PERCUSSION FROM ACROSS THE POND

While American heavies such as Colt and Smith & Wesson were the most popular revolvers in the latter half of the 19th century, some Westerners chose wheel-guns from lesser-known manufacturers. Webley’s double-action British Bulldog was the bestselling import, but others also found favor, including the Tranter. The history of the double-action revolver overseas harks back to the early 1850s, and from the percussion era well into the metallic cartridge period British gunsmith William Tranter was a leading proponent of such handguns.