Adams (revolver)

The Adams revolver was a black powder, muzzle-loading, and later breech-loading, revolver designed by Robert Adams in London in 1851. Initially produced by Adams' own company, Deane, Adams, and Deane, it was a direct competitor to the Colt revolver and gained considerable popularity, particularly in Britain.

The Adams revolver was known for its improved accuracy and shorter trigger pull compared to early Colt revolvers. Early models were typically five-shot cap and ball revolvers. Adams' design used a self-cocking (double-action) mechanism, which allowed the weapon to be fired more rapidly. However, some later variants, including those adapted for cartridge use, also offered single-action capabilities.

The revolver saw military service in various conflicts, including the Crimean War. While initially favored by some British officers, improvements to the Colt revolver, coupled with its lower price, eventually led to its greater adoption.

Later iterations of the Adams revolver were converted to fire metallic cartridges, reflecting the shift in firearm technology towards self-contained ammunition. These cartridge conversions used either rimfire or centerfire rounds, depending on the specific model and conversion method. The transition to breech-loading designs aimed to increase the reload speed of the revolvers.

The Adams revolver's influence can be seen in subsequent revolver designs, contributing to the evolution of handguns.