Kynoch "Patent Model" Mk II, .476 CF Revolver

[Bob Riebe]

George Kynoch began making ammunition in about 1864, after taking over the manufacturing space of William Pursall & Co. Kynoch ammunition was well known and is still found at vintage ammo auctions to this day. In 1885, Kynoch, together with British inventor Henry Schlund, submitted a prototype revolver to the War Department with the expectation that their design would replace the unpopular Enfield revolver in current use. Kynoch's revolver was up against Webley's Mk I and after some consideration the examiners decided on the Webley instead. The most obvious issue with the Kynoch / Schlund revolver is its complicated lock work. It is a hammerless, two-trigger design which requires the shooter to cock the internal hammer with one trigger, and then move the finger forward onto the other trigger to release it. The gun has an internal, floating firing pin which is struck by the hammer behind it. The gun is of a break-open design with a latch on top of the grip strap to release the barrel assembly. This is similar to the S&W Schofield, in sofar that a man on horseback can open the action with the thumb of the shooting hand and eject the cartridges without having to let go of the horse's reins. The gun is chambered in the same 455/476 black powder cartridge as the Webley.

Kynoch only ever made about 200 of the Mk I revolvers, and and improved Mk II revolver at about 400 pieces. After the rejection by the War Department Kynoch tried to convince other governments such as Romania, Transvaal (South Africa) and France to purchase his invention, however none came to fruition. Kynoch produced his revolver at the Tranter Factory, Aston Cross, Birmingham which he re-named Kynoch Gun Factory until 1889, at which time the company was reorganized as Kynoch Arms Co. George Kynoch died in February of 1891, and his revolver soon disappeared into obscurity. Kynoch Arms Co. ceased operations in 1895.