England – -(AmmoLand.com)- The namesakes for the Beaumont-Adams revolvers are Robert Adams and then- Lieutenant Frederick E. B. Beaumont, both of whom were quite accomplished in their own ways. Adams is credited with having patented the first successful double-action revolver on August 22, 1851. Beaumont was a Crimean War veteran and, later in life, a member of Parliament.
Robert Adams’ initial revolvers, which were manufactured in partnership with John and George Deane, were on display at the Crystal Palace Exhibition in 1851. Also exhibiting revolvers at the event was a man whose name would soon be known in households around the world: Samuel Colt. After Adams and Colt exhibited their guns at the Crystal Palace, Adams’ design took off in popularity faster than Colt’s Model 1851 Navy revolver. The reasons for this were simple. Adams’ revolver was available in a bigger caliber, was better made, and offered faster double-action shooting.
Even though Colt’s success would ultimately last a lot longer, Robert Adams is credited with driving Sam Colt out of business in Britain. In 1852, Colt opened a factory in London. Just four short years later in 1856, unable to compete with Adams, Colt closed the factory. As a result, Colt’s London-marked guns are quite popular with today’s collectors.
The same year Colt left London, the Beaumont-Adams self-cocking revolver – more commonly known as double-action today – debuted on the market. The revolver was .44 caliber, had a five-shot cylinder, sported a 6.25-inch barrel, and was blued with the exception of the trigger and hammer, which were finished bright. Finely checkered one-piece walnut grips rounded out the gun.
Early examples of the Beaumont-Adams revolvers were fitted with a rammer designed by John Rigby (grandson of the namesake of the legendary John Rigby & Co), which was patented in 1854. Later examples had an improved rammer designed by James Kerr, who was also an arms designer and one of Robert Adams’ cousins. Rigby’s rammer was disliked because it tucked into part of the pistol grip when not in use. Some felt that it got in the way and prevented the shooter from getting a solid grip on the gun. Kerr’s rammer came to rest along the left side of the barrel when not in use. It was out of the way of the shooter and also provided better loading leverage.
Manufacture of the Beaumont-Adams was done principally by the London Armoury Company, which was created in 1856 after Adams split with his previous business partners, the Deane brothers. Adams sat on the Board of Directors for this new company and James Kerr was the plant’s superintendent. Kerr had previously been the shop superintendent of the Adams and Deane venture.
Some other licensed production of the Beaumont-Adams was done by A. Francotte, C. Dandoy, and other firms in Liege, Belgium and Birmingham, England. They are easily differentiated from those made by the London Armoury Company because they will bear markings on the top strap indicating their location of manufacture.
Beaumont-Adams revolvers found themselves in some very interesting hands both during and after the Civil War. One cased example was engraved and presented to Confederate General Thomas J. “Stonewall” Jackson as a gift from Robert Adams.
Two others were in the possession of Midshipman John Thompson Mason aboard the CSS Shenandoah, which holds the distinction of being the last Confederate asset to surrender on November 11, 1865 – seven months and two days after Robert E. Lee met with Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox.
Robert Adams left the company by 1859 and manufacturing of the Beaumont-Adams revolver ceased. In its place, another double-action design by James Kerr entered production. Just like his cousin’s guns, Kerr’s also ended up in the hands of some important Civil War figures, most notable among them being Confederate President Jefferson Davis.
About Logan Metesh
Logan Metesh is a historian with a focus on firearms history and development. He runs High Caliber History LLC and has more than a decade of experience working for the Smithsonian Institution, the National Park Service, and the NRA Museums. His ability to present history and research in an engaging manner has made him a sought after consultant, writer, and museum professional. The ease with which he can recall obscure historical facts and figures makes him very good at Jeopardy!, but exceptionally bad at geometry.
@Logan, Interesting, informative, and “incapsulated”.