[Jim K]

The term "Bulldog" likely originated in England, where the British bulldog (the animal) was a symbol of England itself. It was natural that a short, stubby and very dangerous revolver would be called a British Bulldog or just Bulldog. The Liege makers, who would copy any gun if they could make a Franc by doing so, soon turned out "bulldogs", both marked as such and unmarked, while Bulldogs were also made in the U.S.

The general characteristics of a Bulldog are double action with a solid frame; a separate trigger guard and non-folding trigger, a large center fire caliber, a short barrel, and a bird's head grip.

Jim