Читать книгу Gun Digest 2011 онлайн

233 страница из 495

In addition to the Frontier model, the Boston company of Turner & Ross also offered “The New British Bull Dog” model as a 5-shot model in .44 centre fire. It was rather ominously described as “The revolver with which Guiteau assassinated the President,” a clear reference to the shooting of President James A. Garfield on 2 July, 1881, by Charles Guiteau. In a slightly less ominous promotion, the pistol was otherwise recommended for express messengers, mail clerks, bankers, watchmen, miners and even members of the police force.

Revolvers of this pattern were first produced in Belgium during the early 1880s by Neumann Brothers, who had also been responsible for manufacture of the Star Bull Dog.

Finished in nickel plating and with hard rubber stock plates, this model was priced at $7 in the Turner & Ross catalogue of 1883 and appeared later in the 1884 catalogue of Meacham Arms Company. At that period, barrels could be obtained in either round or octagonal section.

While the general style remained typical of other Bull Dog revolvers, it was distinctive in having a raised portion of the frame at the upper rear area of the stock. Moulded within a circular border at the top end of each stock plate, was the head of a bull dog, while the remaining surface was finely chequered and bordered. A title of NEW BRITISH BULL DOG was stamped onto the top strap and further identified by a hunting horn symbol applied at the forward left side of the frame. At the centre of the horn was the initial N. Both the Bull Dog face and horn symbol were inaugurated as Belgian trade marks on 30 December, 1893, although it had clearly been used several years previously.