Tranter Third Model
William Tranter · Revolver · Discontinued · 1856
Also known as: Tranter 3rd Model, Tranter Third Model Double-Trigger Revolver, Tranter Patent 54-Bore Revolver
Overview
The Tranter Third Model was a British double-trigger percussion revolver designed by Birmingham gunmaker William Tranter and the first of his percussion models built on the improved 'raked' solid frame. Like the earlier Tranter patent revolvers it used the maker's distinctive twin-trigger lock, in which a lower trigger projecting through the guard rotated the cylinder and cocked the spurless hammer while a separate upper trigger released the shot, letting a marksman fire deliberately or empty the five-shot cylinder rapidly by squeezing both together. It is distinguished from the Second Model by a two-piece assembly in which the loading rammer pivots on a separate lever arm, and was typically chambered in .442 (54-bore) with octagonal rifled barrels and checkered walnut grips.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 1100 g (38.8 oz) |
| Overall Length | 285 mm (11.22") |
| Barrel Length | 152 mm (5.98") |
| Action Type | Double Action |
| Firing Mechanism | Percussion |
| Trigger Type | Set Trigger |
| Magazine Capacity | 5 rounds |
| Magazine Type | Internal |
| Muzzle Velocity | 180 m/s (591 fps) |
| Effective Range | 30 m (33 yd) |
| Barrel Rifling | Right Hand |
| Frame Material | Steel |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Stock Material | Wood |
| Finish | Blued |
Calibers
- .442 (54-bore) Percussion Ball · primary — also known as 54-bore, .442 cal, 11.2mm
- .500 (38-bore) Percussion Ball — also known as 38-bore, .500 cal, 12.7mm
Features
- Firing modes: Repeating
- Feed systems: Five Shot Percussion Cylinder
- Safety mechanisms: Hammer Safety Spring
- Features: Double Trigger Mechanism, Raked Solid Frame, Octagonal Barrel, Two Piece Rammer And Lever, Percussion Cap Ignition, Muzzle Loading Chambers, Five Shot Cylinder, Spurless Hammer, Checkered Walnut Grips
Base model
Service history
Operators
- British colonial forces
- Confederate States Army
Conflicts
- American Civil War (1861-1865)
- Indian Rebellion of 1857 (1857-1858)
Production
Production years: 1856-1863
Built on Tranter's raked solid-frame percussion design; many were produced under license by trade gunmakers such as Henry Beckwith and exported, including to Confederate purchasers during the American Civil War.
Origin
Country of origin: United Kingdom
Designer: William Tranter
Discontinued: 1863
Notes
Collector classification (First through Fifth Model) of Tranter's percussion revolvers is based on frame and rammer construction rather than factory model names. The Third Model was the first to use Tranter's raked frame; the later single-trigger versions superseded the twin-trigger design. Barrel lengths varied by order. Bore sizes across the Tranter range included 120 (.338), 80 (.380), 54 (.442), 38 (.506) and 24 (.577).
Background
Tranter's twin-trigger lock gave a steady hand the choice of a careful aimed shot or, in a scrape, a whole cylinder emptied as fast as a finger could squeeze - a versatility that made his percussion revolvers prized by British officers bound for colonial service and by Confederate cavalrymen alike.