Forehand & Wadsworth, 1st model, a.k.a. OLD MODEL ARMY, revolver, @ mid-1870's. Chambered for the .44 American.

Forehand & Wadsworth had made their name with pocket size revolvers prior to this model. However, with the enormous demand , created by the Westward movement, they too entered the frontier large frame revolver market. At that time the most significant cartridge revolver was the American by S&W, a full three years before Colt. So, the initial production, was the short cylinder, and chambered for the .44 American cartridge. This example, Serial No.9X is one of the earliest. It has maybe 10-15% of the original blue finish remaining, and the balance a correct plum patina. The wooden grips have a fine antique luster. The hammer exhibits traces and ghost shadows of the case hardening colors. The company applied barrel address is clear and distinct. The half cock, full cock, cylinder chamber alignment, and firing all function perfectly. The at rest trigger position is not engaged ,as the trigger end is slightly worn, BUT in no way effects the half cock, full cock or firing mode. All screw head slots are clean and defined. A very fine example of a rare and scarce Frontier Revolver, and in BLUE, sometimes classified as a Secondary Martial. PRICE $3,995

One of the most sought after calibers of the "Spur Trigger" Pocket Pistol era, is the .41 rim fire, as 99% were all either .32 or .38. This one combines several very desirable features. A two inch octagonal barrel, and in .41. Forehand & Wadsworth was an excellent manufacturer, and a quality product, enhancing the desirability. The NAME of "Swamp Angel" even comes from the famous Civil War cannon. This specimen, Serial No. 812X, is in 99.999% condition, with the original factory nickel plating, and perfect rosewood grips.  The mechanical action is as good as the day it was made! The spur trigger and spring still have their case hardening colors. The company barrel address is clear and distinct, on the left side, as is the name of the model on the top strap. One of the highest quality example offered to collectors. PRICE $850

MARQUES OF LORNE, .32 RIM FIRE, 5 SHOT, MANUFACTURED BY T. E. RYAN, NYC.

Seldom, if EVER seen are the boxes of the small spur trigger revolvers that sold so economically priced in the 1870 -1890 period. Considering the sale price of the revolver at under $3.00, there was no real cause to save a cardboard box.

This Marques of Lorne revolver is a splendid example of revolver, and original box. The revolver has 100% of it's original nickel plating, and remains UNFIRED. The checkered monogrammed grips, with T.E.R in the circle, are in perfect condition. Needless to say, the mechanical action is also perfect. Serial No. 1X, without doubt is the most splendid example of such a Model extant. PRICE $1,250

This is a very scarce and highly sought after Frontier Revolver. Manufactured in a quantity of LESS than 1,000 revolvers, from the late 1870's to about 1880. Previous to this model, Forehand & Wadsworth had made the decision to enter the large frame frontier market. Previously they had focused on smaller Pocket Size revolvers. The Old Model Army .44 was introduced in the mid 1870's, and was limited to about 1,000 revolvers also ! The New Model Army represented design changes. This New Model Army, Serial No. 3X has about 97% of all the original nickel plating, however there is "pepper spotting" on some of the surface. The hammer and trigger guard have all their case hardening color, but it has darkened with age. The Walnut grips are smooth, and have a fine antique luster. All parts are original to the revolver, and all screw head slots are clean. The company barrel address, and patent dates, are clear and well defined. The mechanical action is perfect through all phases of loading, cocking ,and firing.  This is a very superior example of a very scarce Frontier Era revolver. PRICE $4,850

For those of us that are intrigued by the variety and variation of the Spur Trigger revolvers, that were so abundant during the last half of the 19th century, this is truly an ultra-rare model.

THE MOHAWK

Manufactured by the Mohawk Arms Co., Mohawk, New York. This was the ONLY model pistol they ever produced.  It is hard to estimate quantity, but to say a "few" would be nearly accurate. This example has a 2-1/2 inch round barrel, and is chambered for the .32 rim fire, with a 5 shot capacity. It has very attractive "Gutta-Percha" checkered and framed grips.

The mechanical action of cocking, indexing, and firing all function flawlessly. The finish is mostly a gray patina, with about 15% of the original nickel plating remaining. A scarce example of one of the many Spur Triggers of the 1870's period. PRICE $450

HOPKINS & ALLEN, XL No.1, .22 SHORT REVOLVER, ROUND BARREL

This revolver was lost in action, as it is COCKED, and 5 of the 7 chambers remain LOADED! Excavated many years ago, during the course of widening the road in Goldfield, Nevada. Gambler,"Soiled Dove", or just some poor unfortunate, but one thing is for sure, if you lose your pistol while cocked and loaded! something "not good" is happening! PRICE $450

During the last half of the 1800's following the Civil War, Self Protection was a necessity! Whether it be the raw frontier, or city streets back east, every body needed to be armed, as strong arm crime ran rampant. To answer this call manufacturers produced inexpensive Pocket Pistols, easily carried, and concealed. Not an offensive weapon at all, but a defensive one ! One such model was the Ranger Series from Hopkins & Allen. To make stronger sales, they enhanced the appearance of their pistols, either engraved, or DELUXE grips. This Ranger No. 2, Serial No. 28X, has the rarest of all, the Green Malachite grips! It is 100% mechanically functional. The finish is about 55 - 60% original nickel plate, the balance a light gray patina. The REAL OPPORTUNITY here are the grips, exceedingly rare!! PRICE $ 425

BABY HAMMERLESS .22, by COLUMBIAN FIREARMS MANUFACTURING COMPANY, PHILADELPHIA 1896 -1897

POSSIBLY MADE BY FOEHL & WEEKS, THE VERY FIRST MAKER, AS IT HAS PATENT PENDING MARKINGS

This Baby Hammerless is the very rarest, with the patent dates on top of the frame , for 1892 and 1896, showing "Patents Pending ". This is a Black Powder revolver, as most all of this model were post 1898. It has 99.99% of all the original factory nickel plating, and further embellished with a pair of perfect condition Mother of Pearl grips. The folding trigger, and the double action of firing all function perfectly! A true and rare specimen weighing only 7-1/2 ounces. Columbians are never seen! always the later S and K  gripped models. PRICE $500

This is ONE OF THE smallest  American derringers made! It has a 2 inch barrel, and loads by pivoting to the side. Manufactured in a small quantity of under 2,000 pistols, it remains one of the scarcest to find. IN THIS CONDITION almost IMPOSSIBLE to find! Serial No. 500X, is near perfect, with 99.99999% of all the original factory nickel plating, and 100% of the case hardening colors on the hammer, and spur trigger. It operates in all phases of opening, loading , closing, cocking, and firing, in a perfect manner. The walnut grips are in perfect condition, and have a fine antique luster.  All company applied markings are clear and sharp:

A very rare and scarce derringer, and in maximum quality condition. PRICE $1,150

XL No. 8 FRONTIER REVOLVER, in 44/40 CALIBER , SHORT BARREL

The firm of Hopkins&Allen, had been producing high quality, moderately priced , Pocket Revolvers , since the 1860's. However, they also wanted a piece of the ever expanding large frame 44 or 45 caliber, "Frontier" revolver business. In the late 1870's they introduced their XL No.8 revolvers. This was their maiden voyage in producing large frame , high quality, frontier revolvers. They ONLY PRODUCED SEVERAL HUNDRED , and then the production ceased, and they returned to pocket revolver production. This XL No. 8 is a RARE example of the production. It has the famous Red Mottled grips, and a FACTORY 3-3/4 inch barrel. This may well be THE ONLY one of it's kind on the market today for the collector of frontier revolvers. Serial No. 3XX has about 90% of all it's original nickel plate finish, the balance a pleasing, and blending gray patina. All factory applied addresses are clear and sharp. The mechanical functions of loading, unloading, and cocking, and firing, all function 100% correctly. A rare chance for the collector ! PRICE $3,250  

RED JACKET NO.3 by LEE ARMS Co./ WILKES-BARRE, PA. .32 rf

This is one of the many Spur Trigger Pocket Pistols that competed in a vast market during the last half of the 19th century. Many companies produced inexpensive Pocket Pistols, to arm the public. Remember,"self defense" was the main goal, in what perhaps was a "less gentler" America. One of the companies producing small pocket pistols was Lee Arms Co. They made them as attractive as possible, with Engraving and Pearl grips. Serial No. 5299X is one such example. it has about 99% of all the original nickel, and the engraving remains sharp and defined. The Pearl grips are radiant, and in perfect condition. The hammer and trigger have all their case hardening colors. The working action operates perfectly, each time. PRICE $575SOLD

MANHATTAN FIRE ARMS CO., NEWARK, NJ., ///THE HERO

SINGLE SHOT .34 cal PISTOL, a.k.a.   "THE POOR MAN'S DERINGER"

This pistol represented the LAST percussion arm produced by the Manhattan Fire Arms Company in 1868. It has a 3 inch screw off barrel, finished in the blue, the brass frame was left in the bright brass. It has "bag" walnut grips. Serial No. 53X has a dark "plum/blue" patina remaining on the barrel, and the frame has the ideal  "mustard " patina, showing it has never been polished. FEW, very FEW had the name Hero stamped on them, this is one of them !

This single shot functions 100% mechanically correct. PRICE $ 850

During the mid 1870's Forehand & Wadsworth entered the " large " frame frontier revolver market. They produced less than 1,000 of this model. It is slightly different than the very early ones ( under serial No. 50 ) as the cylinder is slightly longer, but still chambers the .44 Russian Cartridge. Serial No. 7XX, has about 40% of the original blue remaining. Strong blue color can be seen in the flutes and in several more protected areas, even some still on frame. The balance is a blending and correct plum patina. The overall appearance is very pleasing and strong. The blue is a real bonus, as almost all were nickel plated. All barrel addresses. and logo's are clear and present. The mechanical action is tight and works crisply. This is a VERY scarce and desired large frame .44 Frontier Revolver. PRICE $3,950  

At the end of the Civil War, the Army in 1867, found itself in possession of 1,000's of percussion long arms. By this time, the self contained cartridge was the future, and the Government wanted to move into the cartridge era. They sent over 30,000 Sharps carbines back to the Sharps Factory, for conversion to cartridge. This Sharps carbine, Serial No. C,613X is one of the factory conversions to 50-70 center fire. This was accomplished by re-lining the old barrels and using 3 groove rifling, so all of the conversions had the same bore diameter. At that time, a new cartouche was applied, DFC to the center of the left stock.

Approximately 27,000 New Model 1863's were "re-finished" in this manner, and issued. This Sharps is one of the 27,000. It has 99% of all the Sharps blue finish remaining, plus, 99% of all the case hardening colors on the frame, just ever so slightly faded. The stock is a smooth oiled walnut, free from damage, and with the new DFC and original military cartouche of "EF". The falling block lever action works 100% correct, and is crisp and exact in it's movements.

The overall condition on this 50-70 Center Fire Sharps Carbine is EXTRAORDINARY, considering they were all issued to Cavalry units for the Indian campaigns. PRICE $5,895

Hopkins & Allen was a prolific maker of the high quality, inexpensive pocket pistol of the latter half of the 19th century. The had an entire portfolio of brand names, and in most cases still applied their name also. This is "The Dictator", Serial No. 927X, a five shot .32 Rim Fire, with a 2-3/4 inch octagonal barrel. It has 99% of all the original nickel, however, some "gray " spotting on the nickel. The cylinder is quite decorative, with three knurled bands around it's circumference. All aspects of mechanical operation are perfect.  The hammer and spur trigger still have all the colors of case hardening. Plus highly ornate, and perfect hard rubber grips. PRICE $ 300

During the last half of the 19th century, small Pocket Pistols, were at their zenith. Many manufacturers made them with "sales names", to stimulate sales. Blue Jacket was the "top of the line" trade name , following  Ranger, produced by Hopkins & Allen. This example, Serial No. 45XX, has about 85% of the original nickel plate finish, and the distinct "hump back hammer",a style indigenous to Hopkins & Allen. In addition it has original IVORY grips, in perfect condition and aged patina. Factory applied roll dies to the top of the frame, listing caliber and model, are all clear and legible. All mechanical aspects from loading to firing all function perfectly. All parts are original to the revolver. A true example of the 19th century Pocket Pistol. PRICE $ 400