Guns International #: 101566167

Category - Antique Revolvers - Cartridge - Civil War Revolvers

Category
Antique Revolvers - Cartridge
Civil War Revolvers

Cased Plant / Eagle Mfg Front-Loading Revolver

Description:
Rare Cased Example of a Plant Mfg Front-Loading Revolver made during the early to mid 1860's.  This one is marked "Eagle Mfg. NY".  The barrel and cylinder still retain most of their bright original blued finish while the frame has nearly all of its original silver plating.  Varnished Rosewood Grips are Excellent.  Action is in nice working condition.  Unlike most Plants you see, this one still has its original cartridge ejector in the slot on the right side of the frame....these are almost always missing.  The Original Wooden Case is in Very Good Condition with a Compartment for a box of .30 Cupfire Shells.  You can clearly see the outline of the high spots of this revolver worn into the red velvetine lining of the case....the revolver and its case have clearly been together since new. 

History: These were built for just a few short years to get around the Smith and Wesson controlled Rollin White Patent for a Bored Through Cylinder.  This patent effectively side-lined all of Smith and Wesson's competitors from legally producing cartridge revolvers from the mid-1850's until 1871.  Rollin White is said to have come up with the idea for a cartridge revolver while working as a sub-contractor at Colt's Mfg.  In spite of being warned by his fellow employees that Mr. Colt did not take kindly to employees coming up with their own designs, White presented his idea to the famous inventor out of loyalty....only to have it dismissed by Colt as being too impractical.  Of course, this was during the early 1850's so Colt probably had a point...how would you case a ball, powder, and a propellant.  At the time, the technology didn't exist.  Unfortunately, for White, whether it was a result of Colt's disdain for clever employees or a simple business decision, Rollin White did not have his contract renewed by Colt and soon found himself unemployed.  In 1855, he patented his idea and soon Horace Smith and Daniel Wesson came knocking.  The deal they struck was in exchange for exclusive control of his patent, White would receive a royalty of 50 cents per revolver produced by Smith and Wesson.  White's only responsibility would be to protect the patent from infringements.   This proved to be a monumental task as White spent all of the proceeds from his royalties on lawsuits as dozens of companies ignored his patent.  In the end, White was somewhat successful defending his patent but he went broke in the process.  As a result, a number of companies got creative about how to produce their cartridge revolvers without violating the patent.  One company had sliding slots that went over the cartridge to get around the "bored through" patent.  Reid in NY even made a .32 caliber percussion revolver in which the nipples at the rear of the cylinder could be removed and it just so happened a .32 Rimfire shell would fit into the cylinder.  After Moore was sued for Patent Infringement, they came out with a Teat Fire Revolver that loaded from the front. This  Plant basically has a similar idea with this revolver.  It was loaded throught the front and the hole at the back of the cylinder was smaller...."not completely bored through" which allowed the hammer to strike a concave or cup shaped indention at the back of the copper shell casing that retained the primer. 

Antique, No FFL required.  Buyer must be 21 years of age.  As this is an obsolete caliber, it can be shipped to NY State but not NYC.  No sales to NJ, DC, or Chicago. Sorry, no international sales.  20.00 shipping in lower 48 via USPS Priority Mail with Signature Required. 

SOLD

Antique: Yes
Manufacturer: Eagle Mfg