Product Description
SCARCE Antique JAMES WARNER .28 Percussion Pocket Revolver CIVIL WAR Era
ENGRAVED SPRINGFIELD, MASS. Mfg. Pocket Revolver
Here we present an antique Engraved James Warner Patent Second Model Percussion Pocket Revolver, made circa the late 1850s to the 1860s, in Springfield, Massachusetts. James Warner was a prolific inventor and gun maker who was at one time or another engaged with the following gun makers: Springfield Arms Co., Massachusetts Arms Company, Edwin Wesson, Wesson Stevens & Miller, and Warner & Wesson. Production of this cartridge revolver was halted due to violation of the Rollin White patent. Earlier Warner percussion revolvers were also removed from production due to patent infringement suits. Because of these suits, Warner managed to distinguish himself from many other gun makers by being sued for patent infringement and losing twice, to Colt and to Smith & Wesson, respectively—once with his percussion design and once for this cartridge design. As would be expected, he had to stop production in each instance. The first occasion was with Warner’s preemptive manufacture of a revolving percussion rifle, since Colt’s patent was about to expire, when, in fact, Colt received a patent extension. He was forced to cease production and label his guns for S&W on the second occasion.
Colt’s revolver patent would haunt Warner until its expiration in 1857, limiting the features that could be included in the revolving firearms that he produced both with Springfield Arms Company and on his own. As a result, most of Warner’s production, both handguns and rifles, had to have manually rotated cylinders to comply with the court order to cease producing revolving arms that violated the Colt patent. In 1857, with the expiration of the patent, Warner received a new patent and started to produce a small frame, 6-shot percussion revolver that would be his most successful firearm. These guns were also single action percussion revolvers, but adopted a more streamlined round barrel, which was available in several lengths from 2 1/2” to 4”. Only a few hundred were produced in .28 caliber before the “2nd Variant” in .31 caliber was adopted. This final version would be produced through the late 1860s with at least 9,000 of the guns being manufactured.
The overall condition is good. Strong action. Good bore for its age. Markings are legible. Both grips are good with average handling wear. On the left grip, it appears to have at one time some sort of punch done pattern. This example is engraved with traditional designs.
Own the original! This is a legitimate antique and not a reproduction.
Barrel is 2-5/8 inches.
Caliber: .28 Percussion
Overall condition as seen in photos.
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$1350
#240106