Tranter Revolver 3rd Model

[JOHN42768]

Thought you might like to view my latest purchase. 54 Bore (.442), 6" barrel, DT, 5round, Ser.11549T. Late 1860 to 1861. No know provenance, but in the mix. Cased with complete accessories. Tranter marked mold, nipple wrench, screwdriver, partial cans of bullets, primers and lube, Cleaning rod , Dixon Shefield oil bottle and Hawksley powder flask. There is some known usage of Tranter by CSA Officers and few Union Officers. Not a revolver you get to see that often.

 

[JOHN42768]

Some known Tranter serial number owners:
Gen. John Hunt Morgan CSA #03758T
Maj. Gen. Dabney H. Maury CSA #07993T
Maj. Gen, J.E.B. Stuart CSA #08673T
Capt. Jules Delery CSA #10247T
Known CSA #11372T
Mine--#11549T
Known CSA #11844T
Capt. Thomas Ware Gibson USA #11882T Revolver used by Gen. Jefferson Columbus Davis USA to kill Gen. William
Nelson USA on Sept.29,1862
Lt. Col. Henry Clay Yeatman CSA #12959T
Lt. Pratts Squad roll #15465T & 15476T
Capt. Charles Green CSA #18832T
Maj. Gen. Heros Van Burcke CSA #32016T

 

[Story]

Have Tranter shipments been linked by manifest as cargo on specific blockade runners?

 

[JOHN42768]

Have Tranter shipments been linked by manifest as cargo on specific blockade runners?

I can only state what I know on this point. I'm not aware of any listed on manifest, but some listing as "revolver or pistols"which doesn't tell a whole lot. Adams, LeMat, Spanish, Belgium, you name it could be inclusive. "The Firearms Of William Tranter" by Ron Stewart shows info indicating a lot of Pre-Civil War Tranters were shipped to Southern dealers. Some were marked for the dealer, such as Hyde & Goodrich in New Orleans, T.W. Radcliff in Columbia S.C. as agents for the United States South,to name a few. Did "United States South" indicate some form of unwritten contract? Tranters also went to anywhere the British Empire covered. I know of no know Confederate contract unlike the Kerr of Loundon Armoury Co. for example.
"Suppliers to the Confederacy Vol.1 & 2" by Craig Barry & David Burt didn't cover unless I missed. Maybe Craig Barry might chime in. "The English Connection" by Russ Pritchard Jr. & C.A. Huey mention that a substantial quanity in various configurations were imported by retailers in New Orleans and that a significant number were cased with accessories. Hyde & Goodrich ceased operation in 1861 and became Thomas, Griswold & Co.. A lot of know Tranter's bare these dealers names. Nothing in stone, but a good indication of there supply location. Though little evidence of importation of Tranters during the War exist, there was an advertisement in the "Richmond Times" on March 10, 1863 for fine English revolvers just received from England.
Another source you may like to read is http://www.firearmsmuseum.org.au/TranterHistory/wt_hist_fra.htm

 

[Story]

Thanks, John.

 

[Craig L Barry]

No, we did not cover the Tranter revolvers in Suppliers #1 or #2. Kind of an oversight really because the Tranters were generally well thought of and certainly saw some use, however because of their high cost they were privately purchased by the wealthy. I never found any evidence of CS Government contracts with Tranter, so we did not think to include anything on the operation. Antebellum, Tranter had a contract with the importing firm Hyde & Goodrich in New Orleans and after the outbreak of the war, with Thomas Griswold & Co. There is an invoice in his personal papers showing Andrew Johnson purchased a Tranter revolver and the cost was $45.00. This was at a time when Colt models were about half that cost and Remington, half the cost of Colt. They also made .36 and .44 cal versions for the American market.

 

[JOHN42768]

No, we did not cover the Tranter revolvers in Suppliers #1 or #2. Kind of an oversight really because the Tranters were generally well thought of and certainly saw some use, however because of their high cost they were privately purchased by the wealthy. I never found any evidence of CS Government contracts with Tranter, so we did not think to include anything on the operation. Antebellum, Tranter had a contract with the importing firm Hyde & Goodrich in New Orleans and after the outbreak of the war, with Thomas Griswold & Co. There is an invoice in his personal papers showing Andrew Johnson purchased a Tranter revolver and the cost was $45.00. This was at a time when Colt models were about half that cost and Remington, half the cost of Colt. They also made .36 and .44 cal versions for the American market.

Mr. Barry, Thank you for the come back. I didn't remember seeing anything in your books, but when in doubt go to the source. Might you know the date or serial number of the Andrew Johnson purchase? I listed some of the known owner above and the web address has a lot of info.

 

[hrobalabama]

I had a beautiful Tranter years ago, marked Hyde & Goodrich, New Orleans.
Sold it too cheap, even back then. I got it at a good price because the owner thought it was broken because
of the unusual trigger cocking mechanism.

 

[JOHN42768]

I had a beautiful Tranter years ago, marked Hyde & Goodrich, New Orleans.
Sold it too cheap, even back then. I got it at a good price because the owner thought it was broken because
of the unusual trigger cocking mechanism.

If you have a chance to check out that web address, you will find a lot of info.

 

[cwtalker15]

As noted in earlier posts, New Orleans, LA, was a main port for importing English revolvers before and earl in the Civil War. Hyde and Goodrich, Kernaghan and Thomas, Griswold were several of the retailers who would apply their mark to the top strap. Another unusual N.O. retailer was F. T. Guion. My 36 cal. Tranter is so engraved. Check out the pix.

 

[UCVRelics]

Nice Addition. Thanks for sharing it with us.

 

[Kip124thNY]

Nice piece of history, thanks for posting.

 

[JOHN42768]

Nice piece of history, thanks for posting.

Kip, I guessing you are affiliated with the 124thNY. I thought you might like to see a couple of photos of a P1853 Enfield from the estate of Capt. Daniel Sayers 124th NY that I own.

 

[Kip124thNY]

Thanks for posting the pictures and reaching out to me. Kip

 

[Legion Para]

http://www.damonmills.com/PS Pages/PS 42/Tranter 3498.htm

"This is a very good condition .44 caliber Tranter Revolver serial number 11082. It is marked on the top strap, above the cylinder "Made Expressly For D. Kernaghan & Co. New Orleans." My information indicates that D. Kernaghan was active in New Orleans from 1855 to 1860. The top of the barrel is marked Tranter's Patent and the serial number is found on the right frame."

 

[cwtalker15]

As noted in earlier posts, New Orleans, LA, was a main port for importing English revolvers before and earl in the Civil War. Hyde and Goodrich, Kernaghan and Thomas, Griswold were several of the retailers who would apply their mark to the top strap. Another unusual N.O. retailer was F. T. Guion. My 36 cal. Tranter is so engraved. Check out the pix.
View attachment 121821 View attachment 121822 View attachment 121823

I mentioned in an earlier post that Thomas, Griswold & Co. also imported Tranters, but I have never seen one so marked on the top strap. (That company was more noted for fine edged weapons, mostly swords, during the earlier years of the Civil War.) Hmmm....Has anyone seen a Tranter marked "Thomas, Griswold?" (Tranters marked A.B. Griswold, New Orleans are out there, but these examples are post Civil War.)

 

[JOHN42768]

I mentioned in an earlier post that Thomas, Griswold & Co. also imported Tranters, but I have never seen one so marked on the top strap. (That company was more noted for fine edged weapons, mostly swords, during the earlier years of the Civil War.) Hmmm....Has anyone seen a Tranter marked "Thomas, Griswold?" (Tranters marked A.B. Griswold, New Orleans are out there, but these examples are post Civil War.)

That info came from "The English Connection"

 

[Mark A]

I seem to have recently picked up the twin to @JOHN42768 cased Third Model Tranter revolver. Many thanks to him for sharing photos of his Tranter and information on serial numbers. My new purchase is serial number 9352T. The revolver looks as though it has never had percussion caps on its nipples.

 

[UCVRelics]

VERY NICE piece. Thanks for sharing it with us.

 

[nc native]

That trigger cocking mechanism on the Tranter fascinates me. I'm surprised more gun manufacturers didn't use it on single action revolvers. It would save a lot of wear and tear on the thumb and seems to be more natural to cock the revolver using the fingers around the grip rather than the thumb. The checkered grips are also uncommon for the period when it was manufactured and ahead of their time. Those Tranters are beautiful revolvers and I see why someone well to do would be interested in owning one.