shattuck 1885 \"Dead Presidents\" Revolver .32 Revolver

The Shattuck pocket revolver is seldom encountered as it was manufactured in very limited quantities and was one of the first revolvers with a swing out revolver ever produced in the USA. Patented on Nov 4, 1879 as stamped on the barrel, it was manufactured in rather small quantities by CS Shattuck of Hatfield, Mass.

Iver Johnson bought the patent for this system from Andrew Hyde after the failure of the CS Shattuck company and made what was called the "Lovell Safety Double Action" revolver. It was the first DA revolver to have a swing out cylinder

This is an excellent example in obsolete 32 calibre 32 rimfire calibre with a 2 3/4-inch octagonal barrel with fixed front blade sight. Nickel-plated finish. Left side of barrel marked: C.S. SHATTUCK HATFIELD MASS. Left side of frame marked: PAT. NOV. 4, 1879. Spur trigger. Swing-out five shot cylinder. Checkered hard rubber grips with carved presidents to each panel, Abraham Lincoln to right side and James Garfield to left.

Lincoln was assassinated April 15th, 1865, and Garfield September 19th, 1881; the significance of the two assassinated presidents being commemorated on a small pocket revolver remains one of firearms strangest mysteries. Were they made for Republican sympathisers as both presidents were republican or were they made for Democrats as a tasteless momento ? No one knows.

As a consequnce of the grips , these were popularily referred to as the "Dead Presidents Revolver".

The cylinder shaft is attached by a screw under the barrel. By activating a locking cam on the right side of the frame behind the cylinder, the rear part of the cylinder comes free, allowing it to swing out to the right for loading.

This is an interesting investment quality revolver that would grace any revolver collection and the best condition Shattuck I have seen.