Manhattan Firearms Manufacturing Co.

Name
Manhattan Firearms Manufacturing Co.

Street

Town

State

From

To

Norwich

Connecticut

January 1868 1, 1856

Patent

Date

Remarks

Contract
Ordnance Department, September 23, 1861

for
26 blued seven shot cylinder pistols and 10 plated seven shot cylinder pistols and 5000 cartridges

Product
The company was incorporated in New York City. The production was organized in Norwich. The New York office was used for business meetings and sold manufactured articles. September 1, 1857, agreement between the company and Thomas K. Bacon (see Bacon) Which said:" I hereby convenant and agree to and with said company, that I will not engage, or be in any way concerned, in the manufacture or salt, or in any other way connected with dealing in fire arms of any kind whatever, during twenty years from this date, provided said company allows me, as another consideration, to make for them, at the prices annexed, all that they use of the following parts of pistols: " This document was signed by Thomas K. Bacon but not by Albert Beach,

secretary of said company (Manhattan). Becames American Strandard Tool Company in November 23, 1868

Product
Barrels for 2" single pistols Barrels for 3" single pistols Barrels for 4" single pistols Barrels for 5" single pistols Barrels for 6" single pistols Barrels for 3" revolvers Barrels for 5" revolvers Barrels for 3" 6 barrel revolvers Barrels for 4" 6 barrel revolvers Barrels for 5" 6 barrel revolvers

Prices
5 cents 6 1/2 cents 8 1/2 cents 10 1/2 cents 12 1/2 cents 17 cents 23 cents 25 cents 30 cents 40 cents

Lawsuit Manhattan vs. Bacon in 1858 as Bacon founded his own company in 1858. This lawsuit adjourned the court adjourned sine die in 1860. In this lawsuit Bacon was presented as the employ of the petitioners although the agreement appears to place him in the position of a subcontractor for Manhattan. It even seems that Bacon was the only person affilated with the Manhattan organization who knew the arms business therefor the loss of his services must hit the company seriously.

Trademark: Hero London Pistol Company

Bar-Hammer Single-Shot Pistols

.31 caliber percussion, double action, 2" round and octagon barrel .34 caliber percussion, double action, 3" round and octagon barrel .36 caliber percussion, double action, 4" round and octagon barrel Manufactured from 1856 to 1860, production was about 1500 Markings on barrel
Manhattan F.A. Mfg. Co. New York

Shotgun Hammer Single-Shot Pistols

.36 caliber percussion, double action, 5" round and octagon barrel .36 caliber percussion, double action, 6" round and octagon barrel On of the rarest Manhattan Arms. Bacon & Co. produced a similar pistol but with ring trigger right side

Pepperbox with bar hammer

Markings on hammer
Manhattan F.A. Mfg. Co. New York

.31 caliber percussion, double action but barrel group had to be turned by hand, 3 shots, 3" barrel, very rare left side right side .31 caliber percussion, double action, 5 shots, 3" barrel .31 caliber percussion, double action, 6 shots, 3" barrel Manufactured from 1856 to ?

Pepperbox with bar hammer

.31 caliber percussion, double action, 6 shots, 3" barrel .31 caliber percussion, double action, 6 shots, 4" barrel .31 caliber percussion, double action, 6 shots, 5" barrel Resembling the Allen pepperboxes in outward appearance but mechanically different. Manufactured from ? to ? Bacon was made the barrels and was paid 20 cents each for the 3" barrel 30 cents each for the 4" barrel and 40 cents each for the 5" barrel Markings on hammer
Manhattan F.A. Mfg. Co. New York

.31 Caliber Revolver

.31 caliber percussion, single action, 5 shots, 4", 5" or 6" barrel, bears the mark of Joseph Gruler, co-inventor of the company's best patent Manufactured from 1858 to ? Markings on barrel
Manhattan F.A. Manufg. Co. New York or Manhattan F.A. Mfg. Co. New York or

1st Model
Serial number 1 to about 1000 Manufactured in 1858 and 1859

2nd Model
Model starts between serial number 900 and 1000 Manufactured from 1859 Large size grip Attachable stock available

3rd Model

.31 Caliber Revolver, Improvement

.31 caliber percussion, single action, 5 shots, 4" barrel, 10 cylinder stops Manufactured from ? to ? Markings on barrel
Manhattan F.A. Mfg. Co. New York

.22 Manhattan First Model .22 Caliber Revolvers

.22 r.f. caliber, 7 shot single action revolver, 3" barrel, tip-off, similar to S&W 1st Model 6th variation Manufactured from 1860 to ? Markings on barrel
Manhattan Firearms Manufg. Co. N. Y.

1st Model, first variation

Round brass frame, round brass side plate, about 1600 made until 1861

1st Model, second variation

Round iron frame, round brass side plate, made until 1861 and found in the serial number range from 1600 to 4800

1st Model, third variation

Round iron frame, round iron side plate, hammer spur more curved, made until 1861 and found in the serial number range from 4800 to

7000

1st Model, fourth variation

as the third variation but with shorter barrel latch, made until 1861 and found in the serial number range from 7000 to 9000

2nd Model
.22 r.f. caliber, 7 shot single action revolver, 3" barrel, tip-off, similar to S&W 2nd Model Manufactured from 1861 to ?, about 8000 were manufactured in its own serial number range Markings on barrel
Manhattan F.A. Mfg. Co. New York

.36 Caliber Manhattan Revolvers

.36 caliber percussion, single action, 5 shot, 4" to 6 1/2" octagon barrel Manufactured from 1859 to 1868 and production is estimaton at 78000 5 or 10 cylinder stops Markings on barrel
Manhattan Fire Arms Co. Newark N.J.

Series I
Barrel with New York address no 1859 patent date on the cylinder 5 shots serial number range from 1 to about 4200

Series II
Barrel with New York address cylinder with 1859 patent date 5 shots serial number range form about 4200 to about 14500

Series III
Barrel with Newark address in one ligne cylinder with the 1859 patent date 5 shots serial number range from about 14500 to about 45200

Series IV
Barrel with Newark address in two lignes cylinder with the 1859 patent date 5 shots serial number range from about 45200 to about 69200 Model IV with its acouterments and again, model IV with its acouterments same, closer look on the bullet mould and the pouch

Series V
Barrel with Newark address in two lignes Cylinder with the 1859 patent date 6 shots serial number range from 1 to about 9000

see also American Standard Tool Company successor to Manhattan Fire Arms Company