Tranter revolver - many pictures

myenfield

myenfield

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I have had this for a number of years now, and I figured it was time to air it out and see what you guys figure it might be worth. With some of the items I have seen posted here lately, I thought that a few of you may be interested. I have no intention of selling it, just updating the price and looking to see what I can learn about it. The guy I bought it from called me and asked if I was interested in the wooden box. A buddy had offered him 50 bucks for it with or without the contents. He sent me pictures, and I told him I would do better than the earlier offer of $50 :D .

The box:
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The innards and contents of the box:
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This beast is chambered for .450 CF, but also comes with a cylinder that is loaded from "the front end" with black powder and round ball.

With cartridge cylinder:
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With "front loader" cylinder:

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Markings on frame (reads W. Tranter, Patent'd)

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Unfortunately, the stud that should stick out from the left side of the frame for loading the black powder cylinder is broken off. Otherwise, the gun is complete and fully functional. The finish is far from perfect, but appears to be original. So, what is this worth now days?
 
Robbed shamelessly from Wikkipedia:

Producing revolvers through the last half of the nineteenth century in Birmingham, England, the William Tranter company offered a wide range of models and calibers. Starting with percussion pepperboxes and ending with centerfire revolvers--including a very respectable .50" calibre percussion revolver (stopping power, anyone?)--the line-up was always interesting.

William Tranter's early percussion revolvers are generally divided into four types, the main difference being the type of rammer used to seat the ball in the cylinder. These were similar to the Colt rammers, but would lay alongside the barrel rather than under it. The early ones were even removable, so you could keep it somewhere "safe." Great idea guys. Later ones, like Colt's, were more sensibly fixed to the frame.

Tranter revolvers were double action in the old fashion sense. Meaning they could be fired either single action, or double action. Two ways, see? Double the pleasure, as it were. Which was, of course, needed when hordes of angry Russians were bearing down on you in the Crimea for disturbing their borscht bowls. Incidentally, a good way of identifying Tranters quickly is by the small pointy extension to the mar of the trigger. It's this, passing through a slot in the rear of the guard, that trips the hammer.

Tranter was a very successful company. They made handguns to a high standard and of a strong, solid frame design. Manufactured throughout the last half of the nineteenth century, they saw active service in all corners of the British Empire. I understand a pair of Tranter double action army revolvers in .450 centerfire were even owned by a certain General George Armstrong Custer, who you may be familiar with. Though in hind sight, Gatlings may have been a wiser choice for the General.
Click to expand...
 
Can't help much with value, but condition hurts your piece. Probably less than $650 would be my uneducated guess, though I'm sure someone more knowledgeable will chime in.
 
I think Claven is quite a bit low in his pricing. I would guess a price in excess of $1000 if it is British and approaching $1000 if it is Belgian. I can't see any proof marks on it and suspect that the gun is Belgian and should have ELG* somewhere on both the frame and the cylinders. British proofs would appear to be a crown over a cross (more or less)

cheers mooncoon
 
As I said, my guess is uneducated, but I would not buy it at all personally given condition (pitting, no finish, wrench marks on bbl, etc.) and the snapped off ramrod lug. But to me, condition is everything on a piece like this and I'm anal about it.
 
Looks Belgian to my uneducated guess and does not necessarily need to have ELG proof for that. Could be proofmarked with other 'crown' marks but I don't see any.

Does it chamber .380?

The kit looks worth a G-note to me regardless of bore condition.
 
Tranter

The bore is a little rough - a fair bit of pitting, still has strong rifling. I think it would still shoot alright, but I'm not really worried about shooting it at the moment. There are no proof marks that I can find anywhere on the frame, but the cartridge cylinder has British proofs on each chamber. The overall quality is higher than most of the Belgian knock offs I have come across. There were some high quality Begian makers, but they didn't usually put someone else's name on their guns. I realize the condition leaves quite a bit to be desired, but I still think it is quite an interesting item, especially coming with the two cylinders and all the goodies - nipple wrench, powder flask, ball and bullet mould, etc. Plus, it is legally and antique.
 
OK frist off its a Tranter.


This gun is worth a fair bit of money even in its present condition.
With all its extras and the two cylinders i can bet you could get $2000 US for it if ya put in on Gunbroker.

Personaly i wouldnt buy it either but i know Tranter Collectors in the US that would Crawl over Broken glass to buy that gun.
Great score :)

I will copy the pics and fire them off to a guy i know in the US who will give me a value if you want?
but im thinking $1500US at the very least in the case.

I cant Copy your pics for some reason if ya want me to ask the US guy about it PM me!
 
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It's hard to say, but given you have the box, both cylinders, etc, I would say in the US you would be looking at least $1500. It looks like it could use a good cleaning (Look at the nipples).

Try John Denner.
 
I would think that a Tranter would have Tranter's name on it, probably on top of the barrel. This one only has the note "Tranter's Patent" which sort of implies it was made by someone else. The lack of Belgian proofs suggests that the British ones are where it was made although it could also have been made in Germany and later sold in Britain. I find it very strange that a British made gun would not have British proofs on both cylinders and on the frame.

cheers mooncoon
 
Well you might find it strange but its a Tranter :D
I bet there could be another Proof mark on it but hard to see with all the bumps and nicks ect.
As far as the name mine was exactly the same as this one with that Tranters patent a retailers name on the barrel top (quite comon with British guns)
Ive had a couple Tranters and that Trigger with the rear faceing arm is a dead giveaway.
+ the fancy engraveing around that back screw!
+ the scrolling around the edge of the frame. Screws holding the triger gard on nice and flush. The Box everything Screams Tranter to me.
Ive sent the pics to the US to get and experts ideas!
 
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OK Myenfield, Its a late Model 1868 Tranter Revolver ;)
(this from a English Antique Revolver expert in the US whos writeing a book on webleys and has contacts in england this guy knows his stuff )
 
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