#184 • Transitional Bar Hammer Percussion Revolver by C. Piper of Cambridge

Part of The Ray Howser Firearms Collection, 1931-2026 (timed auction by Lewis & Grant Auctions)

Starting at $300.00

Status: Available

Live bidding starts Nov 20, 2026 10:00 AM EST

.50 caliber, 6.375" octagonal barrel, NSN. This mid-19th-century British firearm represents the transitional design phase bridging multi-barrel pepperbox pistols and fixed single-barrel revolvers. The mechanical architecture mates a revolving 6-shot percussion cylinder to a stationary, single octagonal barrel to improve point-of-aim accuracy over preceding multi-barrel designs. The double-action fire control system relies on a top-mounted, elongated steel bar hammer. Pulling the trigger simultaneously rotates the cylinder to index a fresh chamber, tensions the mainspring, and releases the bar hammer vertically down onto the percussion cone. To assist tracking, a longitudinal sightline groove is machined directly through the top center of the hammer bar. Finely banknote style engraved frame. The frame is finished in bright case colors. The bar hammer is case colored.  The cylinder is case colored. The barrel is blue with notched rear barrel sight and bead front sight. This English revolver is spectacular looks like new with the exception of some of the blue has flaked but what is left is nice and vivid. The case colors are very nice. The cylinder has a mint look the nipples look like there unfired. Overall excellent.