spent, but also a good investment. So please e-mail your comments to the editor at Richard@armsheritagemagazine.com we’ll publish both the positive and the negative, and will hopefully learn from both. If you like this complimentary issue, we’d appreciate you joining us in this adventure. Subscriptions are inexpensive and may be booked by visiting our website www.armsheritagemagazine.com. See you in two months. Richard
Danny Clark
danny@armsheritagemagazine.com For this inaugural issue I’ve decided to write more of an explanation of what this column will be about along with a brief report on the last few auctions.
Major Auction Houses Over the last decade and maybe a bit prior, the auction scene for collector firearms has grown almost exponentially. Currently there are nine auction companies in the United States regularly holding large gunoriented auctions at least once a year and in some cases as many as six times a year. This translates to about twenty five or more significant gun auctions and results in thousands upon thousands of guns changing hands. Adding the published sales figures from all nine auction companies reveals that somewhere around $100 million in auction sales is typical for each recent year! When you consider the on-line auction scene, the number and value of collectable guns that change hands each year is most impressive. The major auction houses are Amoskeag, Bonhams, Cowans, Greg Martin, Heritage, James Julia, Little Johns, Poulins, and Rock Island. These are the firms we will be covering. We will summarize their published results along with our own impressions and commentary on trends. We are aware of European auction firms but for now we will concentrate on the domestic scene.
On-line Auctions While I regularly surf through Gun Broker and Auction Arms, (which I do for a living), I see a lot of the same guns being listed over and over again at inflated prices. The items I do see moving are normally lower end and those that are priced reasonably. I’m referring here to collectable arms. Current or recent production guns are also being sold, often at low market values, and this seems to be a good method for both buyer and seller. Even now there are occasional bargains to be found within the on-line venues. I personally bought a Colt Walker and a Colt Paterson as well as numerous underpriced goodies at very fair prices in the last few years. One of the more interesting things I recently observed was the
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sale of a specially built modernmade gun. The gun was made by Colt in commemoration of the 100th anniversary of Model 1911 automatic. It was factory-engraved, gold-inlayed and specially serial numbered- 1911COLT2011. It was sold at a charity auction on Gun Broker with a winning bit of just over $83,000. Not bad for a gun that could be easily recreated for around $10,000. Eric Ward of Ward’s Auctions, an on-line auction firm specializing in sporting collectibles, reports record prices for rare .22 boxes and rare shotshell boxes.
Upcoming Auctions The 2011 auction season is fast approaching with the James Julia and Poulin auctions strategically placed the week before the Baltimore Show. Poulin’s auction will be held in Maine on March 11-13 and will be followed by Julia on March 14-15. Amoskeag will be shortly thereafter on March 26 in Manchester. Most of the other houses will conduct their auctions between now and June. After a three-moth break, auction action will begin again in late August and early September.
Recent Auctions Currently we are coming out a “break” period. Between December and the present, only four auction were held. Rock Island had the biggest take with a reported sale of almost $10 million. Amoskeag had a strong showing as well at their January 8 session. Greg Martin held his auction in conjunction with the Las Vegas Antique Gun ShowAbout half the guns were sold were donation to the NRA. Greg graciously handled the sale with all proceeds to the NRA. Overall, bidding in the room was a bit weak but the phones and internet picked up the slack. . Rock Island just held their regional auction but no results are available. Incidentally Greg Martin Auctions which was a subsidiary of Spectrum Auction Group has now been sold back to Greg, Bernie Osher and John Gallo and will move back to San Francisco.
After six more years of exhaustive research since the publication of Part Three of this series, the first of the Confederate volumes has been completed. In these 328 pages over 650 specimens of Confederate bullets and cartridges are illustrated in addition to bullet mold and other related items.
Price is $55 postpaid within the United States, others please ad $5 to defray shipping cost (check or credit card)
Thomas Publications, 3245 Fairfield Road, Gettysburg, PA 17325 717-642-6600 or 800-840-6782
Reloading Cartridges
for Colt’s Thuer Conversion Pistols Editorial Staff Although the Colt’s Thuer conversion for percussion revolvers was not a commercial success, there was one meaningful development which took place. The system presented one of the earliest uses of reloadable centerfire cartridges and perhaps the only occasion where the gun itself functioned as a reloading machine. If you’ve ever been curious about those simple tools seen in cased Thuer conversion sets, here’s how they worked. The gun itself only required one modification — the end of the rammer was drilled and tapped to enable the re-priming plunger to be installed; otherwise the tools were completely separate.
The Pistol and Tool Kit
The gun itself, in this case a Model 1851 Navy, with a full set of tools. Left to right: the primer tin, a pair of cartridges, one loaded, the other with components, the de-priming pin, the loading saddle, the bullet guide, the primer guide and the re-priming plunger.
The Procedure
Step 1
The de-priming pin is used to knock out the fired primer.
Step 3
The re-priming plunger is screwed into the end of the rammer.
Step 5
Following the loading of the powder charge, the primed case is inserted into the holder on the saddle and the bullet guide slipped into place.
Step 2
The de-primed case is slipped over a tapered holder on the saddle and the primer guide slipped on.
Step 4
With the saddle in place, the lever forces a new primer into the empty case.
Step 6
The lever forces the bullet into the case, using the bullet guide to assure alignment.
CLUBS, CONTACTS AND RESOURCES As a service to our readers, we are providing a convenient listing of arms-related clubs with links thereto. If your club isn’t listed, please contact us.
Specialty Organizations American Single Shot Rifle Association- Newsletter www.assra.com American Society of Arms Collectors www.americansocietyofarmscollectors.org Antique Reloading Tools – Informational website www.antiquereloadingtools.org Antique Bowie Knife Collectors Association www.antiquebowieknife.com Browning Collectors Association www.browningcollectors.com Buffalo Bill Historical Center and Museum www.bbhc.org Colt Collectors Association – Membership includes a roster and bi-annual magazine www.coltcollectors.com Company of Military Historians www.military-historians.org Garand Collectors Association www.thegca.org German Gun Collectors Association www.germanguns.com Glass Target Ball Collectors www.targetballs.com & www.glasstargetballs.com Historical Breechloading Smallarms Association www.hbsa-uk.org International Ammunition Association- Biannual magazine and newsletter www.cartridgecollectors.org Marlin Collectors Association www.marlin-collectors.com Mossberg Collectors Association www.mossbergcollectors.org Museum of the Fur Trade www.furtrade.org National Muzzle Loading Rifle Association www.nmlra.org
National Rifle Association www.nrahq.org Parker Gun Collectors Association www.parkerguns.com Remington Society of America- Magazine www.remingtonsociety.com Ruger Collectors Association www.rugercollectorsassociation.com Sharps Collectors Association- Newsletter www.sharpscollector.com Smith & Wesson Collectors Association www.theswca.org Society of American Bayonet Collectors www.bayonetcollectors.org Winchester Arms Collectors Association www.winchestercollector.org
Regional Clubs Alaska Gun Collectors Association www.agca.net Antique Arms Collectors of Australia www.antiquearmssociety.org.au Arizona Arms Association www.azarms.com Colorado Gun Collectors Association www.cgca.com Historical Arms Collectors Society of British Columbia www.hacsbc.ca Houston Gun Collectors Association www.hgca.org New Mexico Gun Collectors Association www.nmgca.org Ohio Gun Collectors www.ogca.com Oregon Arms Collectors http://oregonarmscollectors.tripod.com/index.html
Minnesota Weapons Collectors Association www.mwca.org The New Zealand Antique and Historical Arms Association www.antiquearms.org.nz Antique and Historical Arms Collectors Guild of Victoria, Inc. www.armscollectorsguild.com Pennsylvania Gun Collectors www.paguncollectors.org Saint Louis Antique Arms Collectors www.stlarms.com Santa Barbara Historical Association www.sbhaa.org South Carolina Arms Collectors Association www.scaca.net Southern Californis Arms Collectors martinjmillerjr@wgn.net Texas Gun Collectors Association- Roster and bi-annual magazine www.tgca.net Utah Gun Collectors Association www.ugca.org Washington Arms Collectors www.washingtonarmscollectors.org
Arms Museums A very complete listing of Arms Museums, both American and International, along with links thereto can be found on the website of the American Society of Arms Collectors— www.americansocietyofarmscollectors.org
Resources United States Patent OfficePatent copies www.uspto.gov Google Patents www.google.com/patents Proof House.comSerial number data www.proofhouse.com Cornell PublicationsReprints of Gun Catalogs www.cornellpubs.com Research PressMisc. texts on guns www.researchpress.co.uk EspacenetEuropean patent data www.espacenet.com AlibrisOut of print books www.alibris.com AbebooksOut of print books www.abebooks.com
Virginia Gun Collectors Assn www.vgca.org Ye Connecticut Gun Guild- Newsletter www.ycgg.org
Research Help Wanted As a service to researchers, we provide this section to enable the solicitation of data and information for those involved in activities aimed at increasing our knowledge of the arms field. For a planned publication, I would like to view, photograph or receive details on U.S. Civil War Artillery accoutrement, e.g. gunners haversacks, fuse boxes, linstocks, etc. The leather items often bear earlier dates from the 1820’s and 30’s and occasionally an arsenal identification. What do you have? Fred Gaede, fgaede@comcast.net
Ar m s ou r c e WAYNE DRISKILL MINIATURE FIREARMS Dealer in fine, hand-made, museum quality, miniature firearms Office (281)485-1830; Cell (281)468-7103 e-mail: wdriskill@hotmail.com website: www.waynedriskillminiatures.com exclusive sales representatives for Miniart Russian Miniatures
FINE ANTIQUE ARMS
O.C. Young A Source for Fine Antique Arms & Related Accessories
With emphasis on Arms of the American West www.ocyoung.com E-Mail: ocy@ocyoung.com
Mitch Luksich
MICHAEL SIMENS Dealer in Fine Antique Guns, Swords, & Related Items
P.O. Box 1527, Sonoma, CA 95476 Phone: 707-935-1506 Email: mluksich@sonic.net
www.michaelsimens.com mail@historicalarms.net
We Buy, Sell or Trade Individual Arms or Collections.
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Dick Salzer
For the Finest in Civil War Memorabilia Specializing in Arms of The Confederacy
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www.civilwardealer.com
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COLLECTORS FIREARMS
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S&W Collector Firearms See my full page ad in this issue 205-531-7002 www.dcarroll.net
A Gun Show on the Web Over 10,000 guns in stock
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ARMS HERITAGE MAGAZINE will be a bi-monthly publication dedicated to all facets of arms collecting. It will contain well-researched and vetted articles and features written by leading authorities. We describe our magazine as “A One-Click Gateway to the World of Arms Collecting” Each of the advertisements can include an active oneclick link to the advertisers website.
Volume 1, Numbe
r1
Danny Clarkagemagazine.com danny@armsherit
A Ta ve rn Te ll
There are not too many airgunne By Larry Hannusc rs out there who will ‘fess up h to a lucky shot. the novelty of the Usually such a shot will be explained shooting game away through some to their customers. In our e.com trash-talking tale present day litigious sheritagemagazin tall, referencing years world, it is almost Dick Salzer dick@arm amazing intuition of experience, inconceivable to , imagine having intelligence. Not and copious amounts of higher customers shooting that I think this “live” rounds in phenomenon. I’m is some modern things that make a local bar, even — the go-with our fairly convince if it was only from arms related items they are, perhaps d such nonsense has been encounte an air powered present interesting If you don’t exactly know what red around airgunne pistol. column that wll with us. some time. No rs for quite This will be a regular share some of your favorites doubt German subscribers our fun. Please airgunners on from a century loose collecting ago were bragging not we’ll turn them staff can help, if in just such a manner as they sat around enjoying their lager and by Oscar Will of spending roulette game made Figure 1-This Tell pistol for gaming their evenings novel use of an air and wages Germany was an early, to a fixed post gambling with Tell I was mounted this purposes. The sightless darts into their intended target. airgun shooting tavern most which served to keep game. And shooting skill had nothing to do with it. The basic apparatu s consists of a large, as seen here break-barrel air pistol affixed to towards a rotating a stationar y post while sighted target face. This marked with a series of pie-shape target face is are numbered in a similar fashion d sections which Indeed, this target to a dart board. is air gun dart projectilea dart board, as it receives the fired from the air pistol. I have heard several explanations about played on these the games dart participant paying roulette wheels. One has the the house for each in the hope of shot taken, winning a prize of some sort, most likely involving an adult beverage very similar to . This would be a carnival type scenario. The second game would involve the participants one another in betting against some perhaps like throwingfashion, darts. My understanding is that these shooting games were purchased both by carnival type operations as well as tavern owners who sought to increase the number of patrons and revenues by offering
The removable target face is mounted which is attached on a spindle to a fixed post. It freely spins as operator sets it into the upon its own post motion. The pistol is mounted which has only lateral movemen slight, limited t...not enough to threaten the obnoxious bully beside also has an adjustme you at the bar. The pistol post nt for vertical the proprietor can use to position movement, which a fresh area of the pistol to fire at the target as needed. can be reversed This target face to the back side. The give more use from the target on whole unit is only so we’re not talking 40 about long range inches long, shooting here. The huge air pistol because it is quite deserves special mention unique in its own right. It is a
brary
Figure 2-A late version of the frontloading .42 caliber Plant revolver
Figure 3-The smaller Eagle Arms version the Plant along of with its original box
Moore Seven Shot Broadside advetiseme
Revolver
nt for Bacon pistols Figure 4-Connect icut the integral hinged Arms front loader, lever enables the cartridge to be fired extracted
Figure 2-The pistol was the gun to be cocked mounted in a collar which allowed without removing it from its post. The roulette version of the Tell I had was the grip ever no trigger guard, drilled nor feature of the roulette for one. Another distinguish ing gaming version had no sights, nor of the Tell I is that was the barrel it ever cut for sights.
Figure 5-Brooklyn Arms Slocum Patent revolver
Moore/National
Arms Teatfire pistol
Brooklyn Arms
Co. Slocum Patent
Revolver
Your Arms Li
you’ve navigated yourself example, are pretty around our pages much we’d appreciate your their owners. Likewise of interest only to telling about your experien us what you think , the story of how found a bargain you at a garage sale. A regular invited to forward ce. To this end you are feature on cartridg your comments, e collectin provided by member and suggestions criticisms One of the first things you s of the Internat g written and to the editor so will notice content doesn’t Associat is thation. The ional Ammun that adjust to your end publication on ition interests and needs. we can several these virtual covers. with what’s between the right is only This is one of the one of Here’s the straight We are indeedwebsite,that can be found in their By Mike Clark most endless gateway an entirety on the handled. It abounds fascinating guns I’ve ever skinny. We’re a www.cartridgecol to dealer websites, I.A.A. aging, bunch for with round lectors.org. somewha of original and balls was museums, resources clubs, t demented life-long conceived details— and each other. collectors, not The lever, mounted provided in the buttstock. from its push buttonwellmagazine publisher arms to its revolving trigger The fields of interests turret nipple array. s. We’ve put together a storage magazine on the side is a gunpowder Our feature article addresse team of professio . When the barrel d by in this issue Arms Heritage Special It was made by nal layout downward and people, web designers deals with are vast cartridge Valentin Sylvestre the lever is rotated, is pointed varied,s were , software guys the possibilities packetsand and required for several circumventions of the Rollin Madrid. Fombuen Fombuena of into who a ball and the can for falls White gals chamber handle the suitable for content a was a craftsma of those cartridge Patent. through a hole boundless. It’s inventor with a n/engineer/ s were made. In these revolvers. A surprising in the lever drum. As left is content and technical stuff. What’s up to us to provide are series of patents number of this issue, we illustrate e.com organization, and magazin over a vast range a measuredthe lever drum is further rotated, of subjects. of material the kind sheritage a selection of their varieties of the where you comemikecarrick@arm that’ll grab your that’s charge in. interest and keep labels. you coming back, into the chamber of powder follows the ball When one sees so This magazine . This a gun so different day, you’ll consider that, at the end of the is based on our one has to admire from the usual, hammer and rotates action also cocks the conception your subscription of what we think a percussion cap not only the workman not only money to be you, place. Returnin the ingenuity that into readers, will really well spent, but g the lever to its went into its design. ship, but seals sas like to see, but in orderthe also a good stowed position the chamber. The to make ither. I know it isinvestment. The photographs Bill Calhoun, Arkan will enjoy grandfat what you Isn’t this a gun can then by my what tell the story. A requires by pressing the WW2 frommost So please e-mail Quest ion: from: cleaning. home magazine forthink cross-hatched button be fired as “blowback”. of left grip. your comments to open itwe howwhole photos was broughthave hammer. outThis below the the to attached figured at out the Richard@ project the lift editor in I and is a work that. in progress. “Blowbac armsheritagemaga the sidek”open, The revolver shown know too much other than zine.com we’ll publish both the gives you all an forward, pivot ardopportun don’t fit properly. positive and the to this ity seems to mold Japanese, but I push the triggergu top, tried negative, the and I’ve magazine will open hopefully learn just liking. We need to caliber, and nothing great system! I from both. to hear about what your I don’t know the what you hate, you like, If you like this complim How about ammo? what’s missing entary issue, and what we need more of. we’d appreciate you joining us Figure 1- The gun in this adventure. Subscrip Figure 2. - The shoots round balls We’d also like to basic front-loade maker was more receive quality r cartridges, l to caliber Cup Fire, interested in gadgetryand is not rifled. Apparently and may be booked tions are inexpensive articles r, 32 publication; we 42 the than accuracy. by visiting our 32 caliber Round caliber Cup Fire, 32 Flat Teat ask only that photos for website Fire, Teat Fire and 36 and clear, on neutral be sharp www.armsheritagemagazin caliber Thuer. e.com. See you backgrounds and two months. in articles have a that point, and impart knowledge. Common guns with inscriptio ns, for Richard
A Se lf-L oa din g Ma ste rp iec e
So there you were, an arms manufac the possibilities, ture, salivating and at What did you do? watching S&W sop up all the gravy. Different manufac turers took different played by the rules approaches. Some the Rollin White and developed arms that circumve patent. Others ignored the patent nted protection afforded to produced handgun S&W and just went ahead and s that infringed on the patent. As we will see, the circumventors collection of designs produced a bizarre front of the cylinder, that loaded cartridges from the often requiring cartridges. The specially designed infringers went merrily ahead produced arms and with bored-through actually got away cylinders. Some with their transgres Frank Graves were subject to conducted by costly and humiliat sions while others firms, Brooklyn ing lawsuits. Several Arms, Moore and and did both. Pond hedged their bets Lets look first at are the best those who played themselves, books the by the rules: Next to the arms Plant Manufac can make. During issued books, turing investment a collector g in the 1930’s and 40’s, and Eagle Manufac Company (New Haven, CT) reviewing recently the In addition to age” of collectin be made, the adage “buy look at some of turing Compan retro “golden a manufactured taking y still be (New York City) most could similar design we will also At the time only when great finds front-loa time to time. Although similar proprieta gun” was coined. to find at gun old classics from ry metallic cartridge ding pistols using a book for every were available. cylindrical with copies are not hard s. Cartridges were of today’s books a cupped base are out of print, sites noted in the allow us all to a small fraction whose fulminate, thus the book search of this plus the internet they could be loaded rims contained shows or from Resources section have Today’s offerings interest. and of of the cylinder. tions easily areas from the in our (see Clubs, Organiza contact us, we become expert this issue for details)The Cartridge Hound Departm front else fails, please arms books. ent, magazine. If all al source of used Connecticut Arms access to a substanti Company (Norfolk manufactured , CT) a graceful pocket pistol using the fire” cartridges same “cup as did the Plant and Eagle arms on Colts Brooklyn Arms A Basic Primer Company ( Brooklyn Charles T. Haven of the most complex Colt Revolver, , NY) produced Figure 2- A closeup (about 700 pistols in which one A History Of The of Morrow, 1940. moved forward circular cross-hatch the action. The to admit standard sliding chambers Frank A. Belton, ed button is the and trigger. cartridges into .32 caliber rimfire the rear of the pages) on all phases chambers, thus avoiding the patent barely the dozens of books pioneering restrictions of I’ve lost track of is this the White patent. One of the best A of the Colt story. model of Colt virtually every through tome. It covers from the Paterson and phs handgun and longarm n with clear photograhave all woodsma Colt these the . ons. Although excellent descripti subsequent books, this book Company, Hartford tep, in Manufacturing better step-by-s Patent contains g, done Colt’s which been It presents a fascinatin of a the second section, including Connecticut”. really shines in the manufacture source material every phase of s engraved description of a wealth of primary documentation. revolver with numerou broadsides and Colt percussion for anyone correspondence, “must reading” Figure 4- About however, is a seventeen a dozen 50 caliber illustrations. It’s My favorite section, March 1857 copy of United into a magazine balls are loaded Colts. in the buttstock a interested in early of Figure 6-The slide-forwa of the weapon. page excerpt from at the Armory rd chambers on e, titled “A Day allow the cartridge the cylinder States Magazin to be inserted, technically avoiding conflict with the
Once
Figure 3- The sink marks of Madrid Valentin Sylvestre gunmaker Fombuena
s Meiji. Collector reign of Emperor were Figure 1. - These 26th year of the descriptive sketches and about 59,000 Ammuniti ANSWER: developed in the were taken from on Association in the Tokyo Arsenal,only. the Internation Military Revolver publication “A 1893 and 1935 al Collecting” The Guide to Ammuniti You have a Japanese double-action made between entire book can I on scarce.Clubs, it by hand; it is be viewed on their 26. These were Contacts and Resources website listed under call it the Type cartridges are quite that you can’t cock for in this issue of sure you noticed ; it is unique. Original Heritage Arms .38 Special cartridge produced. I’m Magazine. 9 x 22 mm centerfire my collection alongside a don’t know if this this revolver is from mm Jap Rev.” I The cartridge for of an original 9 mm cartridge ped “Midway 9 have added a photo some modern cartridges headstam s have Cartridge Handgun comparison. I “Japanese Military James D. Brown. MFC still available. this revolver in and about ammunition is Derby know is to by Harry much all there 2003, 384 pages, You can learn pretty PA: Schiffer Military History, 1893–1945,” Atglen,
White patent.
Subscriptions are easy—Just go to our web page, www.armsheritagemagazine.com and follow the prompts. We take PayPal, Credit Cards or you can pay by check Ads are also easy and there are some advantages to the online format: ➢➢ All ads may contain active links which enable the reader to click directly on to the advertisers website. ➢➢ The cost of advertising is half that of hard copy magazines ➢➢ There is no premium cost for color ads ➢➢ Changes to copy can be made up to and beyond publication date ➢➢ Issues, including active links, will be maintained in archives for future reference For details and rates, just click onto our website. Welcome to the future! Dick Salzer ✪ David Carroll ✪ Mike Clark ✪ Flem Rogers ✪ Mike Carrick ✪ Frank Graves
Figure 3. - A loose-pack box for the 32 caliber by Crittenden Teat Fire, & Tibbals
Figure 4. - A 32 caliber Flat Teat Fire box, maker unknown
The
Last Word
Two bucks for a Colt Walker?
T
hat’s about what four and a half pounds of scrap iron and brass is worth. So what makes them regularly bring six figures when they change hands? Answer: we do. It’s good to remind our selves from time to time that these chunks of iron, wood, ivory and brass only have value because there is a universe of like-minded people who see material culture value where none intrinsically exists. Well-established collectors, those who can afford the high prices of today’s arms, are typically older folks with disposable income. Newer, younger collectors are often hard pressed to fork over big bucks for collectable arms. In order for the latter demographic to grow and provide a base for sustained value there has to be an entry point
Your 1840’s - 1940 Colt Specialist Offering you over 38 years of experience, solely in Colt Firearms. Please contact me if you are contemplating or in the process of assembling an advanced collection of percussion or earlier cartridge Colts. I specialize in “minty” Colts from the 1840’s to 1940 period and consistently inventory many examples that are among the finest known for a particular type. As usual, the best comes at a premium. However if you are determined to own a rarified group of pristine Colts, I’m sure I can act as your advisor and assist you in this venture. Please call me if you would like to explore this line of collecting.
Stuart Mowbray’s Man-at-Arms magazine has recognized and effectively addressed this point by regularly featuring articles on inexpensive military and European weapons. We are hoping that this e-magazine approach will also reach and stimulate interest among younger potential collectors by providing a pathway to improve their knowledge. Starting with the next issue and recurring periodically, we will add a feature titled “ENTRY POINT” where we explore areas of arms collecting suitable for new enthusiasts to “get their feet wet” and discover the satisfaction of collecting without excessive expenditures. It is also well to remember the folks that mentored us along the way. Too often at gun club meetings we’ve observed the closed cronyism that shuts out the newcomer. This often intimidates and drives away those we should be encouraging. The old adage that says: “the only dumb question is the one that wasn’t asked” is the attitude of patience and friendliness we should all adopt when dealing with the new collector. We are fortunate to be involved in a category of high quality collectables, along with fine art, coins, stamps, etc. where interest can be initiated at many age levels. Quality collectables have not only held their value during tough times but have served as a haven for capital preservation. On the other hand, many collectable categories can be designated “nostalgia collectables”. These, we believe, will ultimately lose value as their enthusiasts pass along.
Send $5 for our current catalog of vintage Old West collectibles. Choose from over 40 categories. Visit our online catalog. http://www.sweeney-emporium.com