What is it?

[The Wiz]

I am currently watching Antiques Roadshow, Brit version. There is a revolver that is at least a 12 shot. The bullet holes are stacked in a circle with a outer and an inner position offset. Two barrels stacked, one for the outer holes and one for the inner holes. Attributed to Buffalo Bill. They didn't spend any time with, they treated is as a novelty item. Maybe thirty seconds. I could not get a look at the trigger(s) or the back of the gun. It looked like .45 cal. Rewound it a couple of times, that is the best I could do. The cylinder, as you can imagine, was huge.

[The Wiz]

I now know what it is. Lets see how close our panel of experts can get. Hint: it is not a 12 shot.

[Mistered]

Was this it?
If so it is the HDH 20 shot revolver.

184746_1.jpg

[The Wiz]

close enough. It was a 20 shot pin fired, 7 mm. Mfg unknown , imported by a company called Gilks, London. Made in Belgium they think. This particular model had no trigger guard and was style more in the American Western look. More streamlined. Worth about 1,0000 US. in 2014.

[Mistered]

If one were to actually ever attempt a study of the manufacturers of just revolvers from say, the mid - 19 Century to the early 20th they would find it overwhelming.

Most only think of Colt and Smith & Wesson and while they were no doubt the major 'players' of the time the number of smaller and less known manufacturers is probably not known but remaining examples of them are still numerous.

It has been said all models of Smith And Wesson can never be accurately accounted for due to the sheer number of variations, as well as undocumented or specialized models they made.

The same is probably true for Colt as well but because of their more 'cavalier' approach to manufacturing they are probably more accountable however many variations still remain.

[RanchRoper]

That is one unique looking revolver.

[TMB]

That's a crazy looking gun for sure. If you shoot that gun is it considered a "double tap" or a controlled pair?