Antiques Topic - antiques blog

This antique revolver was produced by Webley & Scott of Birmingham from 1899 to 1939. The Webley Fosbery Automatic was designed by the English officer G. Vincent Fosbery. This revolver wasn’t designated as an official service weapon of the British Army, because its complicated construction, but many officers paid for their own Webley-Fosberys. This great gun was used until after the First World War .

The antique revolver of repeating-action is based on the recoil energy of the fired cartridge. When fire the first shot, the hammer had to be cocked manually into the single-action position. After the shot was fired the barrel and cylinder were pushed back 20 mm. This load the hammer again and rotated the cylinder by 1/12 turn. The barrel and cylinder had moved-back far enough, a catch spring pushed the barrel and the cylinder forwards again, while the cylinder rotated through another 1/12 turn. Next cylinder chamber was in front of the barrel. The repeating-action fire the last five shots carried out automatically caused by the recoil energy. The cylinder stop that locks, and the cylinder has been housed in the upper bridge. The stud for the repeating action is located in the frame below the cylinder.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS:

-Calibre: .455 or .38″ ACP

-Catridge capacity: six-shot

-Operation: single action

-Firing system: centre fire

-Breach-loading: bolt handle on upper bridge

-Length: 220 mm, 270 mm or 307 mm (8.7″, 10.6″ or 12.1″)

-Barrel length: 102 mm, 152 mm or 190 mm (4″, 6″, 7.5″)

-Weight: 33.2 to 37.7 oz. (940 to 1070 g)

-Stock: walnut

-Sight: fixed

-Safety: rotating safety sea on the left side of the frame

The Colt 1862 Police model has a pretty styled frame with a milled cylinder.

This antique revolver was also referred to the 1862 Belt model. Between 1861 and 1873 were built almost 30.000 revolvers, later many of them were converted into cartridge revolvers. This antique gun with a 3.5″ (89 mm) barrel doesn’t have a ramrod.

Some of these guns were sold in a red leather book-shaped case with the inscriptions “Colt’s Pocket Companion” and “Colt on the Constitution of higher Law and irrepressible Conflict”.

Hege Uberti produce excellent replicas of the Colt police (1862) with: 5.5″ or 6.5″ (140 or 165 mm) barrels.

Uberti 1862 Police .36 Blackpowder, 6.5 Inch

Uberti 1862 Police .36 Blackpowder, 5.5 Inch

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS:

-Calibre: .36″ (9.1)

-Catridge capacity: five-shot

-Operation: single-action

-Firing system: percussion

-Breach-loading: N/A

-Length: 216 mm, 241 mm, 267 mm or 292 mm (8.5″, 9.5″, 10.5″, 11.5″)

-Barrel length: 89 mm, 114 mm, 140 mm, 165 mm (3.5″, 4.5″, 5.5″, 6.5″)

-Weight: 725 g (25.6 oz.) with a 3.5″ barrel

-Grip: walnut grip in one piece

-Sight: fixed

-Safety: half-cock hammer

The Colt 1882 Sheriff’s (Storekeeper’s) revolver derived from the 1873 SAA model; the sheriffs revolver hasn’t ejector rod. This American gun was produced by Colt, in a lot of versions and calibers between 1882 and 1898, its serial numbers reach 70.000. The American Cimarron Firearms Company built an excellent replica.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS:

-Calibre: .44-40 Win

-Catridge capacity: six-shot

-Operation: single-action

-Firing system: centre-fire

-Breach-loading: N/A

-Length: 216 mm (8.5″)

-Barrel length: 76.2 mm (3″)

-Weight: 950 g (33.5 oz.)

-Grip: walnut grip in one piece

-Sight: fixed

-Safety: half-cock hammer

My father told me to post some antique british firearms so i choosed one of the best, the Kerr revolver.

Designed by the English gunsmith John Kerr in 1858, this revolver was produced by the London Armoury Company. Some versions had a small sear below the external hammer; After cocking it could be locked. The pin from behind the hammer is the removable cylinder pin. In 1859, Kerr built a double-action revolver at the request of the British Army. Although this fire-arm wasnt chosen as a military revolver, was very popular, particularly in the British colonies. This revolver was also used by the Portuguese Army (.440″ calibre version).

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS:

-Calibre: .380 or .440

-Catridge capacity: five-shot

-Operation: single-action M1858 or double-action M1859

-Firing system: percussion

-Breach-loading: N/A

-Length: 280 mm (11″)

-Barrel length: 140 mm (5.5″)

-Weight: 1220 g (43 oz.)

-Grip: nut

-Sight: fixed

-Safety: half-cock hammer

The Martini-Henry rifle was developed from 1866 to 1871. This antique rifle was a mixture of the Henry rifles and the Martini falling-block action. Frederich Martini (1832-1897) was a Swiss gunsmith, who improved the American Peabody falling-block action. Alexander Henry (1817-1895) was the owner of gunmaking company in Scotland.

These two antique gunsmiths displayed their prototypes to the British Army firearms probes(1867-1869) to find a substitute for the Snider Rifle. This antique rifle was used in the Zulu War and the Second Afghan War in 1878; and in the African Boer War of 1881.

The best models of the Martini Henry production are:

-Mark I (1871-1876): Length of 124.5 cm, with a lanyard eye at the butt of the rifle.

-Mark I Cavalry Carbine: Length of 95.8 cm.

-Mark I Artillery Carbine: Length of 95.8 cm.

-Mark II (1877-1881): Length of 125.7 cm.

-Mark III (1881-1888): Length of 125.7 cm.

Today many Martini-Henrys are used as sporting rifles.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS:

-Calibre : .450-577″

-Catridge capacity: single shot

-Operation : single-action

-Firing system : centre-fire

-Breach-loading: falling block action

-Length : 121.9 cm (48″)

-Barrel length : 85.1 cm (33.5″)

-Weight : 3.9 kg (8.6 lb)

-Sight : graduated sight

-Safety : loading indicator on right hand side of frame

-Stock : walnut

Today we make a reference to this great piece of art.
The pepperbox pistol was produced from 1859 to 1874; between 1859 and 1862 by C. Sharps & Co. . In 1862 this company merged with Hankins Philadelphia and the name was changed to Sharps & Hankins, four years later this company split-up and Sharps take his company name again until 1874.

Were built four models of this antique firearm:

First model- Built from 1859 to 1862 by C. Sharps, and from 1862 to 1865 by Sharps & Hankins (inscriptions in frame). Produced in calibre .22 short with a 2.5″(64 mm) barrel.

Second model- Built in 1861 and 1862 by C. Sharps & Co, and from 1862 to 1865 by Sharps & Hankins (inscriptions in frame). Calibre .30 rim-fire with a 2.5″ (64 mm) barrel.

Third model- Made by Sharps & Hankins between 1863 and 1866. Calibre .32 short rimfire with a 3.5″ (90 mm) barrel.

Fourth model- Made by Sharps & Hankins from 1863 to 1866 and by C. Sharps & Co between 1866 and 1874. Produced in calibre .32 long rim-fire with a 2.5″ (64 mm), 3″ (76 mm) or 3.5″ (90 mm) barrel and a round grip section.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS:

Calibre: .22″ short, .30″, .32″ short or .32″ long

Catridge capacity: single-shoot (per barrel)

Operation: single-action

Firing system: rim-fire

Breach-loading: bolt pin below grip section

Length:95 mm (3.7″), 108 mm (4.3″) or 120 mm (4.7″)

Barrel length: 64 mm (2.5″), 76 mm (3″), 90 mm (3.5″)

Weight: 295 to 325 g

Grip: walnut

Sight: bead

Safety: half-cock hammer

Charles-Honoré Lannuier born in France in 1779 until 1819 . In 1803 the French cabinetmaker emigrated to New York. He was one of the first French cabinetmakers who enriched the American furniture. Lannuier had a exelente knowledge of the French furniture decorative designs and the fashionable topics, that it applied to the anglian-american inspiration in a style known like “classic” American. The work of Lanuier is extremely artistic, uses: exotic wood, inlaid brass and detailed gilded bronze mounts.

                     Card table 1817

The history of firearms is related to the invention and the development of gunpowder. The first references was found in ancient Chinese documents, one from the year 618 b.c., referred to some form of gunpowder which was mainly used for fireworks, but also as a propellant for projectiles,which not arrived to Western world until the 15th century. The Great Wall of China (constructed 200 years b.c. aprox.) , was built by the Chinese Emperor Schi Huang Ti as a defence against Mongol, has been built with embrasures for the firing of guns. In the Greek Era some 200 years later, fire was sometimes used as a weapon during wars, the Greek philosopher Aeneas wrote a dissertation on firebombs. This outlined the use of the called “Greek Fire”, a mix of: oil, resin, lime, flax and sulphur. The oil allowed Greek fire to float on water, very used in naval battles. In the early Middle Ages alchemists experimented with the composition of this incendiary. Antique documents refer to the ingredients: charcoal, pitch, camphor, tartaric acid, saltpetre, salt and sulphur. It wasnt until the end of the Middle Ages that gunpowder was introduced to the Western world.

One theory say that the secret was brought fromChina to Europe by Marco Polo, the famous merchant who travelled crossing Europe to: Peking , Russia and China, in the period 1271-1292. Also are theories that say that gunpowder was discovered in Europe, these theories mention the names of Roger Bacon (a Franciscan monk) and Berthold Schwarz (a monk from Germany). This latter theory isnt very posible and its more probable that Schwarz and Bacon already knew that gunpowder existed due to merchants contacts with the Orient. The mixture of black powder is :70% saltpetre, 20% sulphur and 10% charcoal.

The development of firearms began in the early 14th century when it was discovered that black powder could not only be used to make attractive fireworks. The first handguns also emerged during the middle 14th century various names for firearms had appeared, such as bombard, bombardelle (a small cannon) and mortar. Another version is the Arquebuse (a wooden stock with a short iron barrel on it). In the 15th century every city had its own iron or bronze cannon to defend the city walls. Initially pebbles were used as the projectiles for cannons, but soon amunition was forged from iron.

After this the carriage-mounted with a cannon appeared, a good example of this is the canon of Mons in Belgium which dates back to 1449. Until Medieval times knights were very well protected against spears,arrows and swords by their armour, this changed when the use of gunpowder increased; their armour could be easily penetrated. The technology advanced since that time, but the antiques principles still apply: an iron barrel, sealed on one side, with a small hole left open, or added later.The charge and the gunpowder were driven down into the barrel through the open end. The gunpowder was then ignited and the projectile was forced from the barrel.

Throughout the centuries the antique table was developed, to become a wood board placed on a small horse, in the huge variety of forms that are today. The evolution of the table show the change in the social habits that accompanied in the increase of the home comfort and  leisure activities, as well as the social and domestic life.

The furniture that existed in the Average Age was reserved for the high class, whose life style demanded easy transportable pieces. The first tables were simple, wood board placed on small horses, that could dismount themselves to convenience. The more established communities like the monasteries, had more: permanent, heavy and rectangular tables. The refectory table produced generally of oak, received this name because was used to eat. In the 17th century people began to eat in dining rooms and more flexible tables were produced with compact forms; like a round or oval table, with folding eaves on hinges. While the small round tables were used to place candles.

The round wood table of the 17th century evolved in 1730 decade when appeared the table withthree legs and often with folding boards. The small auxiliary tables supported against the wall, were transformed into the most elaborated and formal table. The dining room table with pedestal supports were introduced in the last 20 years of 17 th century. The Victorian homes were full of tables for each moment. The prosperous middle-class and its families ate in dining rooms, in a large central table that could be extended. In the 20 th century new materials were used like: metal, crystal or plastic, to produce versatile tables.

Founded on Lancaster towards 1730, this furniture manufacturers company already had showcases opened in 1769 in Oxford Street, London. The company made furniture for the national market and the export, mainly for the rich middle class next to Liverpool and Manchester.

At the end of the 18th century and early 19th century, Gillows was the first to make and popularize new forms in antique furniture, as the Davenport table and the tables quartetto nest. The company acquired the fame by the quality of its materials, the exquisite construction and the good crafts, mainly at the historical time of revivals in 19th century, when Gillows made furniture of neogothic style according to the Arts and Crafts movement designs.