The English Revolver

The history of the English revolver from its beginnings in 1818.

Famous throughout the nineteenth century for the quality of its products, the English revolver industry began a steady decline after WWI from which it never recovered. Apart from the famous Webley service revolvers, many products of this important industry are little known outside of the auction house and sale room.

This book sets out to rectify that situation, describing Adam's and Tranter's revolvers, as valued in their day as any of Webley's products, and including guns from the more obscure makers neglected by previous writers. In particular, the chapter on military revolvers is one of the most important sections of the book, beginning with the British government's early purchase of Colt's percussion weapon and concluding with the Webley Service revolvers, strikingly familiar to many who served in the British Army in both World Wars.

Finally, many of the guns are pictured here for the first time, a number having been photographed especially for this book.