A Very Rare Early Cased Percussion Beaumont Adams Revolver. 13” overall, 6” blued octagonal sighted barrel, signed ‘Deane Adams & Deane. 30. King William ST,,T London Bridge’ on the blued top flat, border engraved on each flat, engraved at the muzzle & stamped with London proof marks. With the ‘Improved’ frame, and no “B” prefixed serial number, Blued Adams’ patent rammer, stamped ‘Rigby’s Patent’ in an oval and ‘2239’ on the inside, fitted to left side of frame. Border engraved blued frame decorated with acanthus scroll work on each side, the right side of the frame engraved ‘Adams’ Patent. No, 14,219.R.’, the front frame stamped ‘DA&’ and ‘54’. Cylinder stamped with London proof marks, engraved with serial number “No,, 14,219. R” and engraved at the forward edge and border engraved at the rear edge and with feint case hardening colours. Blued spring safety catch on left, sliding safety bolt on right, arbor pin and screw catch, blued border engraved trigger guard decorated with acanthus scroll work, blued butt straps decorated with scroll work, broad chequered walnut butt with border engraved iron butt plate decorated with scroll work. In its original green baize lined and fitted oak case with plain brass escutcheon on the lid, latches and with Deane, Adams & Deane trade label inside the lid. The case most unusually contains two double cavity brass 54 bore Adams’ patent bullet moulds each stamped “Registered R. Adams 28 Nov. 1851” and “54”, the first for “tailed” bullets and balls, the second an exceptionally rare transitional mould for “tailed” and “untailed” bullets, maple wood loading/cleaning rod with worm, oil bottle, bag shaped copper flask by James Dixon & Sons, nipple key with pricker and leather cap bag with label marked “Made exclusively for Adams’ patent revolver” and Eley trade label (both worn).
Circa 1855.
Very good working order and condition, retaining approximately 90% of its original finish with loss of blueing on trigger guard and no blueing on butt plate.
Note: This actual revolver is illustrated in Plate 6 of “Adams’ Revolvers” by WHJ Chamberlain & AWF Taylerson. See page 118 of “The Revolver 1818-1865” by AWF Taylerson, RAN Andrews and J Firth for references to these very early Beaumont-Adams revolvers with no “B” prefixed serial numbers.
Provenance: Ex-John B Bell Collection. Ex-Dr RCS Pointon Collection. The pistol is accompanied by a copy[ now lost] of a handwritten note from John B Bell concerning the transitional bullet mould stating that this is the only revolver he had ever seen cased for two bullet moulds.”