December 13-15, 2022 Collectible Firearms & Militaria
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 12/14/2022
Massachusetts Arms Company Belt Model revolver with Maynard Tape Priming device and manually rotated cylinder. When these revolvers were originally manufactured, the cylinder was automatically rotated and the ignition system were nipples behind each chamber, much like other revolvers of the period. Unfortunately for Massachusetts Arms Company, Colt saw this as an infringement on their patented revolver system and sued them. They were forced to redesign this revolver, and came up with a push-button system to manually unlock the cylinder for turning of the cylinder and moved to a single nipple near the gas shield and attached a Maynard Tape Priming system for quick reloading. About 2,500 tape primed pocket revolvers were produced from 1851 to 1860. 6" round barrel in .31 caliber with pinched screw in front sight and top strap mounted rear sight. Cylinder is acid etched with floral scroll, and panoply of arms. Maynard tape primer door is engraved with Maynard patent date and US armory eagle with accenting foliate scroll on right and left side of frame and on hammer. 1-piece walnut grips. CONDITION: Very good, with faint traces of original bluing remaining in well-protected areas, and balance turned a gray patina with scattered light freckling throughout. Backstrap and trigger guard retain attractive amounts of their original silver plating. Grips are very good with no major signs of distress. Mechanically fine. Bore is bright with sharp rifling.
Manufacturer
Massachusetts Arms Company