April 27-30, 2021 Extraordinary Firearms & Militaria
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 4/29/2021
Massachusetts Arms Company manufactured Belt Model revolver with Maynard Tape Priming device and manually rotating cylinder, serial number 733. 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 2500 tape primed pocket revolvers were produced from 1851 to 1860. 6" round barrel in .31 caliber rifled with acid etched 6 shot cylinder. Matching serial numbers observed on face of gas shield behind cylinder and inside top of backstrap. Rotating barrel retainer marked 275 on face. Left, top and right sides of receiver are engraved with large floral scrolls. Complete with 2 piece plain walnut grips. CONDITION: Good with almost no original finish remaining with the exception of traces in protected areas and the balance turned to a gray patina. Handling marks and light age related pitting throughout. Acid etched cylinder is faint. There was an attempt to reshape trigger guard at some point and reattach it but soldered joint has broken and trigger guard will rotate freely. Grips are very good with some chipping and heavy handling marks toward butt. Action works appropriately when cycled by hand. Bore is mostly bright with heavy abrasion toward muzzle and sharp rifling. TON
Manufacturer
Massachusetts Arms Co.