MASS ARMS CASED POCKET PISTOL

Mass Arms Cased Pocket Pistol

The Massachusetts Arms Company was established in 1850 and the board board of directors included J. T. Ames, Daniel Wesson and Horace Smith. The design included a Maynard Tape Primer system. Mass Arms was sued but Colt on patent infringement and the pistols were redesigned to have the cylinder rotate manually.  With the expiration of the Colt Patent in 1857 the design was modified so that pulling the hammer rotated the cylinder.  Production of pocket and belt pistols started in 1851 and total production was less than 5000 total.  Production of the earlier pocket models with the hand rotated cylinders was 900 pistols.  

This pocket pistol is an example is a hand rotated cylinder version. It has the button in the trigger guard to release the cylinder so it can be rotated by hand. This type has a total production of 900.  It is 28 caliber. The barrel and some other parts have the number 77.  The pistol is complete and functions.  It has most of the original finish and the markings are sharp and readable. The cylinder scene is crisp and sharp.  The tape primer magazine cover is numbered 114.  The cylinder has most of the original bluing.  The action is crisp.   The original case comes with a flask, bullet mold, key and several rolls of tape primers. The case and the accessories are in fine condition.   The flask is a Mass Arms flask with the firm name embossed on both sides.  The bullet mold is also marked Mass Arms