November 15 & 16, 2022 Extraordinary Firearms & Militaria
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 11/15/2022
Massachusetts Arms Company Belt Model revolver with Maynard Tape Priming Device and manually rotating 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 essentially 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. Of these 2,500 manufactured, it is known that 200 were used during Bleeding Kansas as well as Harpers Ferry by John Brown and his men, though the serial numbers were not recorded. The official inventory of arms captured by the Independent Greys states that “12 Mass. Arms Company’s Pistols” were recovered from the Kennedy Farm and reports of the capture of arms indicates “The arms consisted of boxes filled with Sharpe’s rifles, pistols, etc., all bearing the stamp of the Massachusetts Manufacturing Company, Chicopee, Mass.” Reports from the Independent Greys state “The room was littered with Sharpe’s rifles, revolvers, and pikes” and that the “gallant Greys proceeded to possess themselves each man of a rifle and a pair of revolvers…” This belt model revolver features a 6" round barrel chambered in .31 caliber rifled with "pinched" screw-in front sight and top strap rear sight. Cylinder is acid etched with Naval motif featuring crossed cannon and anchor, floral scroll, and bands running the circumference of the cylinder. Top and both sides of receiver are engraved with large floral scroll pattern. Tape primer gate is marked with typically seen US Armory Eagle in shield with "MAYNARD'S PATENT / SEP. 22. 1845" above and below the eagle. Color case hardened top strap, cylinder arbor, frame, hammer, and front strap. 2-piece plain walnut grips with silver-plated backstrap and trigger guard. Accompanying this revolver is period knife with wooden handle and leather sheath. The knife features a clip point blade with wood grip scales, complete with leather scabbard. The knife was supposedly used during the Harpers Ferry Raid. The revolver and knife are both housed in a hardwood case with fitted brown cloth interior, and indents that accommodate both weapons. The inside of the lid features a silver medallion with portrait of John Brown that bears the phrase "SLAVERY THE SUM OF ALL VILLANIES / MARCHING ALONG" around the border. Inside of lid is serial numbered 184. CONDITION: Excellent for its age, with a majority of the original bluing remaining, beginning to mix with a brown-gray patina. Cylinder etching is complete. Frame has turned a dull gray patina with engraving sharp. Trigger guard and backstrap retain nearly all of their silver plating, with the exception of the high edges. Grips are very good with no major signs of distress and minor handling marks. Mechanically fine. Bore is lightly frosted with well-defined rifling. Knife exhibits a blade with gray patina with pitting and freckling throughout. Wood grip scales exhibit scattered dents and handling wear. Scabbard exhibits creases and cracks with several openings on the seam. There are 3 holes at the end of the scabbard indicating there was once a belt loop affixed to the scabbard body. Case is good, with handling marks throughout.
Barrel Length
(A) 6" (B) 14 - 3/8 w/ 8 - 1/2" blade
Caliber/Bore
(A) .31 Percussion
Manufacturer
(A) Massachusetts
Paperwork
Past Auction Description of similar example