Please Help me Identify this Old revolver

[mesinge2]

My friend gave me an old gun he had in his closet.

It says Russian Bulldog on it and appears to be a .32 or .38 rimfire.

It seems to work fire, but I am curious about value, history, and availability of ammo for it.

The view of the top strap is hard to read but says "RUSSIANBULLDOG" in all caps with no spaces. There are no other markings on the gun.

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[Jim K]

I can find no reference to "Russian Bulldog" but that stippled circle trademark on the grips was used by Hopkins and Allen. The main producer of British Bulldog type revolvers in the U.S. was Forehand and Wadsworth, but I can't find that they ever used the term "Russian Bulldog" though they did use the name "Russian" on a spur trigger revolver meant to compete with the S&W so-called "Baby Russian."

After Wadsworth retired, the company became Forehand Arms Co., and after Forehand's death that company was taken over (1902) by Hopkins and Allen, then a major arms manufacturer. H&A made a revolver similar to that one, but with a different shape of trigger guard, slightly different frame shape and a different center pin arrangement.

H&A had never made a true Bulldog revolver (as generally known) but the "Bulldog" name still had sales appeal. I suspect that your revolver was an H&A product, hoked up at minimal cost to look different from their regular line, and given the Bulldog name for sales appeal. Since other companies had used the name British Bulldog, the name Russian Bulldog was probably chosen as being even more exotic.

Perhaps someone with more information will be able to either confirm or refute what I admit is mainly speculation.

Jim

 

[mesinge2]

Thanks, Jim.

It a nice little piece. Perhaps, If I send some pics to one of the collector sites that have Forehand Arms Co. and Hopkins and Allen arms maybe they can identify it.

 

[Jim K]

Been thinking a bit about that gun, and 1902 seems late for a rimfire. I still think it is a H&A gun, but maybe made earlier to compete with F&W Bulldogs. I will also note that it may well be one of a kind, or one of very few, since there seems to be nothing on it. If so, that would raise the value above the average for that general type of gun.

I would appreciate it if you could let us know what you find on other sites. Thanks.

Jim

 

[.455_Hunter]

Try posting over at the "thefirearmsforum.com" in the "Technical Questions and Information" section. A user there, screen name "b.goforth", is a national expert on these early DA guns from IJ, H&R, H&A, etc. You will see that he answers many, many obscure questions on a regular basis.

Good Luck!

 

[mesinge2]

Thanks, 455 Hunter.

I just posted over there. I'll report back here if I find out anything.