Confederate revolver research..

[cwtalker15]

I am doing some research on an imported Confederate revolver by a little known British gunsmith named John Calvert of Leeds. Questions: 1) Has anyone any knowledge/information regarding his guns? 2) Does anyone know of gun boards (similar to our here) in the UK that follow percussion arms? Any ideas would be appreciated!

 

[sourdough]

Here is one in France that has some knowledgeable folks. Ask for Ringo.

http://repliquesoldwest.superforum.fr/forum

Jim

 

[cwtalker15]

Here is one in France that has some knowledgeable folks. Ask for Ringo.

http://repliquesoldwest.superforum.fr/forum

Jim

Sourdough, This looks like a good European website for ACW percussion arms, but the entire site is in French and I couldn't figure out how to communicate in English with it. Is there a way to translate it into English?

 

[UCVRelics]

I always use the link below
https://translate.google.com/

 

[sourdough]

CW, if you have a Google toolbar it will automatically ask you if you want that French site translated. I went through quite a few hoops and jumped a few barrels getting used to the site. You will find that the French use a lot of different terms than we do: nipples are chimneys, cylinders are barrels, frames are carcasses, grips are handles, blueing is tanning, etc.

I have tried to find some info online about John Calvert from Leeds, but the only info I came up with was that a John Calvert was a gunsmith starting in 1832 and died in the 1850's, so no correlation to Confederate revolvers there.

Good luck with your endeavors and let us know what you find.

Jim

 

[sourdough]

CW,

Can you give us any more information as to how you came upon this?

Jim

 

[sourdough]

A Google search for "John Calvert Leeds, England gunsmith 1865" brings up results including the first two entries from gun auctions below:

1, "John & William Calvert were English Gun makers with various premises in Leeds between 1797 & 1865 including 73 Briggate, Lowerhead Row & Commercial Street (see page 186 of British Gunmakers Volume 2 by Brown)."--->>> https://www.gunstar.co.uk/john-will...ussion-overcoat-pisto/Pistol-Hand-Guns/991385

2. The same quote is mentioned for another english gun auction here:--->>> https://www.bidspotter.eu/en-gb/auc...1136/lot-9a6c46a0-a35e-4cb9-9f9c-a7fa01029dde

3. Another Google search for "John Calvert Leeds, England gunsmith Confederate revolver" brings up an auction for a cased CSA revolver with photos:--->>> http://www.vincaponihistoricantique...co-marked-bowie-knife-all-identified-to-benj/

A SCARCE CIVIL WAR CONFEDERATE ENGLISH MADE "J. CALVERT" MARKED PERCUSSION REVOLVER IN ITS ORIGINAL CASE WITH ACCESSORIES & "CORSAN DENTON BERDEKIN CO." MARKED BOWIE KNIFE ALL IDENTIFIED TO "BENJAMIN KIBBLE OF THE 3RD TENN. INFANTRY" IN NICE UNTOUCHED CONDITION!
A SCARCE CIVIL WAR CONFEDERATE ENGLISH MADE "J. CALVERT" MARKED PERCUSSION REVOLVER IN ITS ORIGINAL CASE WITH ACCESSORIES & "CORSAN DENTON BERDEKIN CO." MARKED BOWIE KNIFE ALL IDENTIFIED TO "BENJAMIN KIBBLE OF THE 3RD TENN. INFANTRY" IN NICE UNTOUCHED CONDITION. ALL ITEMS ARE ALL ORIGINAL & COMPLETE. THE REVOLVER HAS NICE METAL, MARKINGS, & ENGRAVING ON THE FRAME. IT IS MARKED ON THE BARREL "J. CALVERT, LEEDS. THE BUTT OF THE GUN IS MARKED "KIBBLE, CSA"....."

 

[cwtalker15]

A Google search for "John Calvert Leeds, England gunsmith 1865" brings up results including the first two entries from gun auctions below:

1, "John & William Calvert were English Gun makers with various premises in Leeds between 1797 & 1865 including 73 Briggate, Lowerhead Row & Commercial Street (see page 186 of British Gunmakers Volume 2 by Brown)."--->>> https://www.gunstar.co.uk/john-will...ussion-overcoat-pisto/Pistol-Hand-Guns/991385

2. The same quote is mentioned for another english gun auction here:--->>> https://www.bidspotter.eu/en-gb/auc...1136/lot-9a6c46a0-a35e-4cb9-9f9c-a7fa01029dde

3. Another Google search for "John Calvert Leeds, England gunsmith Confederate revolver" brings up an auction for a cased CSA revolver with photos:--->>> http://www.vincaponihistoricantique...co-marked-bowie-knife-all-identified-to-benj/

A SCARCE CIVIL WAR CONFEDERATE ENGLISH MADE "J. CALVERT" MARKED PERCUSSION REVOLVER IN ITS ORIGINAL CASE WITH ACCESSORIES & "CORSAN DENTON BERDEKIN CO." MARKED BOWIE KNIFE ALL IDENTIFIED TO "BENJAMIN KIBBLE OF THE 3RD TENN. INFANTRY" IN NICE UNTOUCHED CONDITION!
A SCARCE CIVIL WAR CONFEDERATE ENGLISH MADE "J. CALVERT" MARKED PERCUSSION REVOLVER IN ITS ORIGINAL CASE WITH ACCESSORIES & "CORSAN DENTON BERDEKIN CO." MARKED BOWIE KNIFE ALL IDENTIFIED TO "BENJAMIN KIBBLE OF THE 3RD TENN. INFANTRY" IN NICE UNTOUCHED CONDITION. ALL ITEMS ARE ALL ORIGINAL & COMPLETE. THE REVOLVER HAS NICE METAL, MARKINGS, & ENGRAVING ON THE FRAME. IT IS MARKED ON THE BARREL "J. CALVERT, LEEDS. THE BUTT OF THE GUN IS MARKED "KIBBLE, CSA"....."

Sourdough-- This is the revolver in the original question. It is so unusual, that I was wondering about its pedigree. Is it unique in the annals of Confederate arms? Has anyone seen/heard of another similar revolver?

 

[sourdough]

I have looked for any mention of "Calvert" in Flayderman's Guide and in my several books about Confederate firearms and cannot find a single reference.

It appears to be a double-action due to the trigger location and the lack of a hammer spur, is a 6-shot, and is somewhat similar to the Adams revolver produced in the 1850's which were 5-shot .44 caliber. Unlike the Adams, it has a full load lever/rammer but no load aperture in the barrel lug, which is curious to me.

Sorry I cannot be of more assistance.

Regards,

Jim

 

[Mark A]

Not much but I did find this reference in ENGLISH GUNMAKERS by De Witt Bailey and Douglas A Nie on page 93 in the section for Gunmakers of England and Wales:

CALVERT, John. Leeds, Yorks. (author's abbreviation for Yorkshire) 1797-1816; 1821; 1827-1865.

From the same reference on page 76:

CALVERT, John. Kirkgate 1797-1816; 34 Lowerhead Row 1821; 10 Commercial St. 1827-1865. Some Calvert guns are marked 'London'.