Antique Arms of the 19th Century- Firearms Curiosa

 

Norwich Falls "PROTECTOR" .32 caliber rimfire Antique Revolver

This was the first antique metallic cartridge firing revolver that I purchased.

The barrel has "Protector" engraved on the top side,  and "Patent'd April 23, 1878" engraved on the left side.

A replacement spring for the part that rotates the cylinder was needed, and it was a quick and simple job to get this revolver working perfectly.

I am not planning to shoot any black powder cartridges with this revolver. 

It was not manufactured to the same quality standards as Colt , S&W & Remington etc...

The Patent date references a patent for the circular left sideplate/hammer axis pin with slot for turnscrew/screwdriver. 

The catalog sales company Maltby, Curtis & Co.  owned the Norwich Falls Pistol Co. in Norwich, Connecticut between 1877-88 which produced the pistols & revolvers that were sold thru M.C & Co. Catalogs.

Today, Collectors refer to this as a "spur trigger revolver", or a "suicide special".

 My Norwich "Protector" is chambered for .32 Long Rim-fire Black Powder cartridges.

It is a single action, spur trigger revolver with a birds head grip and rosewood grip panels.

Colt New line Pocket revolvers

 

My Colt New Line revolver is the .32 caliber rimfire model, which is the top right in the above advertisement circa.1875

Flitz was the most recommended polish, and with some effort it really did a good job cleaning and protecting the antique nickel finish!

My own personal "Firearms Curiosa"...

Here's a strange looking muzzleloader handgun...circa.1870

There are no identifying markings, but it strongly resembles the early french  Flobert designs in rifles & pistols made throughout the middle of the 19th century, and when compared to the finish of my other antique's with confirmed dates of manufacture, there is no denying that  the age of the lovely patina that coats all the metal parts is as old as 150 years!

I image that this was a talented person's home workshop project, 19th century "bubba gunsmithing"!!! or perhaps someone hired the local gunsmith to build this piece from a damaged Flobert rimfire rifle or rimfire shotgun?

This is a .50 caliber smoothbore barrel @10 inches long.

The "in-line" percussion system is ahead of its time, and the pistol appears to be built from modified Flobert rifle parts, including the cut down wood stock.

I have safely & successfully shot a muzzleloaded .50 caliber PVC/nylon  Riot-Ball with a cleaning patch wad, no powder, and  only a #11 percussion cap, and the results were 👍

I felt the velocity to be similar to a 400-500 fps airguns muzzle velocity, but only a chronograph test will tell for sure.

S&W Revolvers

 

Here is my Smith & Wesson no.1½ New Model .32 caliber rim-fire cartridge revolver which was made in 1875.

To reload this revolver, the barrel was designed to "tip up" and then the cylinder could be  removed.

Shells were ejected with the tool found under the barrel of the pistol.

19th century Photographic Portraits of People & their Firearms

19th Century firearms catalog

 

19th century Revolver Advertising never fails to amuse!!!

 Prior to 1900, life for the average person living in America  was extremely difficult and nothing at all like today.

 Feral dogs roamed in packs and when mass production made  the bicycle affordable, more people were able to pedal further and expand their "world", but also increase their chances of facing dangerous situations during a time when an infected cut may be lethal.

Today, some ads like the first one here would cause outrage among the public, but in 1880, it would have been perfectly normal and understandable.