Percussion Colt or percussion Adams?

[Bill in Oregon]

In the early 1850s, there was a keen competition between Sam Colt and Robert Adams to capture the imagination --and contracts -- of the British military. Colt's American revolvers were of course single-action and intended to be used accurately and at times out to near rifle distances. Adams' revolvers were what we now call double action but were then called "trigger-action"; just pull the trigger as rapidly as you need to shoot in close-quarters combat. There was considerable debate on the two different design approaches, but at least one officer who fought in the Crimean War came down solidly on the side of the Adams. I can scarcely blame him!

crimeaadams.jpeg

[barbarossa]

ARSA in Spain now makes a replica BP Adam’s revolver

[Griff]

The Colt is much more comfortable to shoot.

[barbarossa]

The weak point on the adams revolver was the loading lever ,they are not as robust as the colt and remington

[Bill in Oregon]

Barbarossa, I have been following the ARSA reproduction's progress over on the British militaria forums, but don't know if they will ever actually reach the market. Would love to have one -- just a plain-vanilla service-grade example.

[Ysabel Kid]

I would love one too! Did they commercialize it?

[Old Savage]

Trigger action is a better description. What would sensibly be DAO?

[Grizz]

In the early 1850s, there was a keen competition between Sam Colt and Robert Adams to capture the imagination --and contracts -- of the British military. Colt's American revolvers were of course single-action and intended to be used accurately and at times out to near rifle distances. Adams' revolvers were what we now call double action but were then called "trigger-action"; just pull the trigger as rapidly as you need to shoot in close-quarters combat. There was considerable debate on the two different design approaches, but at least one officer who fought in the Crimean War came down solidly on the side of the Adams. I can scarcely blame him!

crimeaadams.jpeg

This is interesting. I spent some time today reading up on the Webley-Fosbery Automatic which made a semi-auto revolver that got some service useage . . .
.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Webley–Fo ... c_Revolver

there are other links and they are shot and collected . . . some have been converted to 45 ACP. It's a good read.

grizz

[jeepnik]

A shootable Webley-Fosbery is my grail gun. I came close once. But the $7000 was out of reach with two kids.

[gamekeeper]

Where I used to live the local churchyard had the grave of an officer of the Crimean War with the image of a Colt Navy on the headstone. I have never seen another headstone with a firearm depicted on it, I did have a photo but can't find it.

I should add that he died of old age not because he favoured the Colt.

[Ysabel Kid]

I should add that he died of old age not because he favoured the Colt.