Original Item: Only One Available. This is an American classic in .44 Rimfire, the cartridge used in the early HENRY Lever Action Rifles! What a punch these must have had!

The story goes that Doc Holiday's part time girlfriend, Big Nose Kate, once drilled some gambler a new belly button with one of these powerful pistols. Using Hammond's "Bulldog" patent, these were made by the Connecticut Arms and Manufacturing Company. Records show production was between 1865 and 1868 and that total production reached fewer than 8,000 units. We originally thought these were produced into the 1870s, however per a historian customer, Connecticut Arms ceased production in 1868 following a mortgage default. This was the result of poor sales, resulting in a large unsold surplus, so the pistols continued to be sold as new through the 1880s, even though they were made over a decade earlier.

The top of the barrel still has clear maker address markings:

There are also mostly clear patent markings on the rotating breech:

The pistol is marked on the on the grip frame with serial number 2799, indicating it was made early in production, probably during 1866, the second year of production. We also noted that 2799 is stamped on the inside of the left grip scale, while there are no markings on the right grip scale. Both show about the same amount of fading to brown, so we do not believe the right scale was swapped out. We were not able to see serial numbers on any other components, however we do not know if they were usually numbered.

This example is in excellent condition, definitely well above the typical examples we see. There is still lots of the original bluing present on the barrel, and the breech block and frame still show some of the original case coloring, which very easily wears away. There is no major peppering or other oxidation we can see, just wear on the corners as is usually seen. The original "gutta percha" composite grips are in good condition, with strong checkering and a slightly faded brown color on the exterior. They are in great shape, with no major cracking or chunks missing, just a tiny chip next to the frame on the left side.

The chamber on these pistols is opened by setting the hammer at half cock and pressing the small stud sight on the top of the frame directly behind the hammer. The breech can then be rotated left to extract the spent cartridge and load a fresh one. This example is fully functional, with the sight releasing the breech, which rotates down and actuates the extractor / ejector correctly to present and retract, after which the cartridge can be removed. We checked the bore, and it is in very good condition, showing a partly bright finish with crisp lands and grooves. There is some scattered oxidation, while other areas look almost new. It doesn't look like this pistol saw much use at all, though it was not oiled at some point, which allowed oxidation to set in in areas. Still, it's definitely better than most we see, which usually show heavy overall fouling.

A great example of a rare U.S. single shot pistol, ready to research and display!

Specifications:

Years of Manufacture: 1865-1868
Caliber: .44 Henry
Ammunition Type: Rimfire Cartridge
Barrel Length: 4 inches
Overall Length: 8 inches
Action: Exposed Hammer
Feed System: Swivel Breech Single Shot

NOTE: International orders of antique firearms MUST be shipped using UPS WW Services (courier). USPS Priority Mail international will not accept these. International customers should always consult their country's antique gun laws prior to ordering.

IMA considers all of our antique guns as non-firing, inoperable and/or inert. Title 18, U.S. Code, Section 921(a)(16) defines antique firearms as all guns made prior to 1899. This law exempts antique firearms from any form of gun control or special engineering because they are not legally considered firearms. No FFL, C&R or any license is required to possess, transport, sell or trade Antique guns. All rifles and muskets sold by IMA that were manufactured prior to 1899 are considered Antiques by the US BATF (United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco & Firearms). Therefore, all of IMA's Antique guns may be shipped to all US States and most nations around the world.

These antique guns are not sold in "live" condition, and are not tested for the the ability to feed or load any type of cartridge. They are sold as collector's items or as "wall hangers" not for use, and we make no guarantees regarding functionality aside from what is stated in the description. Any attempt at restoring an antique gun to be operational is strongly discouraged and is done so at the risk of the customer. By purchasing an antique gun from IMA you thereby release IMA, its employees and corporate officers from any and all liability associated with use of our Antique guns.

Pre-1899 Manufacture, no licenses required, allowed to ship to almost any deliverable address across the globe. Please note that for international shipping, these MUST be shipped using UPS WW Services. International customers should always consult their country's antique gun laws prior to ordering.