HISTORY: TRANTER & Kerr Patent REVOLVERS:

William Tranter (1816-1890) made thousands of Adams revolvers in England before modifying that design to produce his own beautifully made cap & ball revolver on the Adams frame (Tranter was related to Adams). I read that Tranter was also a founding member of BSA - Birmingham Small Arms, UK in 1861.

                                 TRANTER FIRST MODEL D/A REVOLVER 1853.

The 1st Model had a most interesting Double-Action trigger system (1853) using two triggers - that he developed jointly with James Kerr** - the lower, outer trigger rotated the cylinder and cocked the hammer - then the trigger inside the guard fired the shot with a light pull. - The hammer had no need of a cocking spur. This first model was sold as the 'Tranter-Adams-Kerr' . These revolvers could be fired by first cocking with the outer trigger -then "single-action" - or the shooter could pull both triggers together double-action when in a hurry - using two fingers.

These double-trigger revolvers were issued to New Zealand troops for use in the Bay Of Plenty campaign in the Hau Hau wars 1864-1868 - but were said to be disliked - as in hasty use the troops tended to pull the big bottom trigger and forget that they also needed to use the smaller one to fire the shot.

Tranter also made more conventional single trigger cap & ball revolvers and from 1863 he secured the patent for rim fire cartridges in England and built guns for these on the same frame:

Tranters are said to have been popular with the Confederacy Army during the US Civil War.
From 1868 Tranter started manufacture of centre-fire cartridge revolvers. - Tranter retired in 1885 having built revolvers for the British Army to use in the African Zulu Wars. Rod says that Tranters were also popular for civilian use in NZ and were issued to The Armed Constabulary in .450" calibre - imported in 1880 and stamped N80Z on the side of the frame.

His guns are found in various calibres and cartridge types .36, .44, .50, .450 Adams and the formidable .577".

                               .577" Tranter with .45"ACP - That would hurt!

                                Video of a lovely late Centre-Fire TRANTER by Rigby.

** James Kerr went with Adams to the London Armoury Company in 1856 where his Kerr Patent Revolver was built. Robert Adams was Kerrs cousin. - Seven of these unusual 5 shot .44" calibre revolvers were held by the New Zealand Colonial Defence Force in 1863 and were used by the Forest Rangers in the Auckland Province area against Maori 'Rebels'.

                 KERR PATENT REVOLVER - with distinctive side-mounted hammer.

Tens of thousands of Kerrs Revolver were sold to the Confederacy (and some to The Union) in the US Civil War.

                                     Good Youtube Video of Kerr Patent Revolver

The London Armoury Company only lasted one year after the American Civil War ended - having lost their best customers - and dissolved in 1866.

Wikipedia is great - and 'Life is Good'.

Marty K
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