Zulu War Officers Service Revolver by John Adams

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" Zulu War Officers Service Revolver by John Adams (Strand, London), calibre .450 C.F. Boxer. Serial number 7577. Adams Patent and trade marks to right hand side of frame. Serial number dates revolver to 1873/74. It is designated Adams Model / 1872, Mk III Service Revolver. During the period 1872-1880 Army Officers were required to purchase their own arms, and this was the Standard British Army Revolver for the Ashanti and Zulu Wars, replaced in 1881. Revolver in this serial number range were also issued to the North West Mounted Police in Canada. Good chequered walnut grips showing service wear. In GWO and condition (trigger return spring A/F). A large impressive 6 shot .450 Service Revolver"

Posts : 1603 Join date : 2009-09-21

I'm guessing Chard would have had this model?

Posts : 1086 Join date : 2012-05-12 Location : NYC

Dave wrote:: I'm guessing Chard would have had this model?

I assume that means he wasn't carrying a Webley? It's just a matter of what model Adams he carried? Does anybody know for certain which pistol Bromhead carried? I understand what this says about "Standard Model" etc...but my understanding is that the British Army actually regarded sidearms as private property during the Isandlwana period. Bromhead giving his rounds to Smith-Dorrien was very generous because the Army had not shipped any pistol rounds...

Correct me if I am wrong please...

Dave,

Sorry your guess is wrong, I do have a photograph of Jack Chard's pistol and it certainly isn't that pattern.

It might actually feature on the Royal Engineers Museum's website.

I can't reproduce my photograph as I had to agree that it was for personal use only.

JY

Posts : 110 Join date : 2013-09-07

Chard carried a Webley Royal Irish Constabulary model revolver - the RE Museum have it on show - its the standard model - the .450 Adams wasn't the only government issue revolver by 1879 - - the pistol breech loading Tranter .450 (Mark 1) was on the LoC 19th July 1878. The consensus is that the Zulu War revolver's were a mix of Mark 3 and Mark 4 Adams, the Colt Model 1878 and Tranters and Webleys.

A few years back we had the chance to handle Chard's revolver and it is a dead ringer for the RIC I carry with me - also have an Adams .450 here in the collection. Hope that helps - atb Tim

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