Forehand & Wadsworth British Bulldog Revolvers

British Bulldog revolvers- ironically made most often in Belgium or the United States, were extremely popular in the 19th C. While commonly associated with the 'Wild West' there were probably more of them in the crime-riddles eastern cities.
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[@tylerlcollins1260]

Older guns are so much more interesting to me than the plastic crap of today.

[@davidabney7700]

Mr. Tinker, I never realized before reading George Layfield's book on the British Bulldog Revolver of the 1890's, the strong presence of the British Bulldog in the American West. Also a strong following in the eastern part of the country as well. An early day predecessor to the Charter Arms Bulldog .44 of today. Several gun makers made these small frame, big bore, short barrel snubs. They all used the name British Bulldog on the topstrap, and came in several caliber chambering. Layfield made the point, with strong data support, that the British Bulldog tamed the west, not the Colt SAA. These British Bulldogs were purchased by cowboys, law enforcement, gentlemen, and ladies for a wide variety of buying customers. Carried much and shot little was the way to stretch the life of an early day British Bulldog. Parts fatigue from excessive shooting usually ruined these snubs, but shot sparingly, and kept oiled and clean, and it will outlast the owner. Modern day Bulldogs will also suffer parts fatigue behind marathon shooting. Shoot it enough to be efficient, and be comforted in the fact that five, VERY BIG.lead bullets will insure you and yours from deadly bodily harm. Man, I love those CA Bulldogs!

[@kevanhubbard9673]

Never heard of .442 Webley something to look up!

[@RustyJoe]

I do believe Victorian era firearms have the warmest place in my gun fantasies. Mostly sporting arms but defensive civilian arms as well. Thanks for sharing so many on your channel 😊

[@Skaramine]

A Bulldog video is always a great find. Thank you for this.

[@isaal-magyari9203]

great video! got my subscription, was looking for a vid on .442 webley but all the F&H were essentially the same mechanically,Thanks

[@gew1898]

I recently stumbled across this channel and I can’t get enough. This is right up my alley. Thank you!

[@tntanto]

Kind of the 19th century’s version of today’s micro nines but cooler looking. Great review.

[@jeffdicks138]

Good video! Like the history 😀 And yes antler is cool 😎

[@---bp8jd]

These are something I'd love a modern reproduction of. Great video as always

[@gew1898]

It would be cool to see one of the Italian gunmakers try it, perhaps in .44 Russian but even .380 would be cool.

[@---bp8jd]

@@gew1898 if Charter Arms can make a small revolver (mostly) hold up to .44 Special, I don't see why it couldn't be done. Single actions are really popular at the moment - even in modest sales quantity, it would be worthwhile.

[@gew1898]

@@---bp8jd I would buy one.

[@guaporeturns9472]

@@---bp8jd got a new , stainless double action only Charter Arms .44 about 10 yrs ago.. was a total pos Just though I would add that here.. not really relevant but that never stopped me before.

[@hubcity5902]

I have a 5 shot brittish bulldog revolver you mentioned in the beginning of this video .44 cal

[@tinkertalksguns7289]

Cool! I'm still looking for one to complete the set. :)

[@hubcity5902]

​@@tinkertalksguns7289 I'm looking to sell mine as is It's missing the side gate and the ejector rod

[@tinkertalksguns7289]

@@hubcity5902 I doubt I can afford it at the moment (just got an expensive B-day present) but you can email me or message me on FB.

[@blackpowderfirearmenthusia3194]

Great video, very interesting. Thank you for sharing.

[@retroviseur5301]

cool 🤠👍good revolver🙏merci

[@sgtmajtrapp3391]

Most interesting really enjoy your channel.

[@loquat44-40]

Introduced in 1868, the .442 (11.2mm) Webley round was used in the Webley RIC revolver. This was the standard service weapon of the Royal Irish Constabulary ... Bullet diameter: .436 in (11.1 mm) Case length: .69 in (18 mm) Rifling twist: 1:20 Rim diameter: .503 in (12.8 mm) wiki A black powder round, the .442 originally used a 15-19 grain (gr) (0.972-1.23 g) charge behind a 200-220 gr (13-14.3 g) bullet.[8] This loading was later joined by a smokeless variety.[8] 200 gr (13 g) (Kynoch ball, factory load) 700 ft/s (210 m/s) 200 gr (13 g) (Remington factory load) 715 ft/s (218 m/s)

[@tinkertalksguns7289]

Thanks for the info!

[@sharonrigs7999]

Definitely no slouch for a pocket gun!

[@craigbranstrom4749]

Where do you find all these cool old guns? So cool.

[@tinkertalksguns7289]

I found this one at the Washington Arms Collector's Show, but I have found others on Gunbroker and at Pinto's Guns in Renton, WA.

[@GhettoCabbage]

very cool!

[@jamesW8316]

Lovely guns...😊

[@blackhawk65589]

I love the new title photo

[@timberdrifter8225]

Another episode of tinker talks tiny revolvers. I've been interested in those little bulldogs since I was a kid. I've seen a few but haven't found one I'd trust to shoot. So far. Have you ever messed with any of the naa revolvers? I'd be curious to hear your thoughts.

[@tinkertalksguns7289]

I really haven't, sad to say. I've been interested in them for many years, but with limited resources and different priorities I've never picked one up.

[@ptjackson21]

I think the F&W 44 cartridge is actually the "44 bull dog"

[@tinkertalksguns7289]

Actually .44 Bulldog was decades after these guns went on the market, specifically for people that did not like the recoil of the standard loads.

[@hubcity5902]

Did I mention the grips are the mother of pearl grips I thought were fake but when I took them apart shockingly they are very much real

[@frankbrowning328]

I like the look of these little revolvers. I'd worry about shooting them with modern ammo as I don't believe they were proofed with smokeless powder loads.

[@tinkertalksguns7289]

When smokeless was introduced *all* guns were 'black powder guns' and ammo companies were well aware of this; they formulated their loads to work in existing revolvers. After all they were no more fond of being sued than anyone. Factory .32 S&W loads seem perfectly safe in these old guns, presuming the gun is safe to fire to begin with.

[@frankbrowning328]

@@tinkertalksguns7289 Those are old cartridges that started as black powder so that makes sense.

[@loquat44-40]

@@tinkertalksguns7289 According Duelist1954, while those guns that had steel intended for black powder will not fail catastrophically, the common breakopen revolver frames will stretch with a diet of modern smokeless loads. There is something different about the pressure curves. I am simple repeating what mike over there was saying. I would stick with black powder and if I could find some springs from the wolff spring company as replacements, I would so install. Such guns made of modern materials could still be useful for close range self defence.

[@tinkertalksguns7289]

@@loquat44-40 Mike is a great guy and worth listening to, but my experience with top-break revolvers seems to indicate that in the better-quality guns it's not an issue. In many of the 19th C. top-breaks even a steady diet of black powder loads will loosen them up. My S&W has digested between 3-4K smokeless loads without issue. That being said I would advise anyone with doubts to err on the side of caution and use BP loads; taking the word of some random person online (like me) is generally not a wise move.

[@loquat44-40]

@@tinkertalksguns7289 He claims with many of these guns that there is a date when they improved the metallurgy for smokeless and those are ok. But there often no way of knowing when they started using better steel of each company. He seemed to think that the smith and wessons were very good. IIRC he was mainly covering the .38s. So you have lot of experience and so does he. If I had any of the old guns, just to be sure I would stick to BP.

[@josephlahood4647]

I have one .38 nickle 6 shot in decent condition with some cycling issues Finish nice. Any links in who can fix this? Thnks

[@tinkertalksguns7289]

Sorry, I really don't.

[@freemarketjoe9869]

I see one for sale that says .32 s&w short and long. Is it true you can use the long in this model?

[@tinkertalksguns7289]

I'm still on the first cup of coffee and the gun is in the safe so I can't easily check mine, but if a .32 S&W Long fits in the cylinder don't fire it. .32 Long did not exist when these revolvers went into production and they are not made for it. Why take the chance?

[@bbtbmb]

Hi, I have a 32 I want to shoot. exactly what ammo can I use in it a LGS sold me a box of ( he was not sure either) 32 S&W long I have not shot it yet because I love my hands eyes n stuff until I was sure if smokeless was okay. but after seeing your video it looks like you have 32 S&W short and you say "modern" ammo in these calibers is okay for this application? thank you! Bruce

[@tinkertalksguns7289]

.32 WS&W Long should not be fired in these revolvers (and it probably won't fit in the chambers.) .32 S&W (the short ones) should be safe to fire, although if you cannot have the gun looked at by a gunsmith you should examine it carefully before firing.

[@bbtbmb]

@@tinkertalksguns7289 it is very clean for its age and looks like it was not mistreated has most of its nickel plating except for the a little on the left side where it might have been against body sweat but that is very lite & still has rifling in the bore. the i think original handles are chipped and the threads holding them together are stripped The LGS gunsmith guy put the 32 S&W longs in the chamber and said they fit fine but I'll buy some shorts and use them for safety's sake i don't plan on using it regularly I just want to run a few rounds through it for the fun of it :)

[@tinkertalksguns7289]

@@bbtbmb Yes, some of the old 'economy' guns bored the cylinders straight through and this allows .32 S&W Long cartridges to be inserted, but firing them is not a good idea. It's not likely it will burst the cylinder but it might, and it will dramatically accelerate wear on the firearm.

[@bbtbmb]

@@tinkertalksguns7289 thank you! you have given me the most information ever on my little gun I'll definitely follow your advice I don't plan on making it an everyday carry piece :P after 2 years of ownership, I feel confident enough to take it to the range next time and give the old lady a spin then put her back in her spot on the shelf..... left knowing she is not just a paperweight. BTW are you from the Vegas area I saw the video of you at the range?

[@Tammy-un3ql]

👍👍👌👌

[@AyurHeal-to9tl]

It's barrel rifled or smooth bore???????😮😮

[@tinkertalksguns7289]

Rifled.

[@AyurHeal-to9tl]

@@tinkertalksguns7289 okay thanks, 🥰

[@appey67]

Isn't this the gun that Doc Holliday's girlfriend, Kate, uses in the movie Tombstone?

[@tinkertalksguns7289]

Yes, though that one might have been the .44; I'm not sure.

[@josemariajimenez8400]

Revolver bulldog calibre 44 ,mi pregunta es,munición moderna del 44 largo se puede modificar para la bulldog calibre 44 ?? Gracias y muy buen canal