Gun Digest 2011. Dan Shideler
were also examples with ratchet cylinder stops and even some with a smaller grip size. Unlike those known to have been produced in Belgium, the “Ulster” versions adhered more closely to the regular Webley format in having exactly the same lockwork with trigger-operated sear. Some difference did occur with the barrel ri fling, however, which had been reduced from nine grooves to just five wide grooves and narrow lands.
The next model to be produced in Europe was certainly the oddest of Bull Dog designs, featuring a frame that hinged upward in front of trigger guard to eject and reload. It is reputed to have been based upon a design patented by the Birmingham gun maker, William James Hill (1860-1897), although no patent has been located under that name.
A slight mystery also surrounds the use of the name Stanley. In fact, the Stanley Arms Company was a trade name used by Dumoulin Freres, Liege (1877 - 1894), where manufacture of this particular model may have taken place. The same hinged frame design also appears on other continental revolvers.
Earliest examples were marked Hill’s Patent Self extracting “BULL DOG” on one side of the barrel, while later models displayed just “THE STANLEY” BULL DOG at the same location. These versions all bear the trade mark of William J. Hill, depicting a winged hourglass beneath the entwined initials WJH, applied at the left-hand side of the frame behind the cylinder. This mark had been officially registered by Hill in 1880. Weapons of this type were available in calibres ranging from .320, .380, .442 to .450, although not all were necessarily identified as Bull Dogs.
Single-shot and double-shot pistols of the more basic Deringer pattern had enjoyed a wide distribution amongst travellers, frontiersmen, miners and gamblers throughout the United States during the period of its formation. Small pocket pistols of this pattern had been produced by the Colt company since 1870 and had become highly popular, due to their combination of compact design with a large calibre bullet. As a weapon for personal defence, they were reasonably effective at close quarters but not accurate over any greater distance.
In England, the Webley company had recognised the value of such a weapon and even produced similar examples prior to its introduction of the Bull Dog types. While the first Bull Dog revolvers held more cartridges than the Deringer pistols, they were still only chambered for rounds of a similar calibre. Subsequent versions were made for the calibre .450-inch centre fire rounds, giving a slightly more hefty punch for use in awkward situations. However, for those individuals demanding the maximum effect, it inevitably became possible to obtain the same weapon with a heavier and more powerful round. Although those versions were of much the same size and design, they were considerably heavier, adding approximately a further seven ounces to the average weight.
Weapons in this category were identified with the appropriate title BEHEMOTH BULLDOG, the two words separated in typical fashion by the sighting groove on the top strap. Because of its unusual calibre, comparatively few of these models were manufactured. The use of much smaller calibres had gradually became more prevalent for other Bull Dog models, which could be purchased in .38, .32 or even .22 rim-fire calibre.
In Britain, revolvers of the standard Bull Dog pattern, while not marked with a specific Bull Dog title, were also being produced in small quantities by various English gun makers, including Charles Pryse, David Bentley, Thomas Bland and others, the majority of whom followed the same pattern already established by Webley. Of these individuals, it was actually the Birmingham gunmaker David Bentley who chose to add another specific Bull Dog title to his particular model.
Nickel-plated presentation model awarded to John Brewster, City of Derry Rifle Club, in 1875. Serial No. 53927. Courtesy Frank Michaels.
The Stanley Bull Dog: Five-shot calibre .45 model marked “THE STANLEY” BULL DOG at left side of barrel. Depressing lever under front of frame allows barrel to hinge back until curved arm is operated to eject all cartridges simultaneously. Serial No. 371. Courtesy Reg Milson.
Behemoth Bulldog: Calibre .50 five-shot model with title stamped onto top strap. Cylinder on this model measures 1.75-inches in diameter and barrel is slightly longer than usual at 2.75-inches. Barrel ri fling is just four grooves with right-hand twist.
Tower Bull Dog: Calibre .450 five-shot model of THE TOWER BULL DOG. Produced by David Bentley and retailed by Thomas Turner of Birmingham, England (1834-1890). Serial No. 222. Courtesy W.C. Dowell. Thomas Turner was a gun maker in his own right and also had his own trade mark since the year 1876.
Calibre .32 six-shot solid frame revolver by Forehand & Wadsworth. BULL DOG title is stamped onto top strap, while patent dates of 1861 and 1871 appear on left side of barrel. This example is fitted with ebony grip plates and has patented ejector system held by catch underneath cylinder spindle.
Forehand &Wadsworth Bull Dog Revolvers: Upper: Calibre .32 six-shot BULL DOG revolver. Lower: Calibre .38 five-shot version with modified cylinder spindle. BULL DOG title appears on top strap, plus patent dates of 1861, 1871 and 1875 at other side of barrel.
BRITISH BULL-DOG: Calibre .450 five-shot model by Forehand & Wadsworth with swivel ejector and rebounding hammer. This version is nickel plated and has ivory stock plates. Courtesy David B. Smith.
Indian Bull-dog: Calibre .44 five-shot INDIAN BULLDOG model by Forehand & Wadsworth was virtually identical to “British Bull-Dog” model made by same company.
Arranged at either side of the sighting groove on the top strap was a new name, THE TOWER BULL DOG, engraved in backward-sloping letters, while his “London Tower” trade mark was applied at the left side of the frame. This has been officially registered by Bentley on 28 April 1876 but was later acquired for renewal by the Webley company in 1890.
His version was distinctive in having a portion of the frame extended rearwards to form a sharp angle with the grip, thus presenting an improved hold when the weapon was fired. A different style of grip plates was also featured, with each hardwood plate being mortised to fit under the upper end of the frame opening and retained by a single screw and clip at the butt, rather than with the usual screw at the centre.
Bentley had manufactured revolvers at his Aston works between the years 1871 and 1883, by which time, revolvers of his Bull Dog pattern retailed in Britain at a price of fourty-two shillings each. Registration of the “Tower” trade mark was renewed by the Webley firm in 1918 and again in 1932.
AMERICAN VERSIONS
The earliest type of revolver manufactured in the United States to bear the words BULL DOG is represented by a little six-shot model with spur trigger produced by Forehand & Wadsworth of Worcester, Massachusetts. It was not of the Webley pattern but followed the same style as the Colt New Line series of 1872 with two patented features incorporated. The first was for a method enabling the cylinder stop to be operated by the trigger and had been patented by Ethan Allen in 1861 (U.S. Patent 33509), while the second was for a convenient means of housing a removable ejector rod inside the cylinder spindle, where both were retained by a spring catch at the front of the frame. In essence, it allowed the revolver to be emptied and loaded without the inconvenience of having to remove the cylinder. That particular arrangement was patented by Sullivan Forehand and Henry C. Wadsworth in 1871 (U.S. Patent 116 422).