Help me identify this gun

[TopTechAgent]

Belongs to a neighbor friend to my father who is older and vague about the origins. Claims its civil war era but I have my doubts on that.
Only markings are VIS 501.

Some Internet search produced a VIS manufacturer of semi auto but I could not find revolvers by this company.

Edit. It's a 5 shot and I have other pix too.

 

[Melnic]

Is the thumb tip of that hammer broken?

Maybe not,

Looks alot like this (Robert Adams):
http://no.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fil:Percussion_revolver_Adams_system_IMG_3246.jpg

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Adams_(handgun_designer)

Similar but different:
http://www.icollector.com/Scarce-Ma...nt-Double-Action-Percussion-Revolver_i9386783

Someone can correct me if I"m wrong but there was alot of copycat going on back in then. Patents, patent enfringements, lawsuits.
Lots of Chaos. Civil war gunsmiths from the south going to Europe to build guns etc....

 

[Alphabrew]

Is the thumb tip of that hammer broken?

Maybe not,

Looks alot like this (Robert Adams):
http://no.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fil:Percussion_revolver_Adams_system_IMG_3246.jpg

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Adams_(handgun_designer)

Similar but different:
http://www.icollector.com/Scarce-Ma...nt-Double-Action-Percussion-Revolver_i9386783

Someone can correct me if I"m wrong but there was alot of copycat going on back in then. Patents, patent enfringements, lawsuits.
Lots of Chaos. Civil war gunsmiths from the south going to Europe to build guns etc....

A+ for that detective work, I think you nailed it. Looks like an Adams revolver.

 

[Melnic]

Thx
Any patent numbers on it?

 

[Machodoc]

Sure looks like a version of that Adams.

 

[TopTechAgent]

Wow, thanks for the quick identification and setting me on the right path. I definitely think its an Adams version as suggested, and now I just want to know more about it. Very interesting to learn the history of these guns historically as well as to wonder how the specimen was used.

 

[TopTechAgent]

This view of the piece doesn't match what I see on wiki
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Adams_(handgun_designer)

I will see where this takes me for history's sake.

 

[Melnic]

try this:
http://armscollectors.com/mgs/deane_adams_deane_part_1.htm

I think that hammer is broken off. That's the main thing I think that does not match with this page. The grip pattern is different. Also, I'm thinking if there is not any visible stamping like on that page, it may be a copy cat (someone copying the design during the civil war) or a reproduction. I saw on a history program recently that the Confederate states did not have much in the way of arms manufacturing and the North was out to get them so they received arms from Europe, Hmm who in Europe did not like the US at the time..... Oh , the Brits... this could have been some limited run of a Deans Adams that some machinist made in his shop just to support the war effort. Maybe they left off stamping parts to keep it from being traced? Who knows?

 

[Threeband]

I immediately thought "Adams" when I saw it, but it might be a (Belgian?) copy. I would expect a genuine Adams to be marked "Adams". The Belgians cranked out vast numbers of guns, many generic patterns of handguns and shotguns. It should have proof marks. Those would tell you where it was made.

The Confederates produced mainly copies of Colt Navys. I'm sure they never made a copy of the Adams, though I expect some officers managed to acquire them.

Of course the hammer spur is broken off.