This is a very good example of the five-shot Fourth Pattern Tranter revolver of .54 Bore (.442 caliber) – the “holster size” in company advertising, with matching London retailer’s address on the pistol and label in the case. Tranters were competitors to the Adams and Beaumont-Adams revolvers and like those British pistols had a certain prewar southern popularity that carried over into occasional wartime import by blockade runner. Various models are known bearing southern retailer markings and several are identified to Confederate generals, including Jeb Stuart, who was presented a Fourth Pattern Tranter, which was introduced in 1856 and double-action rather than using double triggers. This pistol is housed in green baize lined oak case with brass key lock and hook latches and a presentation plaque on the top dated 1862, likely close to the pistol’s date of manufacture or assembly: the pistol itself is serial numbered 13857T, and Two Tranters, likely 54-bore 4^th Models, in the 15,000 serial number range are on an 18th Virginia Cavalry company’s July 1864 list of arms. (There is no evidence of a Confederate government contract for the pistols, but they may have been purchased through a government agent. See The English Connection, for details.) This dating also fits the time frame for the retailer’s label inside the case.

The pistol rates very good for condition with only traces of finish near the muzzle and behind the hammer, but all original parts, sharp lettering, numbers, and engraved floral elements, and very good condition wood grips with nice color and surface, tight fit, crisp checkering and no handling dings, scratches or chips. The metal is smooth overall and a muted silver in color with thin, dusty light gray areas, a couple of darker gray spots, though showing a couple patches of shallow freckling on the cylinder and lower right and bottom barrel flat midway from cylinder to muzzle. The slot on the backstrap screw shows some roughness, otherwise the pistol appears untouched.

The left side of the frame and the loading lever are both marked with the typical arched two-line stamps reading “W. TRANTER'S / PATENT.” The top strap is engraved, “B. COGSWELL. 224. STRAND LONDON. The right frame is engraved, “No. 13837.T” The letter indicating a Tranter patent on the lock design and frame improvements. Both sides of the frame have engraved floral scroll motifs at the rear and upper front, as does the rear of the barrel, along with a fan/shell motif, with the floral motifs carried onto the loading lever on the left and on the lower left frame filling the space below the cylinder that holds the serial number on the right. The same floral motifs are engraved on the short back strap, buttcap, and rear of the top strap where the retailer address is framed by border lines with scrolls, as well as on the bottom of the triggerguard. Some of the screw heads show engraved flower motifs. The cylinder bears engraved border lines front and back, and Crown/V and Crown/P proof stamps between chambers at rear. The hammer-shaped safety is place on the right frame as is the cylinder pin spring. The mortised post and bead front sight is in place. The muzzle shows delicate line engraving. The 5” octagonal barrel uses a sighting channel in place of a top flat. The bore is clean, and the action functions well.

The case is oak, mortise and tenon construction with screws, has a brass key lock escutcheon and brass flat latch hooks. The interior is compartmented and lined with a green baize in the top, bottom, and on the compartment dividers. The underside of the top bears the retailer’s paper label matching the address on the pistol. The label shows some foxing, but is fully legible with the exception of part of the bottom line. The royal crest showing he had a warrant is at top and the text underneath reads: “B. Cogswell / Gun, Rifle & Pistol Manufacturer 224 Strand near Temple Bar / London / a large variety of new & s[econd hand guns] rifles & pistols / constantly on hand.” Cogswell started out as a pawnbroker, opened his shop at that address in 1842 and started claiming to be a gunmaker about 1857. He formed a partnership with Edgar Harrison in 1863, nicely dating the label between those two points.

The accessories appear original to the case and consist of the following:

1) Tranter brass bullet mold for casting two Tranter patent round-nose bullets with grease groove. Nice medium brass patina. Sprue cutter marked “54” for bore size and showing some faded blue.

2) Bag shaped powder flask with adjustable spout in very good condition, showing some gilt on the brass and color on the spring, nicely stamped on the brass top: JAMES DIXON / & SONS / SHEFFIELD.

3) Wood cleaning rod, showing some wear to the tip.

4) Cardboard cylinder with extra nipples.

5) Ebony handle screwdriver.

6) Ebony handle cone wrench with vent pick.

7) Tin of Tranter’s patent bullet lubrication with green paper label (partial contents.)

8) Tin of Tranter’s patent lubricating bullets with partial label on top, and nine oxidized bullets.

9) Tin of Eley Brothers percussion caps with embossed cap and green paper label on body.

The top of the case has a brass oval presentation plaque with raised border engraved in script, “JOHN HEWSON BROWN / From his / Father / 1862.” We have not identified him, but his father certainly had good taste in giving him such a nice cased set.    [sr] [ph:m]

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