POTD: Avoiding Your Own Patents – The Rollin White Single Shot Pistol
Sam.S 10.09.23
Welcome to today’s Photo of the Day! Here we have a Rollin White Single Shot Pistol…Yep, that’s all it’s called. Rollin White’s single-shot pistol was a .38 rimfire breechloader made by Rollin White Arms Co. in Lowell, Massachusetts from 1861-1864, with only around 3000 produced. With White having licensed his bored-through cylinder patent to Smith & Wesson, this creative single-shot design let White capitalize on Civil War demand while avoiding patent conflicts. Its swing-out breechblock with extractor allowed rapid reloading of .38 rimfire rounds. It had simple sights, smooth rosewood grips, and patent markings on the left breechblock. While its single-shot format couldn’t compete with popular revolvers, White’s pistol demonstrated his innovative vision, testing concepts later used successfully in other firearms. This rare breechloading pistol highlights how White advanced firearm designs within legal constraints, showcasing his knack for inventiveness even when faced with patent limitations.
“Only around 3,000 of these single shot pistols were manufactured c. 1861-1864 by the Rollin White Arms Co. of Lowell, Mass. It has a rounded blade front sight, integral notch rear sight, “199” on the bottom of the barrel and butt, “ROLLIN WHITE ARMS CO./LOWELL, MASS./PATENTED APR. 13. 1858″ on the left side of the breechblock which tips to the right for reloading, and smooth rosewood grips. Included is a very scarce factory box with direction label.”
Lot 1360: Rollin White Single Shot Pistol with Box. (n.d.-v). Rock Island Auction Company. photograph. Retrieved October 8, 2023, from https://www.rockislandauction.com/detail/78/1360/rollin-white-single-shot-pistol-with-box.
