Tranter Revolver 3rd Model

[JOHN42768]

Way to go, Mark. "Dueling Tranter's at 30 paces"

 

[JOHN42768]

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.

Savage Navy

 

[nc native]

Savage Navy View attachment 440186

Thanks for reminding me that the Savage Navy had the same feature. On the Savage Navy, could you cock the hammer with either the thumb or the grip mechanism?

 

[GELongstreet]

Tranter also made a revolving rifle. Had a thread about it some years ago.

 

[JOHN42768]

Thanks for reminding me that the Savage Navy had the same feature. On the Savage Navy, could you cock the hammer with either the thumb or the grip mechanism?

Mine is buried in the safe. Even though the hammer had a thumb piece unlike the Tranter I believe it would be difficult to reach the thumb piece as your hand is much lower on the piece. I don't see from a quick look on line as a definite answer to your question. Here is an excellent write up by Tim Prince describing one he had for sale. https://collegehillarsenal.com/fine-martially-marked-savage-navy

 

[Mark A]

Hi nc native. To answer your question, no, thumb cocking the hammer on the Savage RFA revolver simply places the hammer on half or full cock. The cylinder does not rotate/index unless the cocking ring is pulled as a lift or lifting toggle/lever has to act to rotate the cylinder. The cocking mechanism draws the cylinder back away from the barrel breech, rotates the cylinder, cocks the hammer and by releasing the cocking ring allows the cylinder to move forward creating a gas seal between the barrel and each individual cylinder chamber.

 

[Papabyrd]

beautiful Tranters, I had a 31 caliber several years ago and like a fool i traded it off. Live and learn die and forget it all.

 

[JOHN42768]

Hi nc native. To answer your question, no, thumb cocking the hammer on the Savage RFA revolver simply places the hammer on half or full cock. The cylinder does not rotate/index unless the cocking ring is pulled as a lift or lifting toggle/lever has to act to rotate the cylinder. The cocking mechanism draws the cylinder back away from the barrel breech, rotates the cylinder, cocks the hammer and by releasing the cocking ring allows the cylinder to move forward creating a gas seal between the barrel and each individual cylinder chamber.

View attachment 440228

View attachment 440229

Very nice. Now I don't have to dig to find mine, thanks

 

[Old Soldier]

The checkered grips are also uncommon for the period when it was manufactured and ahead of their time.

Not in Great Britain and Europe. Many of the pistols had checkering, particularly the 54 Bore (.442") and 34 bore (.5") and the usual Belgian copies. Those thin hand-grips, derived from the old duelling pistols, needed them! Some of the early ones did not have that 'spur' at the top of the grip! The Brits were one of the first with 'self-cocking' (double-action) revolvers too (Adams Patent 1851) - a direct lead-on from what are termed small-bore 'transitional' revolvers which were developed from the older 'pepperbox' pistols. Once again, these were 'hand-made' in the old way and parts were not necessarily interchangeable - but most of them were well-made.

One of the features of the Adams (double action - 1851) and Beaumont-Adams (single- and double-action - 1862) was that the cylinder was rotated by the 'arm' on the trigger, not the hammer, like the Colt. It gave an extra 'safety' since the hammer could only fall on the cap when the trigger was pressed. OK, so you couldn't 'fan' it' - but...