The Atlas rifle and Dead Shot rifle were simple singleshot designs. They originated from a design produced by Gilbert W. Warren's Atlas Gun Company of Illion, New York. Sears offered the Atlas made rifle starting in 1904. Following the death of Warren's wife in 1905 he sold his patents and factory for the .22 rifle to Meriden Firearms Company. Meriden retailed 'Atlas' as the model name and continued to produce the rifle with minor changes. The last variation culminating in the change to the 'Deadshot' model designation.