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I think, John, you're discounting that some very good quality guns, generally copies with small differences of popular UK and British guns, came out of Belgium. I think this is one.

As for attributed to Tranter, the "specialist dealer" your buyer took it to is being a little fanciful. It's a nice gun, but honestly, no where near the quality of a Tranter. And who ever engraved it was not bad, but they were no quality engraver.

I reckon you had a nice Belgium copy of a S&W No 1 1/2 and No 2 cross. The original No2 being a Belt Pistol which indicates the size. In the early days of cartridge revolvers, 7 shot .22 and .32 RF were actually quite popular.

Likewise, British private purchase weapons for time spent in the colonies were generally without exception, of service calibre. That ensured you had a regular supply of ammo in the most far flung of places. But that doesn't say there were not other calibers out in the Empire!

British gun makers didn't go much with rimfire. Deemed to be too ineffective when compared to percussion, but saying that, Tranter secured the patent for rimfire in the UK in 1863. These were made in solid frame double action form, dropping the rimfire in 1868 to produce centre fire with other makers quickly following.

Nice non-the-less.

Thank you for the post, I would have loved to have seen it 'in the flesh'

Sim G wrote:I think, John, you're discounting that some very good quality guns, generally copies with small differences of popular UK and British guns, came out of Belgium. I think this is one.

As for attributed to Tranter, the "specialist dealer" your buyer took it to is being a little fanciful. It's a nice gun, but honestly, no where near the quality of a Tranter. And who ever engraved it was not bad, but they were no quality engraver.

I reckon you had a nice Belgium copy of a S&W No 1 1/2 and No 2 cross. The original No2 being a Belt Pistol which indicates the size. In the early days of cartridge revolvers, 7 shot .22 and .32 RF were actually quite popular.

Likewise, British private purchase weapons for time spent in the colonies were generally without exception, of service calibre. That ensured you had a regular supply of ammo in the most far flung of places. But that doesn't say there were not other calibers out in the Empire!

British gun makers didn't go much with rimfire. Deemed to be too ineffective when compared to percussion, but saying that, Tranter secured the patent for rimfire in the UK in 1863. These were made in solid frame double action form, dropping the rimfire in 1868 to produce centre fire with other makers quickly following.

Nice non-the-less.

Morning all,

All very good points, as to the "Tranter connection" I never found out who actually made the link....all I can say is he was sure....I will endeavor to do some more digging.

As you quite rightly say 7 shot .22-.32rf pistols of that era are quite common....but I have yet to see another .32rf 7 shot "Top break"

I would say the engraving is typically English though, this coupled with Birmingham proofs still suggest English origin.....perhaps it was manufactured in Belgium and finished/proofed here?

I do find these 19C, early cartridge pistols fascinating!

Cheers John.