Beaumont–Adams revolver
A double-action percussion revolver adopted by the British Army in 1856.
The Beaumont–Adams revolver is a black powder, double-action percussion firearm. It was adopted by the British Army in .442 calibre (54-bore, 11.2 mm) in 1856, replacing earlier Adams models, and served until 1881, when the .476 calibre Enfield Mk I took over.
Lieutenant Frederick E. B. Beaumont of the Royal Engineers received a British patent on 20 February 1855 for improvements to the Adams revolver, enabling it to be fired either by manually cocking the hammer (single-action) or by simply pulling the trigger (double-action). He obtained a US patent (no. 15,032) on 3 June 1856. At the time, Adams and Colt were fierce rivals; Colt had opened a London factory and was expanding sales with interchangeable parts. The earlier Adams revolvers (1851 and 1854) were already double-action, but the Beaumont–Adams offered both modes. British officers in the Crimean War and colonial conflicts preferred the Adams design for its larger .442 calibre bullet's stopping power compared to the .36 calibre Colt Navy, and for its faster trigger-cocking action in close combat.
The firm Deane, Adams & Deane, partnering George and John Deane, produced the revolver in various calibres and sizes, from pocket pistols to military models. After Britain adopted it in 1856, Holland and Russia soon followed. To meet demand, Deane, Adams & Deane licensed manufacturers in Birmingham and Liége. The revolver gave Robert Adams a strong edge over Colt, whose London factory closed due to falling sales.
In the United States, the Massachusetts Arms Company produced about 19,000 units in .36 calibre, with roughly 1,750 bought by the Union Army early in the American Civil War. A pocket version in .31 calibre was also made.
In 1867, Robert Adams' brother John Adams patented a breech-loading revolver that replaced the Beaumont–Adams in British service. It was a solid-frame, six-chambered pistol in .450 calibre. After official acceptance, John Adams left the London Armoury Company to found the Adams Patent Small Arms Company. His pistol appeared in three distinct variations (mainly differing in spent-cartridge ejection methods) between 1867 and about 1880. These models were tested and adopted by the British Army and Navy, with the M1872 Mark III being the most widely used. The John Adams revolver remained the standard British sidearm until the Enfield Mark I replaced it in 1881.
Quick Facts
- Origin
- United Kingdom
- Is Ranged
- yes
- Service
- 1862–1881
- Used By
- United Kingdom & Colonies / North-West Mounted Police / United States / Confederate States / Empire of Japan
- Wars
- American Civil War / Boshin war / Anglo-Zulu War / First Boer War / numerous British colonial conflicts
- Designer
- Lt. Beaumont (Royal Engineers), Robert Adams
- Design Date
- 1862
- Manufacturer
- Robert Adams of London
- Production Date
- 1862–1880
- Number
- c. 250,000
- Weight
- 2.4 lb (1.1 kg), unloaded
- Length
- 11.25 in. (286 mm)
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
On 20 February 1855, Lieutenant Frederick E. B. Beaumont of the Royal Engineers was granted a British patent for improvements to the Adams revolver, allowing it to be cocked and fired either by manually cocking the hammer (single-action) or by just pulling the trigger (double-action). A US Patent followed on 3 June 1856. The revolver was produced by Deane, Adams & Deane in partnership with George and John Deane, in a variety of calibres and sizes, from pocket pistols to large military versions. To meet demand, the company contracted manufacturers in Birmingham and Liége to produce the revolver under licence.
The Beaumont–Adams was favoured by British officers in the Crimean War and colonial conflicts due to the stopping power of its larger 54-bore (.442 cal) bullet compared with the smaller .36 cal Colt Navy revolvers, and the speed of its trigger-cocking action for close-quarters fighting. The new revolver gave Robert Adams a strong competitive advantage, and Samuel Colt shut his London factory due to a drop in sales. In the US, the Massachusetts Arms Company was licensed to manufacture about 19,000 units in .36 calibre, of which about 1,750 were purchased by the Union Army at the beginning of the American Civil War. A pocket version in .31 calibre was also made.
Reader's Guide
The Beaumont–Adams revolver marked a significant step in revolver development by combining single-action and double-action mechanisms in a single firearm, a feature that gave it a competitive edge over contemporary designs. Its adoption by the British Army in 1856, followed by Holland and Russia, demonstrated its international acceptance. The revolver's larger .442 calibre bullet and rapid trigger-cocking action made it particularly effective in close-quarters combat, as noted in Crimean War and colonial conflicts. The success of the Beaumont–Adams contributed to the closure of Samuel Colt's London factory, reflecting the intense competition between Adams and Colt in the mid-19th century. The revolver remained the official sidearm of the British Army until 1881, when it was replaced by the .476 calibre Enfield Mk I revolver. In the US, the Massachusetts Arms Company produced about 19,000 units in .36 calibre, with about 1,750 purchased by the Union Army at the start of the American Civil War. The Beaumont–Adams was eventually superseded in British service by the John Adams revolver, patented in 1867, which was a breech-loading solid frame design. The Beaumont–Adams thus represents a transitional period in revolver technology, bridging earlier percussion cap designs and later cartridge-firing models.
Did You Know?
- The Beaumont–Adams revolver could be fired either by manually cocking the hammer or by simply pulling the trigger.
- It was adopted by the British Army in 1856 and remained in service until 1881.
- The revolver's success led Samuel Colt to close his London factory.
More in Revolvers 1-24
Spotted an error? Know more?
Reader corrections go straight into our review queue. Suggest an edit · How this site is sourced