Original Item: Only One Available. This is an original British Victorian Tranter Model 1868 double action revolver chambered for the .450 Adams cartridge, with a six shot cylinder, 3 1/4" faceted barrel, Birmingham commercial proofs, and serial number 55958. It is a compact private purchase style revolver of the type commonly associated with British officers, travelers, and other armed civilians during the later 19th century.

This is an antique black powder firearm manufactured before 1899. Under federal law, it may generally be owned within the United States without a special license or permit and does not require transfer through a Federal Firearms Licensee. However, state and local laws may vary. This firearm is sold solely as a historical collector’s item and has not been test fired or inspected for firing safety by a professional gunsmith. Any mechanical or bore observations provided below describe only its present condition and should not be interpreted as confirmation that the firearm is safe to load or fire. The purchaser is solely responsible for complying with all applicable federal, state, and local laws.

Traditionally British Officers, all Gentlemen and from an affluent background, were expected to pay for their own sidearms, both revolver and Sword. Back in the 1600s and early 1700s The Colonel of the Regiment was often expected to provide ALL weapons and Uniforms for the entire Regiment. During Queen Victoria's "LITTLE WARS" after the Crimean Campaign, all over the empire like India, Canada and South Africa, the Private Purchase system was still in full force for Officers. This finally started to change with the 1890s with the Boer War.

Here is an well matured example of a British Tranter "Model 1868" double action revolver, very possibly purchased by an Officer going overseas to one of the many parts of the empire where a military presence was needed. As with all the revolvers made by Tranter, the left frame bears the patent markings and serial number:

We checked the cylinder for a serial, and the only number marking is a stamped 1 on the rear.

William Tranter was a major Birmingham gun maker who made many private purchase weapons at his factory until his retirement in 1885. The basic design of his revolvers was originally developed for cap and ball percussion, but was easily adapted for later Rimfire and Centerfire cartridges. This example is in double action with a six shot cylinder, and features an ejector on a crane located under the barrel, which slides inside the cylinder base pin. Both are released via a push lever on the left side, allowing the revolver to be broken down. There is side gate access on the right hand side to the rear of the chamber for re-loading, and the cylinder base pin pulls out to break down the revolver. It has a 3 1/4" long faceted barrel, and measures about 8 1/8" in overall length.

We checked the top of the barrel and the frame, and we were not able to see any retailer information. It is marked on the left barrel facet with 440, for .440", the land to land measurement for the .450 Adams Cartridge. Surrounding this are the correct CROWN / CROSSED SCEPTERS / BPC "proof" and CROWN / CROSSED SCEPTERS / V "viewed" marks from the Birmingham proof house. The cylinder has additional "viewed" markings on the side of every chamber.

The revolver was originally blued, but most of that finish has worn away with age and use. The metal now shows a mottled gray and oxidized patina with scattered old peppering, together with some scratches from past cleaning. There is additional wear around the muzzle.

The action functions very well in both single and double action. The cylinder indexes accurately and locks up well, with some movement remaining at full cock. The loading gate, ejector rod, cylinder arbor, firing mechanism, and associated controls all operate during manual inspection. These observations describe only the present mechanical condition and should not be interpreted as confirmation that the revolver is safe to load or fire.

The bore is in very good condition with clearly defined five groove rifling and a mostly bright interior. There is evidence of older fouling and oxidation that has since been cleaned, but no major rust damage or extensive pitting is visible. The edges of the lands remain sharply defined.

With its W. TRANTER'S PATENT marking, serial number 55958, .450 Adams chambering, six shot cylinder, 3 1/4" faceted barrel, Birmingham proofs, functional double action mechanism, and very good five groove bore, this is an appealing example of a compact Victorian British Tranter revolver. The loss of most original blue, oxidized patina, old peppering, cleaning scratches, muzzle wear, and slight cylinder movement at full cock are all fully disclosed. It would fit especially well in a Tranter, Victorian British officer sidearm, .450 Adams, Birmingham gunmaking, or advanced 19th century revolver collection.

Specifications:

Year of Manufacture: circa 1875
Maker: Tranter
Serial No.: 55958
Caliber: .450 Adams
Ammunition Type: Centerfire Cartridge
Overall Length: 8 1/8 inches
Barrel Length: 3 1/4 inches
Action: External Hammer Double / Single Action
Feed System: 6 Shot Revolver
Federal Classification: Pre-1899 Antique

Will ship UPS ground due to Ammunition

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 most US States and most U.S. territories.

These antique guns are not sold in "live" condition, and are not tested for 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 most addresses within the United States.