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This is the second of a two part posting. The first part
was on the English made "Adam's patent "Deane Adams & Deane
5 shot .44/.450 caliber double action percussion revolver. This
week's posting features the American made Adams/Massachusetts Arms
Company 5 shot .36 caliber double action Navy percussion revolver.
As stated in Part I, both of these arms, with a few exceptions,
share the same design and makeup. A large number of Adams revolvers
were used by both sides during the Civil War. These include the
500 or so bought by the government from The Massachusetts Arms Company
during the period of 1857 to 1861 and 1,049 imported English made
Adam revolvers purchased on the open market from 1861 - 1866. Additionally,
at least 1,000 Adams are known to have ran the blockade into the
South. Many were also privately purchased by officers on each side.
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TOP:
DEANE ADAMS & DEANE 5 SHOT .44/.450 CALIBER DOUBLE ACTION
PERCUSSION REVOLVER
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THE MASSACHUSETTS ARMS COMPANY ADAMS 5 SHOT .36 CALIBER DOUBLE ACTION NAVY PERCUSSION REVOLVER U.S. GOVERNMENT PURCHASE & ISSUE
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The American made, English designed Massachusetts Arms Company revolver,
pictured above, is one of only four types of percussion revolvers
to have been made for U. S. military use prior to the Civil War.
The others were Colts, Remington Beals, early versions of the Savage
and the Starr double action revolvers. It is also the only percussion
revolver made for U. S. military use with checkered grips as a standard
feature. Government inspector cartouches are stamped in the left
and right sides of the one piece stock. On the left is "LCA" (Lucius
C. Allen). On the right is "WAT" (William A. Thornton). Both are
in script and both are quite worn, but visible, on the arm pictured.
The serial number, "217" is stamped on the left front lower frame
next to "ADAMS.PATLNT (PATENT)" over "MAY. 3D1858" (looks like 1863)
and on the cylinder, towards the rear, just forward of inspector's
initials "A" and "T". On the right lower frame, under the cylinder
opening, is the stamping "PATENT" over "JUNE 3.185?(6)". The top
of frame is stamped "MANUFACTURED BY / MASS. ARMS CO. / CHICOPEE
FALLS." in three lines with the center stamping being the larger
of the three. There is also an "A" stamped on the operating (loading)
lever rearward to the stamping of "KERR'S.PATENT" over "APRIL 14,
1857". Additional inspector's initials and locations are a "T" on
the left rear frame just forward of the left corner of the stock,
an "A" on the left forward upper frame above the plunger groove
and on the outside bottom of the trigger guard, and a "C" on the
forward lower frame just above the spanner screw which can only
be seen when the loading lever is drawn up and pushed rearward.
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INSPECTOR STAMPING LEFT SIDE OF STOCK "LCA" (Lucius C. Allen)
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INSPECTOR STAMPING RIGHT SIDE OF STOCK "WAT" (William A. Thornton)
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SERIAL NUMBER "217" PLUS "ADAMS.PATLNT" (PATENT) MAY. 3D 1858" LEFT FRONT LOWER FRAME
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SERIAL NUMBER "217" PLUS INSPECTOR MARKS "A" & "T" ON CYLINDER
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"PATENT / JUNE 3, 185? (6)" RIGHT LOWER FRAME UNDER CYLINDER OPENING
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"MANUFACTURED BY MASS. ARMS CO. CHICOPEE FALLS." TOP OF FRAME
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KERR'S.PATENT APRIL 14, 1857" & "A" LOADING LEVER
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"T" - LEFT REAR FRAME
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This two pound, nine ounce "self cocking" double action 5 shot .36
caliber revolver can also function in a single action mode. It measures
12-1/2" overall in a straight line from muzzle to the base of the
back strap. The blued octagonal 3 grooved barrel is 5-7/8". The
4" one piece walnut grip is checkered on most of it's surface. The
grip is smooth on each side in a triangular shape from the lanyard
ring (?) hole down to the butt cap. The recoil shield is part of
a separate metal insert retained by a screw on the left side of
the gun. There is a cylinder arbor thumb screw located forward of
the cylinder on the right side. Turning it allows for the removal
of the cylinder arbor for removal from the front. Depending on the
number of turns, one can either move the arbor forward to remove
the cylinder while retaining the arbor in it's channel or it can
be removed in it's entirety. To the rear of the cylinder, on the
right side, is a safety catch that when pushed forward enters one
of five slots cut into the rear of the cylinder, locking it in place,
which prevents the hammer from being cocked in either a double or
single action mode. The cylinder is 1-15/16" long. The Kerr patent
operating or loading lever is carried on the left side of the barrel.
It is held in place by a catch attached to the barrel 1/2" from
the muzzle. The operating lever, when drawn up, is pulled back to
actuate the plunger and pivots on a large spanner screw that enters
the left side of the frame. The plunger action seats the bullet
in the cylinder. All metal parts are blued except the butt cap and
trigger which are cased-hardened.
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| VIEWS
OF RIGHT AND LEFT SIDES OF ADAMS / MASSACHUSETTS ARMS CO. WITH CYLINDER
& CYLINDER ARBOR PIN REMOVED (Note Raised Loading Lever)
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FRONT OF CYLINDER
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REAR
OF CYLINDER
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SAFETY CATCH (On)
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BUTT CAP
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The notched low rear sight is integral to the frame. The front 1/4"
high blade sight is dove tailed into the barrel and presents a triangular
sight picture. As in the case of the Deane Adams and Deane, the
shooter's hand is protected from the hammer by the pronounced hump
at the top of the grip. This arm is very well made and sturdy to
the hand. It appears to be an excellent and rugged military weapon.
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OBLIQUE VIEW OF HAMMER AND REAR SIGHT
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SIDE VIEW OF HAMMER
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TOP VIEW
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BOTTOM VIEW
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LEFT SIDE VIEW
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Reference credits go to "A HISTORY OF FIREARMS" by Major Hugh Bertie
Campbell Pollard, "CIVIL WAR GUNS" by Edwards, "U.S. MILITARY SMALL
ARMS 1816-1865" by Reilly, American Rifleman Reprint -R7, "CIVIL
WAR SMALL ARMS" - Articles on "Civil War Revolvers, Part 1 of 2"
by C. Meade Patterson and Cuddy De Marco, and in the same publication,
"Production and Purchases of Civil War Revolvers" by John F. Baenteli
and, of course, "FLAYDERMAN'S GUIDE TO ANTIQUE AMERICAN FIREARMS...
AND THEIR VALUES" by Norm Flayderman.
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Credit must also go to Reed Radcliffe, my son, the web master of
this page, for his expertise and work in transforming this detail
from the typed word to this web page.
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| Dave
Radcliffe
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