Think the Colt 1873 Single Action Army won the West? Think again! When Bulldogs Ruled ÅÅ Å olt, Remington, Smith & Wesson and Merwin & Hulbert didn’t manufacture them, but during the late nineteenth century they were Camong the Old West’s most well-known pocket revolvers. Though the second definition of “bulldog” in Webster’s is “…a small, short-barrel pistol of large caliber…” the genuine British Bulldog may further be defined as “any of the nineteenth century-produced, double- action, stubby short-barreled revolvers chambered for medium to large calibers.” At the end of the Civil War, many ex-soldiers, civilians, and city folk took their chances on a new life in the yet unsettled and lawless areas of the Amer- ican West. Those who dared the long trek prepared themselves with every- thing from general supplies to reliable firearms for hunting and self-defense. These future Westerners were a sophisti- cated lot when it came to choosing their rifles, pistols and shotguns, and did so according to their financial means. By the 1870s, many Western townships forbade carrying firearms openly, thus This close-up of a Belgian-made British were beehives of activity, chock-full of many had to conceal their arms to Bulldog (maker unknown) shows the gold-seekers, gamblers, homesteaders, circumvent the restriction. By 1875, both quality of the simple engraving pattern and other opportunists. The market was the Midwest and the California coast common to these imported revolvers. ripe for a small size, large-caliber revolver that was concealable but powerful enough for a serious gunfight or other armed dispute. Most of all, the revolver had to be affordable in price. Though Remington brought out a number of pocket revolvers to include a double action by 1870, as well as Smith & Wesson’s Baby Russian, a competitor from abroad surprised U.S. manufactur- ers with the introduction of what was to be a very well-received wheelgun. Just before 1874, a small double-action, big-bore revolver with a short 2-1/2" barrel made its abrupt debut in the With the loading gate down, the cylinder is readied for loading. Most cylinders on British Bulldogs were of an unlocked type: unless the trigger was pulled back or the hammer cocked, the cylinder would spin freely. 58 u GUN DIGEST ® Click Here to Order the Full Gun Digest 2010 Book » Å Å The quality of Belgian-made British Bulldogs West. It was a unique big-bore revolver Bulldog became of excellent quality and was made by a legend in its was often quite good, but a lower grade of the English gun manufacturer P. Webley own time. metallurgy often caused their internal parts & Son. It was called the British Bulldog. By 1876, to wear out much more quickly than those several of the Webley- or U.S.- THE WEBLEY INFLUENCE European made British Bulldog. and Ameri- Upon its introduction in the early can imitators 1870s, Webley’s new British Bulldog jumped on the had become an immediate sensation in Bulldog bandwagon, mar- Victorian England since the carrying keting copies of self-cockers of firearms in Great Britain was accom- marked “British Bulldog” plished quite discreetly. Thus the pock- over the topstrap. Many of etsize, highly concealable Bulldog fit the European Webley copies right into the period of Sherlock Holmes came from Belgium and their and Jack the Ripper. Webley firearms overall finish and quality was were well known in the United States for noticeably inferior to the genuine their high degree of workmanship. Even British-made variations. Quite a George Armstrong Custer owned a pair number of these – both domestic of Webleys (the Royal Irish Constabulary and foreign – were stamped with Model) prior to his death in June of 1876 such markings as “Western Bull Dog,” at the Little Big Horn. Soon after its inva- “British Lion,” “Boston Bulldog,” etc., sion of the United States arms market, and, not surprisingly, many were indeed the self-cocking Webley British Bulldog well made. The 1880 Homer Fisher was being sold through American gun catalog listed several of these for sale dealers such as Nathaniel Curry of design compared in .44 Webley (.44 Bulldog) at $7.50, San Francisco and E.C. Meacham of St. to the British type Louis. With population surges in areas each which was far below the $18.00 since it had a saw west of the Mississippi growing by the price tag of a Colt or Smith & Wesson. handle-style grip, plus a day, many were glad to see a compact, Both the Webley British Bull Dog and its larger frame somewhere inexpensive, double-action revolver with imitations were also being offered in .32 between a medium- and plenty of wallop to boot. The new Web- rimfire or centerfire as well as .41 rimfire full-size revolver. It also had a 2-1/2" full ley catchphrase “British Bulldog” would and .38 and .44 centerfire. Webley even round barrel as opposed to the oblong evolve into one of the most famous listed a “Holster Size Frontier Model” type most common to the British-style revolver trademarks from the 1870s Bulldog in .38 and. 44 centerfire with versions. Not easy to find nowadays, up to the turn of the century. The term a 4" barrel and a lanyard on the grip. these revolvers were manufactured by Iver Johnson Co. of Worcester, Mas- sachusetts, for the Meacham company, This Belgian British Bulldog has most of its nickel worn away, but to be sold under the American Bulldog the proofmark “R” and the Bulldog logo are partially visible on the trade name. It should be mentioned frame behind the barrel. that the Iver Johnson Co. independently marketed their own series of Bulldog revolvers, some of which were marked Boston Bulldog, British Bulldog, and oddly enough, American Bulldog as well. Though the Meacham American Bulldog is not marked Iver Johnson, the giveaway is one of the company’s trademarks – an American eagle – on the stocks. Removing the grips however, does show a serial number on the frame in two places. With its reddish gutta percha grips, these 44-caliber five-shooters are extremely well-made; much better than most other Bulldogs. It is here where a degree of confusion exists between the British and American Bulldog revolvers. It appears the basic cosmetic difference is that the British- would soon become a household word AMERICAN BULLDOGS among pistoleros of the day, and gain style Bulldog retains the classic parrot’s almost equal footing with the Colt Peace- The E.C. Meacham company had at beak or bird’s-head grip, and the maker, the Smith & Wesson Russian least four different Bulldogs in their American Bulldogs were supplied with a models and other famous handguns. 1884 catalog, among which were an “saw handle” flat-base grip. Some early It is quite obvious that the British “American Bulldog” somewhat unique in ads made reference that their American Click Here to Order the Full Gun Digest 2010 Book » 64TH EDITION, 2010 u 59 Å Å Bulldogs were made exclusively in .38 American or British Bulldog markings. whereas most U.S. and European copies caliber, with the British Bulldog with Unquestionably, the U.S.-made had the fluted type. Unfluted cylinders, bird’s-head grips being made only in copies are generally better from a however, have been observed on .44 caliber. Additionally, the Meacham quality standpoint than their Belgian several Liege-made Belgian copies. catalog also listed an “American” British counterparts. The Meacham Arms Colt didn’t introduce a self-cocker Bulldog complete with bird’s-head American Bulldog sold for $3.31 in until 1877 (the Model 1877 “Lightning” grips and in both calibers, too. 1881 and was quite the bargain when and “Thunderer” models), and it Another very interesting British compared to a full-size Colt. It could seemed the Bulldog owned the market Bulldog is the illustration on the same also be had with extras such as pearl for the double-action class of big-bore page beneath the aforementioned or ivory stocks, and engraved frames. pocket revolvers. In truth, the Bulldogs’ “American” Bulldog in the 1884 catalog. It is curiously amusing to note that in fast-firing characteristics had a hand This particular revolver is advertised as the Meacham advertisement, for 31 in spreading the popularity of the a “new design” English British Bulldog cents less, one could have the same double-action revolver as a whole. and has a remarkable resemblance revolver marked “British Bulldog”! Mechanically, the British and American to the later Webley series of military The design of the American Bulldog Bulldogs were quite sturdy and simple; break-open revolvers. Together with from Meacham Arms differed from however, the finish and smooth mechan- its flat-base saw handle grips (listed as the majority of British Bulldogs in that ics of these Bulldogs were still not up to a “Smith & Wesson handle”), the text it uses a spring-charged vertical flat par with those of a Smith & Wesson or states that when chambered for the latch to retain the cylinder pin. The a Colt. A light strain on the wallet was .38 S&W, they are marked “American typical British Bulldog used a pull-out, their obvious strongpoint. Though the Bulldog.” A footnote goes on to say that rotating extractor pin which, when later Colt Lightning/Thunderer series the revolver “. .is made to compete with pulled upward and turned right, allowed of double actions would be the stiffest Colt’s and resembles them in model and removal of the hollow cylinder pin as competition, the Colt’s lockwork proved fine workmanship.