This is a wonderful example of fully cased, retailer marked example of an English Model 1854 Beaumont-Adamspercussion revolver in the most popular of the combat calibers for these handguns, 54-Bore or .442 caliber. The revolver survives in a wonderful state of preservation and is in a standard English oak casing with accessories and a paper retailer label that matches the retailer marking on the gun.

In 1851 Adams was granted a patent for significant improvements to revolvers by patenting a unique design with the barrel and frame forged as a single piece of steel. This made the pistol incredibly strong and was a much stronger system than any of the other revolver’s system then commonly in use, particularly those used by Colt which used a wedge to attach the barrel to the frame and had no top strap to reinforce the frame. Adams additionally received patents for a spring-loaded, frame mounted safety device and a spring-based cylinder arbor catch that were important features on his 1851 Patent revolvers. 

These fine quality solid frame revolvers were as important to the history and development of the revolving handgun as were the developments and designs of Sam Colt. Adams additionally patented a self-cocking lockwork, which today would be referred to as “double action only”. This mechanism cocked the hammer, rotated the cylinder, and released the hammer, all as the result of a single long pull of the trigger. While this allowed for rapid fire, the long, heavy trigger pull inhibited accurate firing. This action was the basis for Adams’ Model 1851 self-cocking revolvers. In 1854, Lt. Frederick Beaumont developed an improvement for Adams’ lockwork, which produced what would be called a traditional “double action” revolver today. The new lockwork allowed the revolver to operate in the fashion of Adams’ original design but also added the facility to cock the revolver manually and fire it with a lighter “single action” trigger pull. This refinement allowed for more accurate shooting. In 1854 Adams also patented refinements to his original frame design by adding a sliding frame mounted safety on the right side behind the cylinder and an improved cylinder arbor retaining mechanism as well. The resultant combination of design improvements was manufactured as the Model 1854 revolver, known to most collectors as the Beaumont-Adams revolver. This was the variant that was also produced under license by the Massachusetts Arms Company in America, as the Mass Arms Adams pocket revolver in .31 caliber and in a holster sized, .36 caliber version.

In Great Britain the revolvers were produced directly by Adams as part of his partnership with the London based Deane, Adams & Deane, as well under license by Birmingham makers like Joseph Brazier, Isaac Hollis & Sons. William Tranter also employed Adams solid frame in the production of his revolvers. Upon the dissolution of the Deane, Adams & Deane firm, Adams went to work for the London Armoury Company (circa 1857-1858), and his revolvers were produced there as well. Even after Adams left the London Armoury Company to reestablish his own firm, London Armoury continued to produce Adams’ patent revolvers at least until the early 1860s, well into the period when they were also manufacturing Kerr’s patent revolvers. 

This Cased Beaumont-Adams Model 1854 54-Bore Revolver is in EXCELLENT condition overall. The revolver is serial number No 22862 R, with the serial number is engraved on the right side of the frame, below the cylinder and on the cylinder itself. The revolver is also engraved on the frame with the Beaumont royalty tracking number B 7217, above the serial number. The frame marking reads:

B . 7217

ADAMS’ PATENT No 22,862 R .

The top strap and barrel are engraved with the retailer’s name: 

JAS BEATTIE 205 REGENT STT LONDON.

The revolver was made by the London Armoury Company and has the London Armoury trademark on the lower right of the frame lug, near where the cylinder arbor pin enters the frame. While Adams patent revolvers are nearly impossible to date by serial number, the way you can those by Colt or Smith & Wesson guns, we can narrow the time frame for this revolver to circa 1857 or so for production, during Adams’ tenure at the London Armoury Company. The revolver has the 1854 Beaumont improvements and has a Beaumont patent tracking number of 7217. This means that this was the 7,217^th Adams revolver to be produced with Beaumont’s lock work. This patent tracking numbering system was abandoned during the latter part of 1862, when the Beaumont patent expired, so we know the gun was produced prior to 1863.

As the pistol was London Armoury produced, we know it was produced no earlier than 1857, when Adams went to work there and was probably not made after 1858, based upon known serial numbers found on dateable examples. Most of the Adams revolvers with strong Confederate associations are found in a slightly higher serial number range, with the 3X,XXX range having the largest number of identifiable Confederate Adams revolvers. While the Confederacy certainly used some Adams revolvers below the 3X,XXX, that is richest range for Confederate guns. Some good examples include #30,377R which was captured at Stony Creek Station, VA by Lt. William Hyndman of the 4^th PA Cavalry,  #31,915R was owned by Confederate engineer and artillerist Colonel (later General) Edward Porter Alexander and #33,346R is inscribed to Confederate Henry Trent of the 19^th VA Heavy Artillery Battalion. Adams revolvers above this gun’s serial number that have Confederate associations include #36,025 which was Lt. Colonel B.F. Ficklin’s gun, #36,032R which was another of the ANV Adams Dragoon revolvers, #36,604 and #36609, both of which are on the squad list of Lt. Julian Pratt of H Company, 18^th VA Cavalry and  #36,853 which was retailed by P Bouron & Sons of New Orleans, was fully cased and was inscribed to Confederate General William T Martin of Natchez, MS.

The revolver has the assembly number 10930 stamped inside the triggerguard bow as well as on the rear face of the cylinder, on the upper end of the cylinder arbor pin and the inside face of the loading lever. More than likely, it is marked on other parts that can only be found be fully disassembling the revolver are marked in the same fashion. The usual London commercial proof marks of a {CROWN/GP} and a {CROWN/V} are stamped on the upper left flat of the barrel, near the frame. As previously noted, the London Armoury Company trademark is stamped on the lower right side of the frame. The London commercial proof marks are also found alternating between the chambers of the cylinder. All the markings remain clear and fully legible.

As noted, the gun remains in really wonderful condition, and it retains the large majority of its original. The gun retains about 85%+ of its original bright blue throughout, with some thinning, fading and high edge wear. The largest areas of finish loss are mostly confined to the triggerguard, the butt cap, the sharp edges of the 5 ¾” octagonal barrel, along with a few small areas on the frame, barrel and cylinder where the bluing has flaked. The cylinder retains about 90%+ original color casehardening. This is quite uncommon because case colors fade easily when subjected to heat and it does not take a lot of firing to heat up a cylinder enough to start the fading process. Often these guns appear with much of the blue intact, but with the cylinder faded to a pewter gray color, retaining little or none of the color on the cylinder. All the original cones (nipples) are present at the rear of the cylinder and are in very crisp condition. A couple of them even retain their original brass spacers between the cone and the rear the cylinder. All the metal surfaces of the frame and barrel are smooth and in fine condition showing only some moderately scattered flecks of surface oxidation and minor surface roughness mixed with the blued finish and some pinpricking scattered around the top strap, the cylinder and in the cone recesses of the cylinder. The bore of the revolver remains in about FINE condition. It is mostly bright with strong rifling but shows moderate amounts of oxidation with some lightly scattered pitting along its length. The cylinder chambers are in wonderfully crisp condition. They are lightly oxidized but show no serious pitting or wear. The spurred hammer retains some of traces its original polished bright, “in the white” finish, with moderate amounts of scattered and freckled oxidization, discoloration and moderate dulling. The original Kerr’s Patent loading lever is in place on the left side of the pistol and operates perfectly. It rams smoothly and locks securely into place when not in use. The rammer retains about 85%+ of its original niter blued finish, which is thinning, with strong purple tones with most of the wear and loss on the actual rammer and at the friction joint near the front of the cylinder. As noted, the reverse of the lever is marked 10930, matching the assembly numbers found on the balance of the gun. The Adams patent sliding safety is present on the right side of the frame and works exactly as it should. These safeties are often broken and missing but this one remains intact. The safety retains about 75%+ of its original bright niter blued finish, with some fading and finish loss, especially where the safety is handled to engage and disengage it, and with some areas toning toward purple. The Adams improved arbor pin retention thumbscrew is missing and has a period domed head screw in its place. This screw works exactly as it should and is actually a better retention system than the thumbscrew that Adams design. This is another small part that is often missing or broken, and this time a period replacement is in the frame. The original dovetail mounted front sight blade is present and in wonderful condition as well with the fixed notch rear sight machined integrally into the rear of the frame’s topstrap. The revolver is in mechanically good condition and functions flawlessly in in the double action mode. The double action mechanism, timing, indexing, and locking up are all excellent, however the revolver does not function in single action mode, as the hammer will not hold in the cocked position. The one piece checkered walnut grip is in equally nice shape and rates about EXCELLENT condition as well. The grip matches the condition of the revolver perfectly. The grip is solid and complete with no breaks or repairs. The grip retains mostly crisp and sharp checkering, with only a few small areas of minor flattening noted, and shows only the usual handling marks and a few tiny dings one would expect of a gun in this condition.

The revolver is contained in a VERY GOOD condition traditional English oak casing with a compartmentalized interior lined in dark purple velveteen, rather than the typical green baize that was the most common lining for these cased during the period. The lid of the case has period J. Beattie retailer’s label in it. James Beattie worked in London circa 1832 to 1894 as a gunmaker, percussion cap maker and firearms retailer. He was at a variety of addresses during his working life but was located at 205 Regent Street in London circa 1848-1863. This is the address found on both the gun and the label. In 1864 the firm was renamed James Beattie & Son and in 1881 was renamed again as James Beattie & Co.

The case shows moderate wear with a couple of minor cracks and some minor slivered loss here and there. The exterior shows numerous scattered bumps, dings, mars and marks. The stops of the brass “bible” are sprung, and the lid does not remain erect in the 90-degree position when it is opened as it should. Instead, the lid keeps folding back, almost to the 180-degree position. The interior of the casing shows moderate wear as well, with some loss to the lining, as well as wear, thinning, fading and staining. The lining shows moderate wear and discoloration, and the compartment dividers show moderate wear as well, with some glued reinforcement at the joints and angles where the thin wood was damaged or came loose. Some of the dividers are still somewhat loose, the result of the case being transported with the gun and accessories in it. The case has all open topped compartments with no lids. The accessories and accoutrements in the casing include the following:

1) A correctly marked “54” bore dual cavity brass bullet mold. The mold casts two nominally .43 caliber bullets, one round and one conical. Both are cast with the tails to produce the Adams “dust bin” type cartridges. The mold has a blued steel sprue cutter. The mold remains in FINE condition with a rich, uncleaned patina, much of the blue on the sprue cutter and fine, crisp cavities.

2) An unmarked copper pistol flask of English style that remains in VERY GOOD condition with much of its finish intact, some minor dings and a fully functional charger.

3) A VERY GOOD condition unmarked pewter oiler.

4) A VERY GOOD brass tipped ebony cleaning and clearing rod.

5) A VERY GOOD+ medium sized bright steel turnscrew with a rosewood grip. This one fits the arbor pin retention screw perfectly.

6) A VERY GOOD+ small sized bright steel turnscrew with a rosewood grip. 

7) A VERY GOOD condition jappaned cap tin with traces of a paper label on the tin’s body.

8) The screw for the case’s lock, which fits the lock and works as it should.

The accoutrements are all period and at least some, most notably the mold, are almost certainly original to the casing, although tools and accessories like these were often lost and replaced during the period of use, as well as in the decades that followed. The accessories are all very nice and display wonderfully with the cased set.

Overall, this rare, cased holster sized Beaumont-Adams revolver has a great visual presence and displays exceptionally well. This wonderful large caliber Adams would be an outstanding addition to any collection of Civil War era or English percussion revolvers. It is in fantastic condition that is very attractive. This lovely fully cased revolver would surely make a wonderful addition to any advanced percussion revolver collection.