Original Item: Only One Available. This is a very nice nickel plated BOSTON BULL-DOG double action .32cal revolver, which was one of the model names used by gunmaker Iver Johnson. These small double action pistols were inspired by the "BRITISH BULLDOG" pistols originally made by Webley & Sons, and there were many American and Belgian makers who produced pistols "inspired" by the design, intended for personal protection.

This double action example features a nickel plated finish, 2 1/2" octagonal barrel, brass blade front sight, and a notch on top of the barrel strap functioning as the rear sight. It also has a fluted five-shot cylinder, and ornate two-piece black hard rubber grips with a lovely foliate motif design. We removed the grips, and serial number 6986 is stamped into the grip frame. The revolver retains almost all of the original nickel plating, and is very attractive!

The revolver cycles well, though sometimes the timing is a bit off on the cylinder rotation. The bore still shows clear rifling, but also fouling and oxidation, expected on a black powder revolver of this vintage. The grips are in lovely shape, with a repaired crack on the left side rear corner, caused by the retaining pin.

A very nice late 19th century rimfire revolver in lovely display condition. Ready to display!

Specifications: 

Year of Manufacture: c.1885
Caliber: .32cal
Ammunition Type: Centerfire Cartridge
Barrel Length: 2 1/2 inches
Overall Length: 5 3/4 inches
Action: Double Action Only
Feed System: 5 Shot Revolver

Lineage

The pocket revolver known primarily as the "British Bull Dog" was first produced by P. Webley & Sons of Birmingham, England, in 1872. Its appeal was so great that the "British" Bulldog was adopted and copied by gun manufacturers in Belgium, Spain, France and the U.S. Though American-made Bulldogs came from the armorers Iver Johnson, Harrington & Richardson, Forehand & Wadsworth, and several other makers who quickly went in and out of business, the Webley versions are rightly considered the real McCoy.

Though the revolver remained in production until the WWI-era, the hay day of the Bulldog was in the 1870s to 1880s, a time when it was known its affordability and reliability, consequently making it one of the most popular pocket pistols in both Europe and America. Though Colt is the brand we all know and love, and their single actions are thought to have fit the hip of near every cowboy, ranch-hand and gunslinger, Colt's single-actions sold for three to four times the cost of the British Bulldogs. The inexpensive, yet solidly made little dogs - many of which survive as shooters today - were available to everyman.

Build

Though this little gun has had as many variations and names as it had makers, the general features are quite simple: a 2.5-inch barrel, five-round capacity, double-action trigger, and an overall true small-frame pocket pistol.

Bulldogs are quickly recognizable by the bird's head grips, generally made of either walnut or pearl. However, there are many fine examples with sweet ivory grips and delicate engraving. Most had a blued finish, but some nickeled models have survived as well. The revolver is generally dressed with simple fixed sights, a large looping trigger guard, curvaceous hammer spur and weigh in around 20 ounces.

Many European Bulldogs were chambered for .44 Short, .442 Webley, .455 Webley and .450 Adams, but there are several smaller variations of Webleys chambered in .320 and .380 calibers, though they were produced much later and were never labeled as Bulldogs.

Both the American and Belgian Bulldogs, which seem to be the most prevalent on the market these days, were readily available in smaller calibers. Perhaps the most common American clones housed .44 Webley and .38 caliber chamberings.

Famous ties

The Bulldog revolver has connections both famous and infamous in American history, as detailed George Layman's book "The British Bulldog Revolver: The Forgotten Gun that Really Won the West!"

Probably the most infamous connection places it in the hands of Charles Guiteau, the man who shot President James Garfield in 1881. Though the wounded President lived for several months under the rudimentary medical care of the time, he succumbed to the pair of bullet wounds almost three-months later.

As the story goes, Guiteau was reportedly furious that Garfield overlooked him for appointment to a federal post and vowed to take vengeance on the President - and to do so with a good-looking gun, but one that could be had on a budget.

Guiteau is said to have used a Belgian-made British Bulldog in .44 caliber, but interestingly there is some debate over whether Guiteau got his wish of acquiring one with ivory grips. As rumor has it, he wanted his gun to look good when it eventually made its way to a museum, but the ivory upgrade cost several dollars more than the walnut model, which sold in the $8 to $12 range. The gun commonly shown as Guiteau's model in period illustrations has walnut grips, but the actual gun is, in fact, long gone. Following Guiteau's trial, the revolver was on loan to the Smithsonian, but, a short time later, the revolver disappeared and has not been found to this day. It is unclear whether the gun disappeared during its stay with the museum or sometime later.