What is this percussion revolver?

[TreeMan]

A friend has this. The writing is on the butt. Not pictured (top of barrel has Osborne written on it).

 

[jaegerstutzen]

A friend has this. The writing is on the butt. Not pictured (top of barrel has Osborne written on it).

Treeman, I'm gonna guess British Tranter. Pictures kinda dark for my old eyes.Some imported during civil war. (ours). If that is Roanoke Va on the butt, you may have something there.

 

[Flintlock]

I too think it is some form of Tranter going by the loading lever or possibly a Belgian copy of. Either way you have a very sweet somewhat rare gun.

 

[TreeMan]

Treeman, I'm gonna guess British Tranter. Pictures kinda dark for my old eyes.Some imported during civil war. (ours). If that is Roanoke Va on the butt, you may have something there.

Thanks. Do y’all think the Osborne stamped on the top barrel flat was a contractor that actually made the gun?

 

[OldMaineWoodsman]

Charles Osborne was a manufacturer established in Birmingham, England in 1838. His address at one point was 12-14 Whittall Street. Later he added offices in London, Edinburgh, and Glasgow.

He could have produced the revolver or possibly sold it through his business. Proof marks would establish this with country of origin.

There is a record in Ancestry.com for a Civil War Veteran named John R. Sheffield from Virginia. If that is the correct spelling for his name on the butt of the revolver, that would be an interesting research project.

 

[user 33882]

I've generally seen similar revolvers referred to as English "Wedge Frame" revolvers. I would assume it has some Birmingham proofmarks.

 

[rickystl]

Congratulations to your friend. Very nice piece. The script on the butt cap is a triple plus !! Very nice collector piece.
The piece looks similar to the English Adams Patent Revolvers of the same period. Is it double-action ?

Rick

 

[TreeMan]

Congratulations to your friend. Very nice piece. The script on the butt cap is a triple plus !! Very nice collector piece.
The piece looks similar to the English Adams Patent Revolvers of the same period. Is it double-action ?

Rick

I’m not sure whether it is or not. I’ll ask him.

 

[user 33882]

Lot of the English revolvers have the same basic look as the Adams, but the usual Adams revolvers are built with one-piece barrels, top straps, and frames. Given the amount of space behind the trigger and the popularity of double actions in the percussion era in England, it sure looks to be a double action design.