Bullard Repeating Arms Co.

Name	Street	Town	State	From	To
Bullard Repeating Arms Co.		Springfield	Massachusetts	1882	1891

Patent	Date	Remarks
345,058	July 6, 1886	Bullard's patent for Breech Loading Fire Arm see patent
383,641	May 29, 1888	Hindley patent for Magazine Gun see patent
384,161	May 29, 1888	Hindley patent for Magazine For Fire Arms see patent
391,953	Oct. 30, 1888	Field & Hindley patent for Breech Loading Fire Arm see patent

Contract	for

Product
Rifle designed by James H. Bullard, produced by the Whitney Arms Company and the Winchester Repeating Arms Company. Approximately 5,000 weapons were produced. Early 1882 the company started as J.H. Bullard & Co. but on May 6, 1882 already, it became The Bullard Repeating Arms Association and, one year later on October 11, 1883 it was finally renamed Bullard Repeating Arms Company. This company existed until 1891. James Herbert Bullard was the General Manager until 1885 when he left for focusing on other activities. However, he remained partially involved. Bullards rifles were quite expensive. Price was about $33.00 whereas a WInchester was only $19.50 and better quality. With no military contracts in sight, The Bullard Repating arms Company was disolved in 1891 when the factory and property was sold to Elektron Manufacturing Co. and the Christian Industrial & Technical School in January 1891. The Bullard Repeating Arms Company started thir serial number from: 1 to 1500 for large frame repeaters, whereas serial number 1300 plus were never used 1500 to 2000 for small frame repeaters 2000 to 3500 for large frame repeaters, whereas no gun had been found so far in teh 3000 - 3500 range 3500 go 4100 for single shot rifles of all models Large Frame Repeaters Made for .40 to .50 caliber, serial numbers from 1 - 1500 and 2000 to 3500. Many repeaters were nor marked. If marked it were stamped on top of the action. The first Bullards were marked "BULLARD REPEATING ARMS ASSOCIATION-SPRINGFIELD, MASS. U.S.A. PAT. AUG.16, 1881" and the later "BULLARD REPEATING ARMS COMPANY- SPRINGFIELD, MASS. U.S.A. PAT. AUG.16, 1881". The first rifles up to approximately serial number 500 had aan 8 screw frame and all others a 7 screw frame. Small Frame Repeaters Made for .32 and .38 caliber, serial number from 1500 - 2000. The .44-40 Winchester cartridge was offered in this frame but likely non sold in that caliber. Most of thes small frame repeaters were stamped, "BULLARD REPEATING ARMS COMPANY-SPRINGFIELD, MASS. U.S.A. PAT. AUG.16, 1881" and one is known stamped "SINGLE SHOT JULY 6, 1886 PATENT DATE". All rifles have the company name, address, and patent date stamped on the left side of the action. Single Shot Rifles Based on S.K. Hindley and E.S. Fields patent granted July 6, 1886. It has a rotating breech block similar to the Remington rolling block. These single shot rifles were made in five variants 1) Single Shot Small Width Solid-Frames which are 1" wide and offered from .22 to .38 caliber. Procuction started August 8, 1885. 2) Single Shot Large Width Solid-Frames which are 1 1(8" wide and offered from .40 to .50 caliber. Procuction started January 2, 1886. 3) Single Shot Small WIDTH Detachable-Interchangeable Barrel Frame which are 1" wide, offered from .22 to .38 caliber, Production started January 13, 1887. 4) Single Shot Large Widht Detachable-Interchangeable Barrel Frame which are 1 1(7" wide, offered from .40 to .50 caliber. Production probably started May 1887. 5) Schuetzen Detachable Double Trigger Rifle It was offered in their catalob as .32 and .38 caliber with 30" half octagon barrel, double set triggers, pistol grip, cheek piece, swiss butt, mid-range Vernier and Wind gauge sights with level. Military and experimental Models In 1885 the military muskets and carbines began production.Two single shot experimental muskets are known. Serial number 3527 in .45-70 caliber with the 1881 repeater patent date and serial mumber 3575 in .38-55 caliber with the 1886 single shot patent. Further there is a single shot daddle ring carbine, serial mumber 3528 in .45-70 caliber with 1881 patent date. Rifles with serial number 2524 and 2529, both in .45-70 calivver were submitted to the US Ordnance Department for trials but refused. Hindley Magazine Gun Patented May 29, 1888. It has a detachable side magazine wich was patented June 5, 1888. There are two styles of that magazine in one the cartridges were fed from tom and the other was fed by pushing the cartridges from the face of the magazine. An empty magazine could be easily replaced by a full one.

Product

Rifle designed by James H. Bullard, produced by the Whitney Arms Company and the Winchester Repeating Arms Company. Approximately 5,000 weapons were produced.

Early 1882 the company started as J.H. Bullard & Co. but on May 6, 1882 already, it became The Bullard Repeating Arms Association and, one year later on October 11, 1883 it was finally renamed Bullard Repeating Arms Company. This company existed until 1891. James Herbert Bullard was the General Manager until 1885 when he left for focusing on other activities. However, he remained partially involved.

Bullards rifles were quite expensive. Price was about $33.00 whereas a WInchester was only $19.50 and better quality. With no military contracts in sight, The Bullard Repating arms Company was disolved in 1891 when the factory and property was sold to Elektron Manufacturing Co. and the Christian Industrial & Technical School in January 1891.

The Bullard Repeating Arms Company started thir serial number from:
1 to 1500 for large frame repeaters, whereas serial number 1300 plus were never used
1500 to 2000 for small frame repeaters
2000 to 3500 for large frame repeaters, whereas no gun had been found so far in teh 3000 - 3500 range
3500 go 4100 for single shot rifles of all models

Large Frame Repeaters

Made for .40 to .50 caliber, serial numbers from 1 - 1500 and 2000 to 3500. Many repeaters were nor marked. If marked it were stamped on top of the action. The first Bullards were marked "BULLARD REPEATING ARMS ASSOCIATION-SPRINGFIELD, MASS. U.S.A. PAT. AUG.16, 1881" and the later "BULLARD REPEATING ARMS COMPANY- SPRINGFIELD, MASS. U.S.A. PAT. AUG.16, 1881". The first rifles up to approximately serial number 500 had aan 8 screw frame and all others a 7 screw frame.

Small Frame Repeaters

Made for .32 and .38 caliber, serial number from 1500 - 2000. The .44-40 Winchester cartridge was offered in this frame but likely non sold in that caliber. Most of thes small frame repeaters were stamped, "BULLARD REPEATING ARMS COMPANY-SPRINGFIELD, MASS. U.S.A. PAT. AUG.16, 1881" and one is known stamped "SINGLE SHOT JULY 6, 1886 PATENT DATE". All rifles have the company name, address, and patent date stamped on the left side of the action.

Single Shot Rifles

Based on S.K. Hindley and E.S. Fields patent granted July 6, 1886. It has a rotating breech block similar to the Remington rolling block. These single shot rifles were made in five variants

1) Single Shot Small Width Solid-Frames
which are 1" wide and offered from .22 to .38 caliber. Procuction started August 8, 1885.

2) Single Shot Large Width Solid-Frames
which are 1 1(8" wide and offered from .40 to .50 caliber. Procuction started January 2, 1886.

3) Single Shot Small WIDTH Detachable-Interchangeable Barrel Frame

which are 1" wide, offered from .22 to .38 caliber, Production started January 13, 1887.

4) Single Shot Large Widht Detachable-Interchangeable Barrel Frame

which are 1 1(7" wide, offered from .40 to .50 caliber. Production probably started May 1887.

5) Schuetzen Detachable Double Trigger Rifle

It was offered in their catalob as .32 and .38 caliber with 30" half octagon barrel, double set triggers, pistol grip, cheek piece, swiss butt, mid-range Vernier and Wind gauge sights with level.

Military and experimental Models

In 1885 the military muskets and carbines began production.Two single shot experimental muskets are known. Serial number 3527 in .45-70 caliber with the 1881 repeater patent date and serial mumber 3575 in .38-55 caliber with the 1886 single shot patent. Further there is a single shot daddle ring carbine, serial mumber 3528 in .45-70 caliber with 1881 patent date. Rifles with serial number 2524 and 2529, both in .45-70 calivver were submitted to the US Ordnance Department for trials but refused.

Hindley Magazine Gun

Patented May 29, 1888. It has a detachable side magazine wich was patented June 5, 1888. There are two styles of that magazine in one the cartridges were fed from tom and the other was fed by pushing the cartridges from the face of the magazine. An empty magazine could be easily replaced by a full one.