450 ADAMS  Mk.I

The 450 Adams Mk I was approved on the 21st of December 1868. The cartridge had an iron base-disk, with brass case and copper primer inserted in the rivet to hold the base disk to the case and was loaded with 13 gr. black powder. It was replaced in 1877 by the Mark II and together with the Mark II, declared obsolete in 1894. (Erlmeier, Brandt Ref. 441)

450 ADAMS  Mk.II

Like the Mark I, the Mark II was not headstamped and was introduced on the 15th of September 1877 as the “CARTRIDGE SA BALL PISTOL REVOLVER ADAMS MARK II”. The principal difference between the Mark I and II was that the Mark II had the brass base instead of the iron base. The Mark II was, together with the Mark I declared obsolete in 1894, a few years before the introduction of the Mark III. Headstamped specimens are frequently found but these are believed to be commercial loadings. (Erlmeier, Brandt Ref. 442)

450 ADAMS  Mk.III

The 450 Adams Mk. III differed from the Mk. I and II in that it was manufactured with a drawn brass case and Berdan primer and a deep cannelure to hold the bullet. The Mark III was approved for service in 1909 and the official designation was the “CARTRIDGE SA BALL PISTOL ADAMS MARK III”. It was declared obsolete in 1927. (Erlmeier, Brandt Ref. 443)