Gun Digest 2011. Dan Shideler
calibre .44 Webley Bull Dog revolver had been designed specifically to overcome this discrepancy in a compact form of self-defence giving several shots of reasonable power.
As its name implied, it was small yet powerful for its size. Possessing a handgun of that calibre and one emanating from such a prominent handgun manufacturer may well have added to a general feeling of security for each purchaser. Attendant to that concept was the knowledge that shots fired from a .44 revolver would certainly have more detrimental affect on any wild animal than those fired from a pistol of lesser power.
SCONTINENTAL VERSIONS
At first, the Belgian gun manufacturers still adhered to the larger calibres and most of the Bull Dogs from Liege were chambered for the .450 cartridge. The construction and quality of these weapons, while perhaps not quite up to the standard of the British product, were perfectly adequate and this, together with the more reasonable purchase price, created a huge demand for Bull Dog models generally amongst the transient American workforce. Prices ranged from as low as $6 to $7, in comparison to a $12 charge for the Webley, thus presenting a serious challenge to the British product.
Bull Dog models imported from Belgium were normally stamped with Liege proofhouse marks, consisting of the letters E L G arranged above a star and contained within an oval, to denote definitive proof. (This mark was valid until the year 1893, when the oval was surmounted by a Crown.) Other marks that may be encountered include the letter R beneath a Crown, indicating a ri fling test, plus other capital letters beneath a star as the bench mark of a particular Inspector.
While the external appearance of the Belgian versions remained fairly similar to the original, items of the lock mechanism and its arrangement were frequently altered by various Liege gun makers. The hammer of the British Webley was raised to a cocked position by an arm pivoted at the rear end of the trigger; a sprung sear then engaged a notch under the hammer to hold it in position until disengaged by the trigger being pulled back. Lock mechanism of the Liege product usually differed from the Webley in having a small, spring-influenced, arm hinged to the front face of the hammer, from where it was engaged by a rearward extension of the trigger. Those examples having a half-cock safety notch, also featured an additional lever positioned beneath the hammer. Others that were provided with a rebound feature had a similar lever to hold the hammer away from the cartridge primer. No spring was provided but the lever had a hook at its rear end, which extended behind the lower rear part of the hammer. When the trigger returned forward after firing, the lower rear surface of the trigger cammed against the upper forward end of the rebound lever, forcing the rear hook to pull the hammer back slightly.
British Bull-Dog: Title is stamped onto top strap and upper flat surface of barrel and is also marked CLEMENT ARMS Co. Weapon has Liege proof marks and was possibly manufactured by Charles Clement at turn of 19th century.
Grip plates are of hard rubber with vine design at upper and lower extremities. Other examples of this type are known to be marked N.Y. ARMS Co., reported to be trade name used by Crescent Firearms Company (1888-1893). Courtesy Homer Ficken.
Perhaps one of the more distinctive features of the Belgian models was an alteration to the frame for providing a more effective hold on the weapon when firing. This appeared on several Bull Dog types, on which a projection was formed at the upper rear of the stock to offer an abutment for the hand when the weapon recoiled at each shot. Another item that varied from the norm was the mainspring, which replaced the standard Webley double-limb component with a single leaf spring held to the inner face of the stock by a single screw. This made installation and removal a fairly simple process and less hazardous for the owner.
Several important Liege gun makers were involved in the manufacture of Bull Dog revolvers and they each employed a different title for their product. Most obvious was an adoption of the original term “British Bull Dog” with the last two words either separated, or joined by a hyphen. On some models, this was stamped onto the top strap, while others had the title engraved by hand at the same location.
A more abrupt title of “The Bull-Dog” was also used as an alternative by Liege gun makers and, in similar fashion, could be either stamped or engraved onto the top strap.
While the use of assorted titles for the Bull Dog models was quite prevalent during the latter part of the nineteenth century, an identification of the manufacturer was seldom applied. On the rare occasions that it took place, there was either a small trade mark of some form, or simply the initial letters of a maker’s name. It had even been common policy for Liege gun makers to register the names of fictitious companies as trademarks for use on their weapons.
The Bull Dog: Five-shot calibre .44 S&W model with italics THE BULL DOG engraved onto top strap. Birmingham proof mark, plus letters J and C stamped on left side of grip frame. Addition at lower front corner of cylinder acts as friction brake. Link at side of ejector swivel is spring with small stud to provide friction on ejector rod. Serial No.520. Courtesy Homer Ficken.
Five-shot Calibre .450 model with THE BULL-DOG stamped onto top surface of top strap. Liege Inspection mark of star above letter D on right-hand side. Stock plates are light brown wood. Initials T and J appear at left side suggest probable Trade Mark of Liege gun maker Joseph Tholet. Note reinforced area on frame for loading gate hinge. Serial No. 12 (Royal Armouries, Leeds).
In an attempt to make the pocket revolver even more compact, the Belgians decided to eliminate the trigger guard entirely and employ a folding trigger. Revolvers of this pattern were produced by Leopold Ancion-Marx, Edouard Schroeder, Henri Sauveur, Auguste Lebeau, Manufacture Liegeoise d’Armes a feu, etc. and offered in a variety of forms under an assortment of titles, one of which was “Belgian Bull Dog.” It was usually equipped with vulcanised stock plates, moulded with an elaborate foliate decoration, or furnished in mother-of-pearl as an optional extra. A thumb-operated safety device could also be provided to secure the hammer.
In March 1890, the firm Manufacture Liegeoise d’Ames a feu had registered a trade mark of the letters ML beneath a Crown, which was sometimes applied at the left side of the frame together with alternative markings on the top strap.
Elaborately decorated versions were popular option offered by many Liege gun makers.
As sales within certain regions of the United States increased, so also did the variety of names for the Bull Dog models as an enticement for those seeking to purchase a revolver. Amongst the first to appear in this category was the title of “California Bull Dog” on a revolver chambered for the calibre .44 Webley and .44 Bull Dog cartridges but which would also accept .44 S&W or even the .44 Russian rounds.
This model was quite distinctive in having fancy black rubber stock plates with moulded neo-classical head (sometimes referred to as Thunder God), accompanied by branch and leaf decoration. Stock plates of this pattern were widely adopted by Liege gun makers and have been observed on various other Bull Dog style revolvers, notably on those produced by Joseph Tholet, who operated in Liege between the years 1886 and 1900, producing pocket models of the bull dog type.
The California model was also sold marked “Texas Bull-Dog” and remained virtually identical although, in contrast to the standard form, its title was sometimes applied to the right-hand side of the frame, rather than appearing on the top strap.
Distribution of both types was fairly widespread throughout the United States. On the Western coast, the Texas version retailed in San Francisco by the firm of Shreve & Wolf, who were in partnership from 1881 until 1886. Revolvers of that same pattern were also advertised in the 1886 catalogue of John Moore’s Sons at the