The Manhattan Fire Arms Manufacturing Co. was founded by a group of New Jersey businessmen in 1856. Their goal was to take advantage of Colt’s patent for revolving firearms that was due to expire in 1857. The founders hired Thomas Bacon to became the Superintendent of Manufacturing. Manufacturing began in Norwich, Connecticut and in 1859 moved to Newark, New Jersey. Thomas Bacon remained in Norwich and started his own firearms company. During their existence, Manhattan Firearms produced approximately 175,000 pistols. Only Colt, Remington, and Winchester produced more guns during this era in which included the Civil War. While waiting for Colt’s patent to expire, Manhattan first made copies of American firearms that no longer had patent protection. These included pepperboxes and various single-shot designs. Shortly thereafter, they turned their attention to making Colt-style revolvers in both the .31 caliber Pocket and .36 caliber Navy styles. Manhattan patented an extra set of cylinder safety notches on these models. Manhattans can be easily identified by the many notches on their cylinders. After the Civil War, Manhattan production primarily consisted of a copy of the Smith & Wesson .22 caliber cartridge revolver and a single-shot boot pistol under the name "HERO". Manhattan changed it's name in 1868 to American Standard Tool Company and began to market industrial tools as well as firearms. American Standard Tool closed during the financial panic of 1873. Manhattan Firearms also manufactured guns under the trade names “Hero”, “London Pistol Company”, and “American Standard Tool”. |
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| Cased Manhattan Navy London Proofed Marked in an English case with accessories. |
| Inscribed Manhattan Navy Inscription reads “presented to sheriff J.T.Carr by citizens of Laramie Co WYO Terr” |
| Manhattan Firearms Manufacturing Co. (circa 1856 to 1873) |
manhattanfirearms.com
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| This Website is dedicated to the collecting of firearms made by the Manhattan Fire Arms Manufacturing Company. Click on the buttons at the top and bottom of each page to move around the website. Check out the "guide percussion" and "guide cartridge" buttons for help identifying your Manhattan firearm. The "pictorial index" button shows detailed photos of lots of Manhattans! Double-click all photos for a larger look. |
"Manhattan Firearms" to be reprinted after 50 year absence!!! The Stackpole company has annouced that they are republishing the book "Manhattan Firearms" by Waldo Nutter in 2009. You can pre-order these at Amazon.com. The interest in Manhattan Firearms are sure to increase when this is released!!! |
| **New** Manhattan Navy parts guide (double click this thumbnail photo for viewing) |
The most asked question by my friends and fellow collectors is what kind of email do you
get from your Website? The ones I like the most are the stories of how someone got their
Manhattan. Here is an email I received that has won my award as best email ever!
Thanks Kenneth for letting me share your email. This is a great Manhattan story.......
comments = Nice web site! My Manhattan is a Navy series III serial 16490 in similar condition to the
ones you have pictures. The story that goes with mine is somewhat unique. My Great great Great
Grandfather was taken prisoner at Shiloh, when he was later traded for he was given a matched pair
of Manhattans. He later gave one each two his two sons, his oldest son moved to California and later
lost his Manhattan in the fire which destroyed San Francisco. The other son hid his in the barn of the
family farm in Iowa. This son would become Adjutant General for the State of Iowa and would return
and reclaim this pistol years later. This would be handed down to his son, then his son, then my
father and now myself.
I always thought this a nice family story until recently finding my Grand fathers WWII diary where he
describes meeting his great Uncle who describes this story at length. His story was different only in
the fact that he added that these guns were given to him by his (friend) the president Abraham
Lincoln. He also stated the Lincoln and My GGG Grandfather communicated a number of times during
his imprisonment before he was able to arrange a prisoner exchange to have him released. These
letters were supposedly lost in the great fire. We have verified that My GGG Grandfather did know
the Vice President and that Lincoln was practicing Law in the same area that he was stationed in the
1840. Now whether this is the rantings by an old man shortly before his death or not, it is a fun story.
get from your Website? The ones I like the most are the stories of how someone got their
Manhattan. Here is an email I received that has won my award as best email ever!
Thanks Kenneth for letting me share your email. This is a great Manhattan story.......
comments = Nice web site! My Manhattan is a Navy series III serial 16490 in similar condition to the
ones you have pictures. The story that goes with mine is somewhat unique. My Great great Great
Grandfather was taken prisoner at Shiloh, when he was later traded for he was given a matched pair
of Manhattans. He later gave one each two his two sons, his oldest son moved to California and later
lost his Manhattan in the fire which destroyed San Francisco. The other son hid his in the barn of the
family farm in Iowa. This son would become Adjutant General for the State of Iowa and would return
and reclaim this pistol years later. This would be handed down to his son, then his son, then my
father and now myself.
I always thought this a nice family story until recently finding my Grand fathers WWII diary where he
describes meeting his great Uncle who describes this story at length. His story was different only in
the fact that he added that these guns were given to him by his (friend) the president Abraham
Lincoln. He also stated the Lincoln and My GGG Grandfather communicated a number of times during
his imprisonment before he was able to arrange a prisoner exchange to have him released. These
letters were supposedly lost in the great fire. We have verified that My GGG Grandfather did know
the Vice President and that Lincoln was practicing Law in the same area that he was stationed in the
1840. Now whether this is the rantings by an old man shortly before his death or not, it is a fun story.
| This website was last updated in Winter 2008 |
Manhattan Mailbag |
Write Me!!!! Please email me a photo of your Manhattan if you get a chance. I never get tired of seeing a new one. Request my email address by submitting the form below. Also I am helping a Manhattan Firearms researcher in a study of barrel lengths of Pocket Models and Navy Models. If you would like to help please email me your Model number,Serial number, and Barrel length and a brief description. I have so far answered every email to me! But I get a few that did not put their return email address or it is incorrect. If you did not hear from me, please write again!!! |
Join the Manhattan Firearms Group!! Do you have Manhattan questions or better than that Manhattan Answers?! Write me below or go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group /manhattanfirearms/ This is a new Yahoo Group for Manhattan aficionados to discuss their guns. Also for more on Manhattan revolvers try www.baconfirearms.com |