Bland-Pryse Revolver
Thomas Bland & Sons · Revolver · Discontinued · 1877
Also known as: Bland's Self-Extracting Army Revolver, Bland Pryse-Pattern Revolver
Overview
The Bland-Pryse is a British top-break, double-action centre-fire revolver built and retailed by London gunmaker Thomas Bland & Sons under Charles Pryse the Younger's 1876 self-extracting hinged-frame patent. Chambered most commonly in .450 Adams and .455, with rarer .476 and large-bore .577 stopping versions, it used twin opposing finger levers behind the cylinder to release the top-break action and auto-eject the spent cases, together with a Pryse rebounding hammer. Sold to British officers and colonial sportsmen during the late Victorian period, it is one of many trade-pattern revolvers derived from the Pryse design.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 1000 g (35.3 oz) |
| Overall Length | 280 mm (11.02") |
| Barrel Length | 152 mm (5.98") |
| Action Type | Double Action Revolver |
| Firing Mechanism | Double Action |
| Trigger Type | Double Action |
| Magazine Capacity | 6 rounds |
| Magazine Type | Internal |
| Muzzle Velocity | 195 m/s (640 fps) |
| Muzzle Energy | 280 J (207 ft·lbf) |
| Effective Range | 40 m (44 yd) |
| Maximum Range | 150 m (164 yd) |
| Barrel Rifling | Right Hand |
| Number of Grooves | 7 |
| Frame Material | Steel |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Stock Material | Wood |
| Finish | Blued |
Calibers
- .450 Adams · primary — also known as .450 Boxer, .450 Revolver
- .455 Webley — also known as .455 Eley, .455 Enfield
Features
- Firing modes: Repeating
- Feed systems: Revolving Cylinder
- Safety mechanisms: Rebounding Hammer
- Features: Top Break Action, Self Extracting, Twin Locking Levers, Rebounding Hammer, Fixed Sights
Service history
Operators
- British Army officers
- British colonial officials
Conflicts
- Second Anglo-Afghan War (1878-1880)
Production
Production years: 1877-1900
Trade revolver produced in modest numbers; the giant .577 stopping version had fewer than 100 examples made
Origin
Country of origin: United Kingdom
Designer: Charles Pryse
Discontinued: 1900
Notes
Built on Charles Pryse's British Patent 4421 of 1876, the same self-extracting top-break action Webley adopted as the Webley-Pryse No. 4. Bland marked examples 'BLAND'S SELF EXTRACTING ARMY REVOLVER'. Large-bore .577 'stopping' versions were Belgian-made and exported to India; fewer than 100 of those were produced.
Background
Thomas Bland & Sons sold the Pryse-pattern revolver under their own name from the firm's 430 West Strand premises, including monstrous .577 stoppers carried by Victorian officers in India as a last-ditch defence against charging big game.