1863 Rollin White Patent Casualty

[quinn]

My brother was recently doing so research on a family heirloom, an E.A. Prescott single action "Navy" revolver. This gun was manufactured sometime between 1860 and 1863 when S&W caused the shutdown due to patent infringment. This revolver is chambered in 38 rimfire and has 8 notches filed in the barrel. It was carreid by Gavin Young a Scottish immigrant who served as the "Night Watchman" for Marshall, Texas. This gun was on display at the Alamo museum during the 1960s. Before this recent research we had never known the tie to Smith & Wesson.

 

[wlw-19958]

Hi There,

Depending on which source one consults, some say S&W sued
them and others blame Rollin White. I don't know for sure but
in the agreement that S&W signed with Rollin White, White was
responsible for defending the patent but S&W did sometimes
work in concert with White in litigation against infringing manu-
facturers.

Because of the high demand for S&W firearms during the Civil War
most infringing companies were allowed to complete "work in
progress" and made to stamp them "Made For Smith and Wesson"
and to sell them to S&W at a discount in which S&W in turn resold
them or offered them to their customers as an alternative for their
own product (remember, S&W had a backlog of orders that was
going to take them up to two years to fill).

The better off companies would settle and switch to a different
Type of "Loading" (like front loading). Apparently E. A. Prescott
didn't or couldn't do this so they simply closed down.


Cheers!
Webb

 

[BMur]

E.A.Prescott

Actually Prescott lasted well into the 1870's. Continuing to manufacture cartridge spur trigger revolvers in .32rf, .38rf, and .41rf caliber until eventually being bought out after a costly failed patented new model that did not sell. This being the same location that eventually housed the Mill built by Hyde & Shattuck.

Murph

 

[quinn]

This is where I got my info from:

Prescott

 

[BMur]

Hatfield

The Prescott story is a very interesting one. He actually moved to another location after the Civil War and when Rollin Whites patent expired he started a new line of revolvers that included a very heavy framed Brass Bulldog double action. Also a complete line of pocket revolvers and a bag handle line titled PARAGON.
They are scarce to rare on todays Market.

Murph