Tranter 1868 Revolver

[Bob Riebe]

Tranter Model 1868 .450 Center Fire Revolver.





History & Background
William Tranter was one of Britain’s most famous gunmakers during the 19th century. Born the eldest son to a Worcestershire blacksmith in 1816, Tranter was a pioneer of revolver development, and many of his designs would become a standard for other makers, like Webley, Beaumont and Colt. His early percussion revolvers were revolutionary in their double-action, dual-trigger design, making them the earliest “self-cocking” revolvers on the market, as early as 1852. This was at a time when Colt had just put out his single-action 1851 Navy . Tranter was also the first to introduce a cartridge revolver to the British market, as early as 1863, and in a sizable .45 rimfire caliber. That was at a time when Smith & Wesson in the US were still grappling with a frame design that could withstand the pressures of a cartridge larger than .32.

The competition between Webley, Beaumont Adams and Tranter over the following 25 years resulted in many unique and progressive designs from all makers. Although in fierce competition with his contemporaries, Tranter also understood to co-operate when needed: many of his most successful revolvers used a frame designed by Adams, and he produced many other designs under contract, including Beaumont-Adams revolvers and Snider rifles. Tranter revolvers were a popular sidearm during the American Civil War, and later models were issued to British troops from 1878 until 1890. William Tranter was a founding member of the Birmingham Small Arms Company (BSA), and led the firm as it’s director in the early years. Tranter retired from his own company in 1885 and died in 1890.