Beaumont-Adams Revolver

Infobox Weapon
name=Beaumont-Adams Revolver


caption= Beaumont-Adams Revolver, percussion cap variant
origin=flagcountry|United Kingdom
type=Service revolver
is_ranged=yes
is_UK=yes
service=1862-1880
used_by=United Kingdom & Colonies, British Commonwealth,
wars= Anglo-Zulu War, First Boer War, numerous British colonial conflicts
designer=Robert Adams, Lt. Beaumont (Royal Engineers).
design_date=1862
manufacturer=Robert Adams of London
production_date=1862-1880
number=approx 250,000
variants=
weight= 2.4lb (1.1kg), unloaded
length=11.25in. (286mm)
part_length=
cartridge= Cap & Ball
caliber=.479 (38-bore), .442 (54-bore), & .338(120-bore)
action= Double Action revolver
rate= 12 rounds/minute
velocity= 620ft/s (190m/s)
range=35yds
max_range=100yds
feed=5-round cylinder
sights=fixed front post and rear notch

The Beaumont-Adams Revolver was a muzzle-loading percussion revolver. Originally adopted by the British Army in .442 calibre (54-bore) in 1856, many were later converted to use rimfire cartridges. It was replaced in British service in 1880 by the .476 calibre Enfield Mk I revolver.

History

On 20 February 1856, Lieutenant Frederick E.B. Beaumont of the Royal Engineers was granted a British patent for improvements to the Adams revolver which allowed them to be cocked and fired either using the trigger or by cocking the hammer (as in Colt single-action revolvers). It was the first true double-action system. The Adams revolvers had previously been double-action only, which had led to doubts regarding their accuracy. Beaumont was granted a US Patent (no. 15,032 [cite web | last = Beaumont | first = Frederick E. B. | authorlink = Frederick Edward Blackett Beaumont | coauthors = | title = IMPROVEMENT IN FIRE-ARMS | work = | publisher = USPO | date = 3 June, 1856 | url = http://www.google.com/patents?id=rAhTAAAAEBAJ&dq=15032 | format = | doi = | accessdate = 2008-07-31] ) on 3 June of the same year.

In partnership with George and John Deane, the company of Deane, Adams & Deane produced the new revolver in a variety of calibres and sizes, from pocket pistols to large military versions. The United Kingdom officially adopted the .442 calibre Beaumont-Adams in 1856, Holland and Russia following soon after. To meet the growing demand for its weapons, Deane, Adams & Deane contracted companies in Birmingham and Liége to manufacture their weapons under licence.cite book | last = Kinard | first = Jeff | authorlink = | coauthors = | title = Pistols: an illustrated history of their impact | publisher = ABC-CLIO | date = 2004 | location = | pages = pp. 75-76 | url = | doi = | id = | isbn = 1851094709] The new revolver enabled Robert Adams to regain public confidence and forced Samuel Colt to shut his London factory due to a drop in sales.

In the US, the Massachusetts Arms Company was licensed to manufacture about 19,000 specimens of the gun in .36 calibre, of which about 1,750 were purchased by the Union Army at the beginning of the American Civil War.

The Beaumont-Adams was favoured by British officers in the Crimean War and colonial conflicts due to the stopping power of its large bullet, which was considered superior to Colt revolvers of the period. In close-quarters action the speed of its action was preferred over long-range accuracy.

It has been claimed that Wild Bill Hickock owned a Belgian-manufactured copy of the .54-bore Beaumont-Adams, but documentation is lacking. [cite book | last = Rosa | first = Joseph G. | authorlink = | coauthors = | title = The West of Wild Bill Hickok | publisher = University of Oklahoma Press | date = 1994 | location = | pages = p. 122 | url = | doi = | id = | isbn = 0806126809]

Notes

References

*cite book | last = Henrotin | first = Gerard | authorlink = | coauthors = | title = The Webley Service Revolvers | publisher = H&L Publishing | date = 2007 | location = Belgium | pages = | url = http://www.hlebooks.com/ebook/liste01.htm | doi = | id = | isbn = 1851094709 "(downloadable ebook)"