A Historic NZ Adams Revolver:

.. Since (postal) bidding on a lot (1302) - that was said to be "A 54 bore Adams Percussion Revolver" I've been researching-reading everything that I can to find-out about this "English" .44" self cocking pistol,

As a man , Robert Adams (1810-1870) seems to have been rather disagreeable - well anyway he repeatedly disagreed with his working associates and terminated their relationships one after t'other .. he might have been a lovely bloke 😍. - The family probably all sat modestly under the vicar's Sunday sermons .. eyes downcast to their top-hats and their white kid gloves on their knees - like all good arms dealers do - bibles hand-in-glove with the sabers & cannon.

And his pistols were built not only in England .. they were so fast-firing, serviceable, & popular as to also be made in London, Birmingham, - Belgium & in Massachusetts America - while the British Empire busily colored the world's atlas red - from the Crimean War 'Charge of The Light Brigade' to the Indian Mutiny, - the Zulu Wars, - and both enterprises of the American Civil War.

CRIMEA: Battle Of  INKERMAN 5 November 1854:

(There are a couple of 'Inkerman Streets' in NZ commemorating this hard won battle)

plus this 'famous' one on TV's Coronation Street

There is no question but these "Adams" revolvers were the first double-action revolvers made and they pushed Colts single-actions out of British manufacture around 1856-57.

- Here are links to two of the best histories that I have so far found:

https://rockislandauction.blogspot.com/2016/02/the-first-double-action-revolver.html

https://www.rockislandauction.com/blog/beaumont-adams-revolver/

My guess is that this gun is a Beaumont-Adams - but I'm thinking that there are sliding linkages between Adams,  Deane - to Deane, Adams & Deane - to Beaumont-Adams, - London Armoury Company, to Tranter & Kerrs & then to Kerr's Patent Revolvers .. In 1867 Robert's brother John Adams left 'LAC' to set-up 'Adams Patent Small Arms Co.' .. & other associated names later are Kynoch (Aston Arms Factory) (& Tranter Brothers Gunmakers) and Schlund - then on again to BSA British Small Arms.

There does seem to have been familial ties somewhat - "kissing cousins" even. - An interesting family to have known. - Someone with money might build-up a hell of a related firearms collection eh.

- NZ Police Arms & Ballistics Officer G G Kelly writes in Chapter 12 of his book 'THE GUN IN THE CASE'  about a Deane & Adams Revolver taken from a museum exhibit seventy-five years after the Maori Wars in Taranaki - The revolver had remained with two chambers loaded .. until a sixteen year old boy playing with caps in an attic, set-off  the old powder & heavily oxidized lead bullet with unintended but deadly impact into his own temple.

______________

But I missed-out ..

The 'bottom line' is that despite my maximum bid exceeding the auction estimate by $500 - the winning bid was for nearly a further $500. - Others recognized that this revolver was an important HISTORIC New Zealand arm.

Marty K.