Item Description
Original Item: Only One Available. This is an interesting item with a good story behind it. Just before the Civil War in 1855, the U.S. issued a Patent for a "drilled through Cylinder", known as the Rollin White Patent. It was properly titled "Improvement in Repeating Fire-arms", and was a very important patent that affected the entire industry. Many firearms companies chose to ignore the patent however.
WILLIAM P. UHLINGER of Washington D.C. saw an opportunity, however he patent for drilled cylinders howver was NOT his property, so what he envisaged was a Patent Violation. He purchased gun manufacturing machinery from William Hankins, and started producing his own version of a breech loading revolver. These were made in .32 rimfire caliber and featured a protected "Spur" trigger, and a removable cylinder for loading from the rear. The revolvers were made to a high quality and fitted with fine wood grips. It was not long before he received a Cease and Desist Order, however all he did was change his marketing, using a different name. He marketed under the name of D.CONE, then LOWELL and finally GRANT of Washington D.C.
We do not know how he ended up, but it is felt some 10,000 of these Revolvers in violation of the Patent were produced and sold. Most of these seem to have ended up in the Confederacy. The Rollin White Patent became the property of Smith & Wesson and NOT William P. Uhlinger.
Our example is in particularly nice Condition and is Marked D.CONE WASHINGTON D.C. on the top of the barrel, and has serial number 1703 on the frame, barrel, cylinder, and even the loading gate edge. It is in lovely condition in polished steel finish, the grips showing little use, save a tiny toe chip to the forward of the right hand side. The revolver functions correctly, and still has the spring-retained ejector rammer under the barrel. The action can be a bit finicky, as it is over 150 years in age.
The markings on this revolver are minimal and very small, for obvious reasons and this is a very fine Revolver in great condition, ready to display!
Specifications:
Year of Manufacture: circa 1860
Caliber: approx. .32 cal
Ammunition Type: Rimfire Cartridge
Barrel Length: 5 inches
Overall Length: 10 1/8 inches
Action: Single Action
Feed System: 6 Shot Revolver
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.
- This product is not available for shipping in US state(s): New Jersey
This product is available for international shipping.
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 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.
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