having no idea what constituted a rarity as distinguished from a common specimen of Manhattan, these arms suffered a general lethargy in their collectible status. Immediately upon release of the Nutter book, there was a noticeable change in values and demand for Manhattan firearms and they have enjoyed a far greater and ever-increasing popularity in the collecting world; unquestionably their status had been elevated considerably. Published data had created both a demand and market for a specialized collecting area.
The several models and variations of Manhattan firearms offer the collector an excellent opportunity to assemble an impressive arms group, and not a few collections of significant proportions have been formed in recent years. But as with other fields, small nuances often play important roles in value. The collector, when encountering pieces that are unlisted herein, is urged to research the variances himself in order to assess the importance of them before hastily evaluating a specimen.
A basic check to be made on Manhattan 36 caliber Navy type revolvers is the verification that all serial numbers on major component parts are matched. On this model, as with Colts, serial numbers appear externally on all major parts. As similarly applicable to Colts, a mismatched number does not make a gun less of a collector’s item, but it does make it less valuable. Very minor pieces such as a barrel wedge should not affect value at all; a mismatched number on a loading lever will detract from the value, but if the condition matches the gun it will do so only slightly, probably ten percent or less. Information concerning this subject appears in the Colt chapter and is worth reading for the Manhattan collector also.
The U.S. Ordnance is known to have purchased one small order for 36 Manhattan revolvers (caliber unknown) in late 1861, very possibly at the request of an individual regiment commander, there being no recorded contract. As there is every likelihood that such guns were not martially marked, extreme caution should be exercised should such a specimen be offered. Those guns in 36 caliber and considered “Navy” size are classified by collectors as a secondary martial handgun. A number of such pieces were privately purchased and carried by officers and men of both the Army and Navy during the Civil War. A few presentation and inscribed specimens have been observed in well known collections. Such inscribed or marked pieces, when authentic, are considered quite scarce in this field and their values are enhanced considerably.
Fancy, highly embellished Manhattans are occasionally encountered. The engraving on the 36 caliber Navy size is often identical to the style found on Colts of the period and a few exceptionally elaborate or very ornate specimens are known. All models of Manhattans may be found with grips other than the standard walnut, with ivory being the most often encountered. Fancy grips, if original to the gun and if in sound and complete condition, add a premium to the normal value of the gun. The reader is referred to Chapter II for further information on this subject.
Cased outfits are quite rare in the Manhattan line and very few are known. The collector should be wary of jumping to conclusions by the mere presence of a Manhattan in an original antique case with accessories. A number of cases used by other American makers will fit various models of Manhattans. But our statement regarding rarity of such cases should not lend stimulus to the opportunist to place Manhattans in other makers’ cases to increase their value disproportionately. It has been found in the author’s experience that a cased Manhattan, even though far rarer than a cased Colt, would not be increased to any greater degree in value than any other cased gun unless some special feature, e.g., a label or other unique identifying Manhattan device, were found in the case to prove that it was distinctly Manhattan! The presence of a “Manhattan Firearms Company” marked bullet mold in a case is also not in itself sufficient to identify the case as being Manhattan-made. Such bullet molds, although scarce, are quite often observed on the collectors’ market and were evidently sold with the gun, but not necessarily with the case.
These arms, despite the impressive name and address marking of MANHATTAN and NEW YORK CITY, were never manufactured in that city or for that matter in that state. A thumbnail sketch of the company’s history should prove of interest for the collector and help understand the sequence of their evolution and manufacture.
The expiration of Samuel Colt’s master patents for the revolver in 1857 signaled the opening of the flood gate for competitive firearms. Among the most significant of these new products were those of Manhattan Firearms Manufacturing Company. Many of their guns hold special interest because of their close similarity to the Colt (e.g., the 31 caliber Pocket Model and the 36 caliber Belt or “Navy” Model). Unlike Colt, Manhattan’s output came to be accepted primarily by the civilian market, and sales to the military were limited to private purchases by individual officers or enlisted men.
The company was founded, mainly by a group of New Jersey businessmen, and incorporated in New York City in 1856. Their first manufacturing facilities were in Norwich, Connecticut, where the single shot percussion pistols and pepperboxes were made, and possibly the earliest manufacture of some of their 31 caliber percussion revolvers. Thomas Bacon, later to found his own well know firm in Norwich, was superintendent of manufacturing at Norwich and evidently also acted as private contractor for some of the parts supplied to Manhattan.
Manhattan’s first firearms were classified for later historians in a legal case tried before the New London County, Connecticut, Supreme Court of Errors, in 1859, entitled MANHATTAN FIREARMS MANUFACTURING COMPANY VS. THOMAS K. BACON. The text of this intriguing document, published in the Nutter book, Manhattan Firearms, offers interesting details of the arms then being manufactured by Manhattan as well as insights to the company’s early business history.
In 1859 manufacturing facilities were moved to Newark, New Jersey, where they remained for the duration of the company’s existence. Manhattan’s corporate history lasted somewhat less than 20 years. In that time, the company made over 150,000 handguns varying from single shot percussion pistols to pepperboxes to pocket and Navy size percussion revolvers, to metallic cartridge revolvers. Some of their production was issued bearing trade names other than their own such as HERO or the LONDON PISTOL COMPANY.
Successor to the Manhattan firm in 1868 was the American Standard Tool Company, also of Newark, New Jersey. American Standard lasted five years, forced out of business in 1873 during the great fina¬ncial panic of that year. Its product line was far more restricted in the arms field than its prolific predecessor.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Nutter, Waldo E. Manhattan Firearms. Harrisburg, Pennsylvania: Stackpole Company, 1958. Pioneer work on the subject and the basic guide in its field.
Manhattan Bar Hammer Single Shot Pistols
Bar Hammer Double Action Single Shot Pistols. Made c. 1856-late 1850s; total quantity estimated about 1,500. Production in Norwich, Connecticut.
31, 34, and 36 calibers. Barrel lengths from about 2"-4"; and of half round, half octagonal shape.
Two piece walnut grips of bag shape. Blued finish.
Serial numbers in lots, possibly based on barrel lengths, and in sequences from 1. Standard marking, on left side of the hammer: MANHATTAN F.A. MFG. CO./NEW YORK. Frame engraving standard. The Bar Hammer Single Shots are of importance to the collector for their scarcity, and their position as the earliest of Manhattan company products:
5C-001
| 5C-001 | Values—Good $225 | Fine $550 |
Manhattan Shotgun Style Hammer S.S. Pistols
Shotgun Style Hammer Single Action Single Shot Pistols. Made c. 1856-late 1850s; total quantity estimated about 500. Production in Norwich, Connecticut.
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