Do you know the Lucius Pond revolvers

Patbar · #1 05-29-2018, 11:49 AM

In 1860, Lucius Pond produced a tip-up revolver in .22 and .32 RF that infringed Rollin's White bored trough cylinder patent.

Learning this, S&W threatened to sue Pond. In order to avoid a trial, Pond was forced to sell the 4,486 revolvers that were in his stocks to S&W for $7.50 each.

After that, S&W immediatly proceeded to sell these revolvers to the public for $14.50 each, with the additional marking 'Manufactured for Smith & Wesson' (these are much sought-after by collectors) !

Wanting to continue producing his own guns, Pond sold two new models from 1863 to 1870 which did not infringe White's patent but were rather unpractical, because the cylinder had removable chambers that one had to take out one by one to load the cartridges before putting them back in place.

shouldazagged · #2 05-29-2018, 12:42 PM

Fascinating history. Thanks.

opoefc · #3 05-29-2018, 04:09 PM

I have a vague recollection that Lucius Pond was an attorney and did not personally make revolvers, but revolvers with his name were made by others and he acted in the role of "producer" or "vendor" of the guns with his name thereon. Ed.

Patbar · #4 06-01-2018, 03:13 AM

I read on the site Lucius W Pond that Pond was also a manufacturer of machinery.

One of the members of this forum mentioned that : 'The L.W. Pond entry in Cope's book mentions that "L.W. Pond's business was taken over by his creditors in 1875 when he plead guilty to three counts of forgery and was sentenced to 15 years in prison."'