UNITED STATES MARTIAL REVOLVER AND AUTOMATIC PISTOLS
PART II.
UNITED STATES MARTIAL PERCUSSION REVOLVERS
The principle of multi-firing arms was known many years before February 25th, 1836, when Samuel Colt of Hartford, Connecticut, obtained a patent for firearms firing successive charges presented before a single barrel, by means of revolutions of a cylinder containing the loads. Even that idea was not new: small-arms embodying the principle of a revolving breech had been made in the matchlock, wheel lock and snaphance ignition system constructions, and are to be found in the important museums of the world. A successful and ingenious, manually operated revolving cylinder, flintlock weapon was patented in Great Britain in 1818 by Elisha Collier of Boston, Mass., who after six years of experimentation went to England to manufacture and market his invention because of the high cost of labor, and consequently limited market, for his expensive weapons at home. But the Collier revolving pistol, like its predecessors, was unsuitable for military or even general use. It was complicated, delicate, expensive in construction, but its chief objection lay in the very nature of its cumbersome, outside, flintlock mechanism, which was apt to result in the unexpected discharge of several or all of the chambers at once.
The invention of the percussion ignition system permitted design that did away with the danger of simultaneous discharge of several chambers, and to Samuel Colt belongs the credit for perfecting the first practicable and working firearm equipped with a mechanically operated cylinder, and its subsequent improvement and development. In addition to the mechanical revolution of the breech, his patents covered a number of other vital points, such as placing the percussion cap cones on the back of the loading chambers, the separation of the cones by metal walls to prevent the ignition of chambers other than the one to fire, and a mechanical method of locking the cylinder at the moment of firing to insure the alignment of the chamber with the barrel. In fact his patents covered the important and basic principles of revolver construction so thoroughly, that it was not until the expiration of the Colt patents in 1856, that practical revolvers could be manufactured by others without infringing the Colt patents.
Upon the receipt of his United States and British patents, young Colt,—he was but about twenty-two at that time—succeeded in interesting a sufficient number of capitalists in his invention to organize the “Patent Arms Manufacturing Company” at Paterson, New Jersey;—a stock company with a capitalization of about $230,000. Colt sold his patents rights to the new concern for a cash payment of some $6,000, royalties, and a percentage of the profits; Colt himself becoming an employee of the firm in the capacity of a salaried manager.
The first concealed trigger caliber .34 pocket revolvers made at the Paterson works were an improvement over the same arms made for Colt by Anson Chase of Hartford and Frederick Hanson of Baltimore. The first output was shortly followed by a number of other models of various barrel lengths and calibers ranging from .22 to .50. Like all new inventions the new arms were slow to “take” in the conservative East, and a large part of the company’s stock of hand arms was purchased by enterprising Texan arms dealers. Though the War of Texas Independence was over, the frontier conditions were anything but peaceful, and the revolvers won instant popularity in the turbulent Lone Star Republic.
These first Paterson, or Texas Colts, as they are now called among the collectors, were further improved after 1839 by newly patented features such as a hinged lever rammer, simplified operating mechanism and facilities for the rapid loading of the cylinder by special powder and ball flasks and cap magazines. In the same year a heavier martial revolver equipped with the conventional trigger, trigger guard and a hinged lever rammer of the later percussion revolvers, was made for the use of the Texas Rangers.
The lever ramrod and other improvements of 1839 are ascribed partly to suggestions made to Colt by representatives of the Texas Government, who came to New York to buy arms for the new republic. It is commonly reputed, but not definitely established, that Captain Samuel H. Walker of the Rangers was one of the agents, if not indeed the sole representative. Be that as it may, these revolvers, of which three hundred are said to have been made, are referred to as Walker Colts in honor of the Ranger captain, though his participation in their design may be merely a legend.
In the meantime the financial affairs of the company had not gone any too well. Despite their popularity in Texas and their obvious superiority to single shot pistols, the arms did not find a ready market in the East, the center of population and purchasing power, and what was more important, the Colt arms had been reported on adversely by an army Ordnance Board convened at West Point in March, 1837, to test new arms of the percussion system. The ultra-conservative Board raised a number of objections, among them being the temptation on the soldiers’ part to waste ammunition, the high cost of the arms and excessive weight, and the valid reason of the difficulty of maintenance of the relatively delicate arms under field service conditions. But the real reason probably was that the arms were too new and untried, still in the more or less experimental stage and in need of further development through use. It is quite likely that another objection was raised at the trials;—the old battle cry heard in connection with every mechanical improvement which increases the rapidity of fire;—“how are you going to supply ’em with all the ammunition?”
In order to demonstrate the superiority of his repeating arms, Colt even took a consignment to Florida, where the United States was engaged in a small war with the Seminole Indians. The arms were readily sold to individual army officers, but the long journey merely resulted in a trifling order for fifty carbines through the interest of Lt. Col. Harney. Later, in 1841, this purchase was followed by an additional order for one hundred and sixty Model 1839 carbines for field trial at the Dragoon School at Carlisle Barracks, Penna.; but this small order could not compensate for a general lack of sales, and lacking public and government support the firm failed in 1842; the plant and the machinery were sold, and the patent rights eventually reverted to the inventor.
The number of arms manufactured at Paterson during the operations of the Patent Firearms Manufacturing Company is unknown. The theory has been advanced by Mr. Chas. T. Haven that by comparison of the number of known existing specimens of the Paterson Colt revolvers with the relatively few remaining Whitneyville Colts, Model 1847, of which a thousand are known to have been made, the total number made at Paterson must have been about five or six thousand. While this number does not seem excessive, keeping the output down to a modest figure of less than one hundred per month, there is one objection to Mr. Haven’s method of estimation, and that is the fact that Model 1847 revolvers were issued to troops and saw hard service, and since the army custom has been to destroy unserviceable and condemned small-arms to prevent further use, but few of these arms are left of the thousand made and issued to the service.
After the failure of his company Samuel Colt occupied himself with other affairs until 1846, when the Mexican War created a demand for revolvers, and Samuel Colt was approached by the government to resume the manufacture of Colt arms. Colt’s old friend, Captain Walker, now of the United States Army, was the emissary for the government in this transaction. Assured of a large order, Colt contracted with Eli Whitney for the manufacture of the revolvers at the latter’s armory at Whitneyville, Connecticut. Tradition has it that Colt was unable to locate a specimen of his martial 1839 revolver as made for the Texas Rangers, and designed a new arm patterned from memory after the “Walker”.
The first order for one thousand revolvers was received in January, 1847, and was produced at Whitneyville. A second order for a thousand followed on November 2, 1847, and on the strength of that order Colt equipped a factory at Hartford, Conn., and completed the second thousand, known as Model 1848, without outside assistance. This model was also known as the “Dragoon” or “Holster Pistol”, the word revolver not having come into general usage.
Further orders followed, and Colt engaged Elisha K. Root as factory superintendent, and devoted himself to the management of the prospering business. Though the Mexican War had ended, the westward trek and discovery of gold in California gave a new impetus to arms manufacturing, resulting in the enlargement of the Colt production facilities in a new plant at Hartford.
While the Model 1848 revolvers continued to be made with some minor variations, a new caliber .36 navy model was brought out in 1851, in addition to smaller caliber pocket revolvers introduced in 1848. Solid frame, side-hammer revolvers designed by Root were brought out in 1855, mostly in smaller calibers. The next martial revolver was the streamlined Army Model of 1860, followed by a companion Navy Model of 1861, the last of the Colt martial percussion revolvers.
Colt percussion revolvers similar to the American made models, except for steel trigger guards and butt-straps, were also produced in England at the London branch from 1853 until 1857, when the English armory was discontinued.
According to the Colt Fire Arms Company, during the Civil War the Colt Armory furnished the government with 386,417 revolvers, about 7,000 revolving rifles and carbines and 113,980 muzzle-loading rifle muskets. Col. Colt,—he had been commissioned Colonel in the Connecticut militia,—died January 10th, 1862, his end probably hastened by his labors in connection with supplying the government with arms in war emergency. Upon his demise Mr. Root became the president of the company.
The basic Colt patents issued in 1836 did not expire until 1856 due to an extension granted because of the cessation of manufacture between 1842, when the original company failed, and 1847, when Colt resumed the manufacture of arms under his patents.
With the expiration of Colt patents, the westward migration and the Civil War created a tremendous demand for arms, and a large number of firms brought out a host of revolvers, most of them embodying some Colt principles, while some, like the Manhattan and Metropolitan, were downright imitations in construction and design.
About 374,000 revolvers of many different makes were purchased by the United States during the Civil War, at an approximate cost of six million dollars. In the early days of the war the domestic purchases were supplemented by foreign arms, such as Adams, Lefaucheaux, Le Mat, Perrin, Raphael and others, but these were discarded for American arms as soon as the industry was able to supply the needs of the army and navy. Of these American made arms, the martial percussion revolvers, Colt and other makes, are described in this chapter.
The advent of the revolver increased the value of cavalry. In addition to possible shock action, the value of cavalry in combat was to be found in its mobility and ability to displace its fire power quickly from one locality to another. Therefore its most effective employment was under conditions which not only permitted the fullest use of its mobility, but also the use of maximum fire power.
The issue of revolvers to the cavalry increased its fire power as compared to the infantry, which was still armed with muzzle-loaders. The advantage of increased fire power added to its mobility, enhanced the value of the mounted service until recent years, when the issue of repeating arms to the infantry and subsequent motorization caused a decline in the importance of cavalry as a combat branch.
In the following chapters are also included revolvers and automatic pistols, which though not adopted or purchased by the government, are definitely of martial type, and were produced in the hope of acceptance by the military and naval services.
Though the percussion revolvers could be loaded with loose powder and conical or round ball, the standard and convenient load was a self-consuming, combustible cartridge consisting of a charge of powder contained in a small paper or thin skin pouch, which was glued around the circumference of a conical bullet. The material of the pouch or bag, whether paper or skin, was usually prepared with nitre, and was consumed in the explosion with practically no residue. These combustible cartridges were sometimes made with a preserving glazed linen cover for the protection of the frail powder bag, the cover being removed before loading. Some makes were packed in small, hollow wooden containers, usually six cartridges to a case.
DIRECTIONS FOR LOADING A PERCUSSION REVOLVER.
The following instructions are copied from a label inside a Colt revolver case:
Directions for Loading Colt’s Pistols.
First explode a cap on each nipple to clear them from oil or dust, then draw back the hammer to half-cock, which allows the cylinder to be rotated; a charge of powder is then placed in one of the chambers, keeping the barrel up, and a ball with the pointed end upward, without wadding or patch, is put into the mouth of the chamber, turned under the rammer, and forced down with the lever below the surface of the cylinder so that it can not hinder its rotation (care should be used in ramming down the ball so as not to shake out the powder from the chamber, thereby reducing the charge.) This is repeated until all the chambers are loaded. Percussion caps are then placed on the nipples on the right of the lock-frame, when, by drawing back the hammer to full cock, the arm is in condition for a discharge by pulling the trigger; a repetition of the same motion will produce like results, viz.: six shots without reloading.
N.B. ** Fine grain powder is best. Soft lead must be used for the balls. The cylinder is not to be taken off when loaded. To carry the arm safely when loaded, let down the hammer on one of the pins between each nipple, on the end of the cylinder.
Directions for Loading With Colt’s Foil Cartridge.
Strip the white case of the cartridge, by holding the bullet end and tearing it down with the black tape. Place the cartridge in the mouth of the chamber of the cylinder, with the pointed end of the bullet uppermost, one at a time, and turn them under the rammer, forcing them down with the lever below the surface of the cylinder so they can not hinder its rotation.
To insure certainty of ignition, it is advisable to puncture the end of the cartridge, so that a small portion of gunpowder may escape into the chamber while loading the pistol.
ADAMS NAVY PERCUSSION REVOLVERS. (MASS ARMS CO.)
Caliber .36, five shot, double action. Six inch octagonal barrel rifled with three grooves. Total length eleven-and-one-half inches. Weight 2 pounds, 9 ounces. The cylinder is one-and-fifteen-sixteenths inches long. A steel blade front sight is set into the barrel; the V-notch rear sight is on the frame: Oval, iron trigger guard. The checkered walnut grip has a hole bored through to take a lanyard.
The rammer is operated by a loading lever attached to the left side of the barrel. On the right side of the frame is a safety lock. The revolver used a self-consuming, combustible cartridge, though loose powder and ball could be used. All metal parts were blued.
The revolver is marked on top of the frame “MANUFACTURED BY MASS. ARMS CO. CHICOPEE FALLS”. The frame is also marked on the right side “PATENT JUNE 3, 1856”, and on the left side “ADAM’S PATENT MAY 3, 1858”. The loading lever is marked “KERR’S PATENT APRIL 14, 1857”.
The revolver mechanism was patented in England in 1853. During the Civil War these revolvers were manufactured at Chicopee Falls by the Massachusetts Arms Company. English made Adams revolvers were also purchased by both the United States and the Confederate governments during the Civil War.
The Massachusetts Arms Company was organized by the heirs and kin of Edwin Wesson for the manufacture of revolvers under the Wesson patents. (See Wesson & Leavitt revolver).
ADAMS ARMY PERCUSSION REVOLVER.
Similar in design and construction to the Navy Model except that the caliber was .44 (This arm reputed made. No specimen was seen in any of the important collections examined.)
ALLEN & WHEELOCK ARMY PERCUSSION REVOLVER.
Caliber .44, six shot, single action. Seven-and-one-half inch round barrel, partly octagonal towards the breech and rifled with six grooves. Total length thirteen-and-one-quarter inches. Weight 2 pounds, 14 ounces. Center hammer with a V-shaped notch rear sight cut in the lip. A low blade, brass front sight is dovetailed in at the muzzle. The cylinder is one-and-fifteen-sixteenth inches long.
The trigger guard when released by a catch on its underside, drops, and by action of geared teeth operates the rammer to seat the bullet in the cylinder. The cylinder may be removed by pressing a spring in front of the frame and sliding the cylinder pin forward. The barrel, frame and cylinder are blued, the trigger guard and hammer are case-hardened in mottled colors. Varnished walnut grips. The revolver fired a self-consuming combustible cartridge, or could be loaded with loose powder and ball.
The specimen illustrated is marked on the left of the barrel “ALLEN & WHEELOCK WORCESTER MASS. U.S. ALLEN’S PT’S JAN. 13, DEC. 15, 1857. SEPT. 7, 1858”. The cylinder is stamped “98”.
The revolver was patented by Ethan Allen on Jan. 13, 1857, Pat. No. 16,367, Dec. 15, 1857, Pat. No. 18,836 and Sept. 7, 1858, Pat. No. 21,400. It was manufactured by Ethan Allen and his brother-in-law Thomas P. Wheelock at Worcester, Mass., from 1856 to 1865.
One hundred ninety-eight of these army revolvers were purchased by the War Department from Wm. Read & Son on Dec. 31, 1861. A total of about 500 Allen & Wheelock revolvers in both army and navy sizes are believed to have been purchased by the government during the Civil War.
After the introduction of the metallic cartridge the Allen Wheelock revolver was changed into a cartridge arm by substituting a different cylinder, changing the hammer and adding a loading gate.
The firm Allen & Wheelock consisted of Ethan Allen, one of the early American arms makers, and his two brothers-in-law, Charles T. Thurber and Thomas P. Wheelock. The firm was known as Allen-Thurber & Co., until 1857, when Thurber retired and the name was changed to Allen & Wheelock. Their manufactory was located at Grafton, Mass., from 1838 until 1842, when they moved to Norwich, Conn. In 1847 the firm moved its establishment to Worcester, Mass.
Mr. Wheelock died in 1863, and in 1865 Allen’s two sons-in-law, S. Forehand and H. C. Wadsworth were admitted to the firm. In 1866 the firm became Ethan Allen & Co. Mr. Allen died in January, 1871, and the firm continued under the name Forehand & Wadsworth.
ALLEN & WHEELOCK NAVY PERCUSSION REVOLVER. SIDE-HAMMER MODEL.
Caliber .36, six shot, single action. Eight inch octagonal barrel rifled with six grooves. Total length thirteen-and-one-half inches. Weight 2 pounds, 6 ounces. The cylinder is one-and-twenty-seven-thirty-seconds inches long. A German silver blade is mounted on the barrel; the V-notch rear sight is in the frame. Blued finish.
The side hammer is on the right side. The trigger guard when released forms the loading lever and operates the rammer by geared teeth. The cylinder may be removed by withdrawing the cylinder pin from the rear. Like the army model, the navy revolvers were noted for the solid frame and a dependable rotating system which brought the chambers in exact alignment. The barrel, frame and cylinder were blued, the trigger guard and the hammer were case-hardened. The revolver used a combustible cartridge, or could be loaded with loose powder and ball.
The specimen illustrated is marked “ALLEN & WHEELOCK WORCESTER MASS. U.S. ALLEN’S PTS. JAN. 13, DEC. 15, 1857, SEPT. 7, 1858”. The cylinder is engraved with a forest scene and animals. The revolver number 62, is stamped inside the loading lever.
This first model navy revolver was made in various barrel lengths, such as six, and seven-and-one-quarter, and later was made in a center hammer model similar in appearance to the army revolver.
ALSOP NAVY PERCUSSION REVOLVER.
Caliber .36, five shot, single action. Four-and-one-half inch octagonal barrel rifled with five grooves. Total length nine-and-seven-eighths inches. Weight 1 pound, 4 ounces. Round cylinder. Sheath trigger. A brass, cone front sight is mounted on the barrel, the V-notch rear sight is in the frame. Blued barrel frame and cylinder; case-hardened loading lever and hammer. Walnut grips.
When the hammer is cocked, the cylinder revolves and actuated by a cam, is moved forward against the barrel, forming a gas tight joint. Conventional loading lever. The revolver used a self-consuming, combustible cartridge, or could be loaded with loose powder and ball. Except for the sheath trigger, and the cylinder, revolved by the action of the hammer, the arm resembled the North Navy revolver.
The specimen illustrated is marked on the barrel “C. R. ALSOP MIDDLETOWN CONN. PATENTED JULY 17th, AUGUST 7th, 1860, MAY 14th, 1861”. The cylinder is marked “C. R. ALSOP PATENTED NOV. 26th, 1861”.
The revolver was patented by Charles Alsop of Middletown, Connecticut, on the dates as above, Patent Numbers 29,213, 29,538 and 32,333.
This arm was also made in a longer, ten-and-three-quarter inch model with a five-and-three-eighths inch barrel equipped with fluted or round cylinders, and is believed to have also been made in caliber .44, army model.
BEALS NAVY PERCUSSION REVOLVER.
Caliber .36, six shot, single action. Seven-and-one-half inch octagonal barrel rifled with five grooves. Total length thirteen-and-three-eighths inches. Weight 2 pounds, 10 ounces. The cylinder is two inches long. A low blade, brass front sight is dovetailed into the barrel at the muzzle. The rear sight is in the frame. Oval brass trigger guard.
The cylinder is removed by lowering the conventional loading lever, and withdrawing the cylinder pin to the front. Blued finish. This Beals revolver has no intermediate hammer rest recesses cut into the cylinder. The revolver fired a self-consuming combustible cartridge, or could be loaded with loose powder and ball.
The specimen illustrated is marked on the barrel “BEALS PATENT SEPT. 14, 1858. MANUFACTURED BY REMINGTONS ILION NEW YORK”. Number 887 is stamped on the barrel and on the frame under the oil finished, walnut grips.
The arm was patented by Fordyce Beals September 14, 1858, Patent No. 21,478. Prior to 1858 the Remingtons obtained from the inventor the right to manufacture revolvers under his patent rights, and the Beals were the first of the famous Remington made revolvers, all of which were based on Beals patents.
Twelve thousand two hundred and fifty-one Beals revolvers were purchased by the government during the Civil War.
BEALS ARMY PERCUSSION REVOLVER.
Identical in all respects with the Navy Model described above, except that the caliber is .44, the barrel is eight inches long, the total length is thirteen-and-seven-eighths inches, and the weight is 2 pounds, 14 ounces.
BUTTERFIELD ARMY PERCUSSION REVOLVER.
Caliber .41, five shot, single action. Seven inch octagonal barrel rifled with seven grooves. Total length thirteen-and-three-quarters inches. Weight 2 pounds, 10 ounces. The cylinder is one-and-eleven-sixteenths inches long. A brass knife-blade front sight is dovetailed into the barrel. The rear sight is in the frame. The frame and the oval trigger guard are bronze.
A conventional loading lever operates the rammer. A disc primer magazine is located in front of the trigger guard. By removing a thumb screw, a tube of disc primers can be inserted, which are automatically fed to the cones by the action of cocking the hammer. The barrel and cylinder were blued. Shellacked walnut grips. Specimens are known with silver plated frame, trigger guard and grip frame.
The specimen illustrated is marked on the top of the frame “BUTTERFIELD’S PATENT DEC. 11, 1855 PHILADA”. Number 431 is marked on the inside of the frame side plates, on the barrel, cylinder, loading lever, hammer-block, trigger and the cylinder lock.
A number of Butterfield revolvers are known unmarked except for the serial number, which is in the higher series, about 560 and above. The cause is unknown, but may well have been due to wartime demands, and continuing production in spite of a worn or damaged stamp.
One specimen of a large and heavy Butterfield revolver, probably experimental, is known in caliber .50, with six-and-five-eighths inch barrel and two-and-one-quarter inch cylinder. Total length fourteen-and-one-half inches; weight 5 lbs. 2 oz. It is marked as the army model above, but the parts are not numbered.
The Butterfield mechanical disc primer was patented and manufactured by Jesse Butterfield at Philadelphia, Pa. There is no record of government purchase during the Civil War.
The Butterfield disc primer was also used in the conversion of flintlock muskets to percussion.
Butterfield revolvers are reputed to have been made in calibers .36 and .44. However, no specimen of either was seen in the important collections examined. Possibly these calibers were the results of erroneous measurement of caliber .41, and the larger (.44) may have been the result of calibration of worn specimens. In this connection it is to be noted however, that while the groove diameter of a typical specimen measured .411, the chamber diameter of this arm was found to be .44, taking an oversize, soft lead bullet.
COLT MARTIAL PERCUSSION REVOLVER, MODEL 1839. (PATERSON MAKE—WALKER.)
It is believed that in 1839, Samuel Colt, at the request of the Texas Government, produced at his Paterson factory, a martial .44 caliber revolver, which was an improvement over his previous concealed trigger Patersons, in that it was equipped with a loading lever to operate the rammer, and embodied the additional improvements of a conventional trigger and trigger guard.
Tradition has it that the representatives of the Texas Government, who came East to buy arms for the Lone Star Republic, and possibly Capt. Samuel H. Walker of the Rangers, who may have been one of the agents, if not the sole representative,—contributed suggestions for the improvements incorporated in the Model 1839 revolver. Whether the legend is true or not, these revolvers, of which three hundred or less are reputed to have been made, are referred to as Walker-Colts, in honor of the Ranger captain.
Needless to say, with such a small issue, positive identification is difficult. Legend has it that when Colt received the contract for one thousand revolving pistols in January, 1847, he was unable to find a specimen of the 1839 Model, though but scant seven years had elapsed, and he was forced to design the Model 1847 revolver from memory.
WALKER PISTOL
Cut from “ARMSMEAR”*
of the
Colt Martial Percussion Revolver MODEL 1839
PATERSON Made—WALKER
Because of the fact that no specimen of this first Colt martial model was found for many years, many advanced collectors were actually dubious as to such an arm having been made. This disbelief was refuted by Mr. McMurdo Silver, noted Colt collector and student, who supported the existence of this model by statements that the design of the Model 1839 Colt carbines, of which one hundred and sixty were purchased by the government for trial in 1841, was essentially the design of a hand-gun, developed into a carbine, indicating the existence of an 1839 martial revolver. The other point in his argument is the Walker story, and a line drawing which appeared in “Armsmear”, a eulogy to Colt, published after his death, for which story and drawing there necessarily was some basis.
In a monograph on early martial Colt revolvers, the owner of a brace of large revolvers, alleged to be the original Walker-Colts, claims that the arms he describes are the only two made of this model, (one of these is marked “Address Col. Colt—London”). The statement is made that law suits within the firm and cessation of manufacturing operations prevented the model from going into production. Time, or discovery of other specimens, may support or confute these claims.
The mere fact that only one specimen may now be known, is not however per se proof that a quantity of Paterson made Colt martial revolvers with trigger guard and loading lever, was not produced for the use of the Texas Rangers. Frontier conditions were then turbulent, a state not conducive to preservation of arms. Almost a hundred years have elapsed, and judging from the present relative scarcity of the Model 1848 (Dragoon) revolvers, of which many thousands were made between 1848 and 1860, it is quite possible that positively identified specimens may never be found of the very few hundred which may have been sent to Texas about 1840.
COLT ARMY PERCUSSION REVOLVER, MODEL 1847. (WHITNEYVILLE MAKE.)
Caliber .44, six shot, single action. Nine inch round barrel semi-octagonal to the rear and rifled with seven grooves. Total length fifteen-and-one-half inches. Weight 4 pounds, 9 ounces. The cylinder is two-and-one-half inches long and has oval cylinder stops. A low knife-blade, brass front sight is set into the barrel; a V-notch rear sight is cut into the hammer lip. Square backed, brass trigger guard, steel back-strap and brass under-strap. The back of the frame at its junction with the grips, is curved.
The cylinder revolves to the right. The rammer is operated by a loading lever hinged on a screw in front of the wedge, which enters the barrel lug from the right side. The loading lever is held in place by a hook-shaped spring, seated under the barrel in front of the pivot screw. The original finish is believed to have been:—blued barrel, cylinder and trigger; case-hardened frame, loading lever and hammer; oil finished, walnut grip. That however is but a surmise, based on traces of factory finish of a specimen examined. The revolvers of this model had all seen hard service and much wear, and on the majority of the known specimens even the engraving can no longer be seen. The usual charge of these holster pistols was fifty grains of black powder, firing a conical bullet.
The revolvers were marked on top of the barrel “ADDRESS SAML COLT NEW YORK CITY”. The barrel lug was stamped on the right side over the wedge screw “U.S. 1847”. Company designation and number, such as “A COMPANY No. 174”, was usually stamped in five places; on the left side of the barrel over the wedge end, on the left side of the frame, in front of the trigger and bolt screws, on the cylinder horizontally from front to rear, on the grip frame, and in front of the trigger guard. The cylinder was engraved with a battle scene of soldiers in action against Indians, though as stated above, all traces of engraving have disappeared from most of the specimens known.
These revolvers were designed by Colt from memory, after his martial Walker Model of 1839, no pattern specimen being available. Since Colt had no factory of his own at the time, upon receipt of the government contract on Jan. 4, 1847, for one thousand repeating pistols at $28.00 each, Colt arranged to have them manufactured at the Eli Whitney Armory, at Whitneyville, Connecticut. It is reputed however that the barrels and the cylinders for these one thousand Whitneyville Colts were made for Colt on a sub-contract in the Dwight Slate machine shops at Hartford, Connecticut.
COLT ARMY PERCUSSION REVOLVER, MODEL 1848. (DRAGOON.)
Illustrated—Figs. 2 & 3, Plate 18.
Caliber .44, six shot single action. Seven-and-One-half inch round barrel, semi-octagonal to the rear, and rifled with seven grooves. Total length fourteen inches. Weight 4 pounds, 1 ounce. The cylinder is two-and-three-sixteenths inches long, and has round cylinder stops. A low blade, white brass front sight is set into the barrel; a V-notch rear sight is cut into the hammer lip. The brass trigger guard is square at the rear. Brass back-strap. No bearing wheel on hammer. The revolver is not cut for stock. The back of the frame at its junction with the grips is straight.
The loading lever is hinged on a screw in front of the wedge, and is held to the barrel by a vertical spring-snap catch. The customary finish was charcoal blued barrel, cylinder and trigger; the frame, hammer and loading lever were case-hardened. Shellacked one piece walnut grip.
The specimen illustrated is marked on top of the octagonal part of the barrel “ADDRESS SAML COLT NEW YORK CITY”. The left side of the frame is marked “COLT’S PATENT” and “US”. The cylinder is engraved “MODEL U.S.M.R. COLT PATENT”, the initials standing for United States Mounted Rifles, and is also engraved with a scene of soldiers engaged in a running fight with Indians. It also bears the signature of the engraver, “W.L.ORMSBY Sc”. (Sc. for sculpist or engraved). Ormsby was the well known New York engraver who cut the original steel roller dies for decorating the cylinders. The revolver is marked on the barrel, loading lever, frame, cylinder, trigger guard and grip frame with number 1362.
This Model 1848 revolver is the next model made by Colt after the completion of the one thousand Model 1847 revolvers which were made for Colt at the Whitneyville Armory. It was manufactured at the Pearl Street plant equipped by Colt at Hartford, Conn., and is some-what similar in appearance to the Model 1847, but has been modified by a shorter barrel and cylinder, reduction in weight, and an improved loading lever catch.
Model 1848 revolvers were made from 1848 until about 1860 with a number of minor variations, and from outward appearance and major details of construction can be classified into three general types: —
TYPE I. Made in 1848 and 1849. Standard items were round or slightly oval cylinder stop slots, and a square back trigger guard. The loading lever latch projected at the bottom.
Type II. Characterized by improvements consisting of rectangular cylinder slots with inclined guideways leading to them; a main-spring bearing wheel to reduce friction and wear, and hammer rest safety pins between the cones of the cylinder, fitting into a small recess in the face of the hammer, for safety in carrying the piece loaded. The loading lever latch operated by side projecting stud. These improvements were applied to Colt arms after 1849 and most of them were covered by Patents of Sept. 10, 1850. Though the majority of the revolvers of Type 2 were equipped with an oval trigger guard, specimens equipped with a square backed trigger guard are quite numerous. Probabilities are that these earlier type guards were used until the parts were exhausted, and were later put on only on special order.
TYPE III. Similar to Type 2, but cut for shoulder stock and equipped with a two-leaf rear sight.
In addition to the major variations which permit type classification as above, numerous minor variations are known, such as different barrel lengths, of which the eight inch is the most common; loading lever latches were made in different forms, and revolvers embodying other variations from standard were made up on special order.
The revolver illustrated, with its round cylinder stops and square back trigger guard, belongs to Type 1, of which two thousand were made between 1848 and 1850. It varies from the standard type in that it has hammer safety pins, which may have been put in later, or may have been fitted to a cylinder which had been manufactured before the other changes were embodied.
The revolvers of Type 3, cut for, and fitted with detachable carbine stocks, were adopted by the service from 1858. The stocks had an iron butt-plate, yoke and sling ring; were seventeen-and-five-eighths inches long, and weighed 2 pounds, 8 ounces. A single stock was issued with every two revolvers, and was marked with both their numbers, i.e., 1362, 63. The stocks were made in both solid and canteen models. In the latter the metal canteen was contained in the butt, held by the butt-plate; the mouth emerging at the comb of the stock, capped by a chain fastened screw cap.
In addition to variations in construction there were numerous variations in marking, as well as some omissions of the name of the firm from the barrels. Some cylinders were marked “U.S.M.I.” for United States Mounted Infantry; others were marked “U.S.DRAGOONS”, whence the name generally applied to this model, and a very few made for navy issue were marked “NAVY”.
These arms were also known as Holster Pistols, and Old Model Army Pistols, and were intended to be carried in saddle holsters. The issue was to cavalry and to dragoon regiments of the army. Dragoons were mounted troops, whose combat employment called for fighting on foot, like the infantry, and for whose tactics the pistol-carbine was particularly adapted.
The total output of these revolvers is reputed to have been about 30,000, of which the government purchased about 7,180 at the average price of $24.00 each.
According to a report by Col. H. K. Craig, Chief of Ordnance, before an Ordnance Board convened at the Washington Arsenal in 1858, the government orders for Colt holster pistols were as follows: —(Model 1847 excepted.)
| Nov. | 2, | 1847 — | 1,000 | |
| Jan. | 8, | 1849 — | 1,000 | |
| Feb. | 4, | 1850 — | 1,000 | |
| May | 8, | 1851 — | 2,000 | |
| May | 26, | 1853 — | 1,000 | |
| Jan. | 15, | 1855 — | 1,000 | |
| Apr. | 23, | 1856 — | 125 | |
| Apr. | 29, | 1856 — | 55 | |
| TOTAL | 7,180 Holster Pistols. |
COLT NAVY PERCUSSION REVOLVER, MODEL 1851.
Illustrated—Figs. 1 & 2, Plate 19.
Caliber .36, six shot, single action. Seven-and-one-half inch octagonal barrel rifled with seven grooves. Total length thirteen inches. Weight 2 pounds, 10 ounces. The cylinder is one-and-eleven-sixteenths inches long, and has rectangular notches and safety pins for hammer rest. A small, brass cone front sight is set into the barrel. A V-notch rear sight is cut into the hammer lip. The oval trigger guard and the grip frame are bronze, silver plated.
The hammer of this model is equipped at the base with a small wheel to minimize friction and wear at its contact against the mainspring. Another distinguishing feature of this model was the introduction of “gain twist” rifling in which the relatively slow pitch of the lands in the first two-thirds of the barrel, increased from one turn in about twenty-two inches, to one turn in sixteen inches for the last third of barrel length. The object was to prevent the bullet from jumping the rifling because of the too abrupt pitch in the beginning of bullet travel; then after the bullet had taken the rifling, to insure greater accuracy by the sharper pitch of the lands.
The loading lever is hinged by a screw in front of the wedge. The barrel, cylinder and the trigger were blued; the loading lever, frame and hammer were case-hardened in mottled colors. The walnut grip was shellacked to a high finish. The usual load was a self-consuming combustible cartridge, though loose powder and ball could be used.
The specimen illustrated is marked on the barrel “—ADDRESS COL. SAML COLT NEW YORK U.S. AMERICA—”. The frame is stamped on the left side “COLT’S PATENT”, and the trigger guard “36 cal.” The cylinder is marked “COLT’S PATENT” and “ENGAGED 16 MAY 1843”, and is engraved with a scene of a naval engagement. The engraving was to commemorate a battle between the three vessels of the Texas navy, when that state was still the Lone Star Republic, and the Mexican fleet, in which engagement the navy of the young republic, under Colt’s friend, Commodore Moore, was victorious over the superior Mexican flotilla. Number 203,231 is stamped on the barrel, wedge, cylinder, trigger guard and grip frame.
Over 200,000 revolvers of this model were made at the Colt Hartford plant between 1851 and 1865.
The early revolvers of this model are known with square-back trigger guards. Other variations have iron back-straps, and a few were made with fluted cylinders supplied on special order. Some of these revolvers were cut for, and supplied with attachable carbine stocks, which in this and succeeding army and navy models differ from the iron mounted M. 1848 Dragoon stocks, in that the fittings are brass. The stocks were made in both solid and canteen models. In the latter the metal canteen was contained in the butt, held by the butt-plate, the mouth emerging at the comb of the stock. The screw cap was fastened by a small chain to prevent loss. Stock equipped specimens of this model are quite rare. Even rarer are stocks containing coffee mills.
In addition to variations in construction, the markings of these revolvers vary considerably: some specimens are marked “ADDRESS SAML COLT NEW YORK CITY”, or “SAML COLT NEW YORK U.S.A.” etc., reading in either direction.
COLT PERCUSSION NEW MODEL POLICE PISTOL.
(POCKET NAVY MODEL.)
This arm is supposed to have been issued experimentally to the navy for use as an officers side arm, and for that reason is often referred to by collectors as the Pocket Navy Pistol.
The revolver is similar in appearance to the Colt Navy 1851, except that the cylinder is rebated and engraved with a stage-coach hold-up, the frame is lighter, and the .36 caliber barrel is four-and-one-half inches long.
COLT PERCUSSION REVOLVER, MODEL 1855.
These solid frame, side hammer revolvers were patented Dec. 25, 1855, by Elisha K. Root, superintendent of the Colt factory, Pat. No. 13999, the patent being assigned to the Colt Fire Arms Company. The solid frame of the design was to eliminate the weak spot of the open frame Colt. The cylinder pin extracted from the rear and revolved with the cylinder, a design that required the use of a side hammer. The mechanism was rather delicate and unsuitable for military use. Though many small caliber revolvers of this model were manufactured, only a small quantity of the arms of this model are believed to have been made in martial sizes for experimental purposes. Some details of these are given by Mr. Satterlee as follows: —
COLT ARMY PERCUSSION REVOLVER, MODEL 1855.
Caliber .44, six shot, side hammer. Barrel about eight-and-one-eighth inches. Total length fifteen-and-one-eighth inches. Weight 4 pounds, 2½ ounces.
COLT NAVY PERCUSSION REVOLVER, MODEL 1855.
Caliber .36, six shot, side hammer. Barrel seven-and-one-half inches. Total length thirteen-and-three-quarters inches. Weight 3 pounds, 15 ounces.
COLT ARMY PERCUSSION REVOLVER, MODEL 1860.
Illustrated—Figs. 3 & 4, Plate 19, and Figs. 1 & 2, Plate 20.
Caliber .44, six shot, single action. Eight inch round barrel rifled with seven grooves. Total length fourteen inches. Weight 2 pounds, 11 ounces. The rebated cylinder is one-and-thirteen-sixteenths inches long and has rectangular cylinder stops and hammer rest safety pins. A low blade, white brass front sight is set into the barrel. A V-notch rear sight is cut into the hammer lip. Oval bronze trigger guard and iron back-strap. The frame and back-strap are notched for a detachable carbine stock.
This model is the first of the Colt “streamline” revolvers, the barrel lug and the loading lever angles having been eliminated and replaced by graceful curves. The loading lever operates the rammer by a ratchet tooth arrangement. Like the 1851 model, the hammer is equipped with a bearing wheel. The usual charge was a self-consuming combustible cartridge, though loose powder and ball could be used. The barrel, cylinder and trigger were blued, the loading lever, frame and hammer case-hardened in mottled colors.
In the specimen illustrated the barrel is marked on top “—ADDRESS COL. SAML COLT NEW YORK U.S. AMERICA—”. The left side of the frame is marked “COLT’S PATENT”. The cylinder is stamped “COLT’S PATENT” and “PATENTED SEPT. 10th, 1850”, and like the Model 1851 Colt navy, is engraved with the scene of a naval engagement between the Texan and Mexican fleets, and bears the words “ENGAGED 16 MAY 1843”. The barrel, wedge, frame, trigger guard and grip frame are numbered 115,234. The oil finished, walnut grip is marked with government inspector’s initials “JSD” and “JT” in script in medallions on the left and right side respectively.
This arm was the principal revolver of the Civil War, 107,156 having been furnished to the War Department between Jan. 4, 1861 and Nov. 10, 1863. At the time of issue it was called the New Model Army Pistol.
The extension stock for which the revolver was cut, has a brass butt-plate and a brass yoke which fastens to the revolver by means of a steel clutch. The stock is seventeen inches long and weighs 2 pounds, 5 ounces. The length of the revolver assembled with stock is twenty-six-and-one-half inches. Though the vast majority of the revolvers were cut for extension stocks, the stocks are quite scarce.
This model was made in a number of variations, some were not cut for stock, some had fluted cylinders;—other minor variations were in barrel length, barrel lug, loading lever and weight. A seven-and-one-half inch length was common to the shorter barrel.
COLT NAVY PERCUSSION REVOLVER, MODEL 1861.
Caliber .36, six shot, single action. Seven-and-one-half inch round barrel rifled with seven grooves. Total length thirteen inches. Weight 2 pounds, 10 ounces. The cylinder is one-and-eleven-sixteenths inches long, has rectangular cylinder stops and hammer rest safety pins. A low blade, white brass front sight is set into the barrel. The V-notch rear sight is cut into the lip of the hammer. Oval bronze trigger guard and bronze back-strap. The frame is not cut for stock.
The revolver is “streamlined” and similar in appearance to the army Model 1860, except that the caliber is .36, the cylinder is not rebated and the interior of the frame is straight to correspond with the even diameter of the cylinder. The hammer has a bearing wheel, and as in the 1860 model, the loading lever is operated by a ratchet tooth arrangement. The usual charge was a self-consuming cartridge, though loose powder and ball could be used. The barrel, cylinder and trigger were blued; the loading lever, frame and hammer were case-hardened in mottled colors.
In the specimen illustrated the barrel is marked on top “—ADDRESS COL. SAML COLT NEW YORK U.S. AMERICA—”. The left side of the frame is marked “COLT’S PATENT” and the trigger guard “36 CAL.” The cylinder is stamped “COLT’S PATENT” and like the Model 1851, is engraved with the scene of a naval engagement to commemorate the battle between the Texan and the Mexican fleets. The barrel, wedge, frame, trigger guard and grip frame are numbered 7,112.
The revolver known as the New Model Navy Pistol, was not as popular as the Model 1851 Navy, and relatively few were made. 2,056 were purchased by the War Department between Feb. 17, 1862 and Jan. 20, 1863. The arm was also used in the naval service.
COLT PERCUSSION REVOLVER, MODEL 1862.
Caliber .36, five shot, single action. Six-and-one-half inch round barrel rifled with seven grooves. Total length eleven-and-one-half inches. Weight 1 pound, 10 ounces. Brass cone front sight; a V-notch rear sight is cut into the hammer lip. The semi-fluted, rebated cylinder is one-and-nineteen-thirty-seconds inches long. Brass, silver-plated trigger guard and back-strap. Walnut grip shellacked to a high finish.
The revolver was marked on the barrel “ADDRESS COL. SAML COLT NEW YORK U. S. AMERICA”, and was similar in appearance and “streamline” design to the Colt Model 1861 Navy, but on a smaller frame. The standard finish was blued barrel, and cylinder; case-hardened loading lever, frame and hammer. Though the revolver was called “New Model Pocket Pistol of Navy Caliber” in early Colt literature, it was popular with the officers of the Union Army as a “belt” holster personal side arm, and is often referred to as “Belt Model”.
As an arm made for private sale it was manufactured to meet a wide difference in purses and tastes. It was made in a number of finishes, barrel lengths, and minor variations in marking and construction. Some of these revolvers have an iron trigger guard and back-strap, the barrels of others vary in length from four-and-one-half to seven inches, while marking “ADDRESS SAML COLT HARTFORD CONN.” is by no means uncommon.
COOPER NAVY PERCUSSION REVOLVER.
Caliber .36, five shot, double action. Five-and-seven-eighths inch octagonal barrel rifled with seven grooves. Total length ten-and-three-quarters inches. Weight 1 pound, 12 ounces. The cylinder is one-and-five-eighths inches long. Brass cone front sight; V-notch rear sight is cut into the hammer lip. The back-strap and the oval trigger guard are bronze, silver-plated.
The revolver is similar in appearance to the Model 1851 Colt Navy, except that the cylinder is rebated like the Colt Army 1860. A conventional loading lever operated the rammer. The barrel is dismounted and the cylinder removed by withdrawing a wedge from the left side. The barrel and cylinder were blued, the frame, loading lever hammer and trigger were case-hardened in mottled colors. The black walnut grips were shellacked to a high finish. The revolver fired a combustible cartridge or could be loaded with loose powder and ball.
The specimen illustrated is marked on the barrel “COOPER FIREARMS MFG. CO. FRANKFORD PHILA PA. PAT. JAN. 7 1851, APR. 25 1854, SEP. 4 1860, SEP. 1 1863, SEP. 22 1863”. Number 5641 is stamped on the barrel, cylinder, loading lever and grip frame.
The revolver was patented by James Maslin Cooper of Pittsburg, Penna., Patent Nos. 29,864 and 40,021, and was manufactured by the Cooper Firearms Co., at Frankford, Pa. Though resembling a Colt in outline, it was not intended as an imitation. This double action revolver was well made and finished, but the design of the frame, while well adapted for single action, made its use difficult as a double action weapon. However the arm might have been more popular, had the firm had facilities for quantity production. The Cooper Arms Company went out of business in 1869.
FREEMAN ARMY PERCUSSION REVOLVER.
Caliber .44 six shot, single action. Seven-and-one-half inch round barrel rifled with six grooves. Total length twelve-and-one-half inches. Weight 2 pounds, 13 ounces. The cylinder is one-and-seven-eighths inches long. Steel blade front sight. The rear sight is in the frame.
The cylinder and the two-part cylinder pin may be removed by moving forward a slide on the right side of the frame, in front of the cylinder. The rammer is operated by a conventional loading lever. The frame, barrel and cylinder are blued, the hammer and loading lever are case-hardened. Walnut grips, oil finished. The revolver fired a self-consuming combustible cartridge, or could be loaded with loose powder and ball.
The specimen illustrated is marked on the frame over the cylinder, “FREEMAN’S PAT. Deer. 9, 1862, HOARD’S ARMORY, WATERTOWN, N. Y.” Number 1342 is stamped on the barrel, frame, loading lever, cylinder and cylinder pin.
The revolver was patented by Austin T. Freeman of Binghamton, N. Y., December 9th, 1862, Patent No. 37,091 and was manufactured by C. B. Hoard at Watertown, N. Y. The Rogers & Spencer revolver is a development of the Freeman, the patent having been purchased by that firm from the inventor.
The Freeman revolver is one of the rarer weapons of the Civil War. There is no record of government purchase, though Hoard’s Armory made 12,800 muskets on contract during the Civil War.
JOSLYN ARMY PERCUSSION REVOLVER.
Caliber .44, five shot, single action. Eight inch octagonal barrel rifled with five grooves. Total length fourteen-and-three-eighths inches. Weight 3 pounds. The cylinder is two-and-three-sixteenths inches long. A steel, low, knife-blade front sight is dovetailed into the barrel. The rear sight is in the frame. The oil-finished walnut stocks are coarsely cross checked between the upper and lower grip screws.
A curved side-hammer on the right of the frame strikes through the center of the frame. The cylinder is removed by releasing a screw in the frame behind the hammer and withdrawing the cylinder pin from the rear. The cylinder is rotated by a stud in a disc in the rear of the frame, operated by the hammer. A conventional loading lever operates the rammer. All metal parts were blued. The revolver fired a self-consuming, combustible cartridge, or could be loaded with loose powder and ball.
The specimen illustrated is marked on top of the barrel “B. F. JOSLYN PATd MAY 4th 1858”. Number 1628 is stamped on the barrel, loading lever, trigger guard, cylinder, cylinder pin and sleeve and on the frame.
The revolver was patented by Benjamin F. Joslyn of Stonington, Conn. Pat. No. 20,160, and was manufactured by the Joslyn Firearms Company of the same place.
Joslyn Army revolvers are also found marked “B. F. JOSLYN, STONINGTON, CONN.” and “B. F. JOSLYN WORCESTER MASS.” with a slight difference of a fraction of an inch in barrel and total length. The Worcester arm was made by W. C. Freeman under Joslyn patents at Worcester, Mass., on a government contract. A total of 1100 Joslyn revolvers were purchased by the government during the Civil War for army and navy use. Of these 875 were purchased by the army in 1862.
Caliber .40, six shot, single action, hand turned cylinder. Six-and-three-quarters inch round barrel. Total length thirteen-and-seven-eighths inches. Walnut grip.
The specimen described is marked “LEAVITT’S PATENT MANUFACTURED BY WESSON STEPHENS & MILLER HARTFORD CT.”
The revolver was manufactured between 1837 and 1839 under Patent No. 182, granted Daniel Leavitt April 29, 1839, which described the arm as a “powder and ball single action solid frame revolver with tip-up action released by pressing a lever inside the front end of the trigger guard.”
Leavitt had the arms manufactured in the shop of Edwin Wesson, rifle maker of Hartford, at which time began Leavitt’s association with Wesson which eventually resulted in an improved arm manufactured by the Massachusetts Arm Company, the changes incorporating Wesson’s patent of mechanical revolution of the cylinder by means of bevel gears. (See Wesson & Leavitt, early and later types.)
MANHATTAN NAVY PERCUSSION REVOLVER.
Caliber .36, five shot, single action. Six-and-one-half inch octagonal barrel rifled with five grooves. Total length eleven-and-one-half inches. Weight 2 pounds. The cylinder is one-and-nine-sixteenths inches long. A white brass, knife-blade front sight is set into the barrel. A V-notch rear sight is cut into the lip of the hammer. The back-strap and the oval trigger guard are of bronze, silver-plated. The walnut stocks are shellacked to a high finish.
The construction and design are similar to the Colt Model 1851 Navy, which this revolver closely imitated, but with the addition of a spring plate interposed between the caps and the hammer. The barrel, cylinder and trigger are blued, the loading lever, frame and hammer are case-hardened. The revolver fired a combustible cartridge or loose powder and ball.
The specimen illustrated is marked on the top of the barrel “MANHATTAN FIRE ARMS CO. NEWARK N. J. PATENTED MARCH 8, 1864”. The cylinder is marked “PATENTED DEC. 27, 1859”, and is engraved with five scenes in medallions. The barrel, frame, wedge, cylinder, cylinder shaft, trigger guard and butt-frame are numbered 53,356.
On Dec. 27, 1859, Patent No. 26,641 was issued to J. Gruler and A. Rebetey for a single action revolver. It is uncertain whether the Manhattan revolver was manufactured under this patent. The spring-plate, whose function was to deflect the possible back-flash from the cap, was patented March 3, 1864 by Ben Kitteredge of Cincinnati, Ohio, Pat. No. 41,848. There is no record of government purchase during the Civil War.
METROPOLITAN NAVY PERCUSSION REVOLVER.
Caliber .36, six shot, single action. Seven-and-one-half inch octagonal barrel rifled with seven grooves. Total length thirteen inches. Weight 2 pounds, 8½ ounces. The cylinder is one-and-eleven-sixteenths inches long. Brass cone front sight; a V-notch rear sight is cut into the hammer lip. The oval trigger guard and the back-strap are brass, silver-plated.
The revolver is a close imitation of the Model 1851 Colt Navy, in design and construction. Later models of this arm were made with hammer rest notches in the cylinder, in the shoulders between the cones. The barrel, frame, cylinder and trigger were blued, the hammer and loading lever were case-hardened. The walnut grip was shellacked to a high finish. The arm fired the usual combustible cartridge of the time, or could be loaded with loose powder and ball.
The barrel of the specimen illustrated is marked “METROPOLITAN ARMS CO. NEW YORK”. The cylinder is engraved with a scene of an engagement between the Union fleet and Confederate land batteries, and is inscribed “NEW ORLEANS APRIL 1862 W. L. ORMSBY Sc”. The barrel, loading lever, frame, cylinder, trigger guard and grip frame bear the number 4810.
The revolver was made by the Metropolitan Arms Company, which was established in 1859, and engaged in the manufacture of revolvers in imitation of Colts, after the expiration of the Colt patents.
METROPOLITAN PERCUSSION REVOLVER, (POCKET NAVY.)
Caliber .36, five shot, single action. Five-and-fifteen-thirty-seconds inch round barrel rifled with seven grooves. Total length ten-and-five-eighths inches. Weight 1 pound, 10 ounces. The semi-fluted, rebated cylinder is one-and-nine-sixteenths inches long, and has hammer rest notches in the shoulders between the cones. Brass cone front sight; the rear sight is cut into the hammer lip. The oval brass trigger guard and the back-strap are silver-plated. Blued barrel and cylinder; case-hardened loading lever, frame, hammer and trigger. The walnut grip is shellacked to a high finish.
This Metropolitan revolver of streamline design was made in imitation of the Colt Model 1862, so called “Pocket Navy” percussion revolver. The arm used a self-consuming, combustible cartridge, or could be loaded with loose powder and ball.
The specimen illustrated is marked on top of the barrel “METROPOLITAN ARMS CO. NEW YORK”. Number 1886 is stamped on the barrel lug, loading lever, wedge, cylinder, frame, trigger guard and grip frame. These revolvers were also made in nickel finish.
PETTINGILL ARMY PERCUSSION REVOLVER.
Caliber .44, six shot, double action, hammerless. Seven-and-one-half inch octagonal barrel rifled with six grooves. Total length fourteen inches. Weight 3 pounds. The cylinder is two-and-one-quarter inches long. A brass cone front sight is set into the barrel. The rear sight is in the frame. Oil finished walnut grips.
The hammer is concealed within the solid frame. Pressure on the trigger cocks the hammer, revolves the cylinder and fires the piece. A removable set screw on the left side of the frame permits the withdrawal of a conventional loading lever, the attached cylinder pin, and the removal of the cylinder. Blued barrel and blued or browned frame. Case-hardened loading lever. The revolver used a self-consuming, combustible cartridge, or could be loaded with loose powder and ball.
The specimen illustrated is marked on the top of the frame “PETTINGILL’S PATENT 1856”, and “RAYMOND & ROBITAILLE PATENTED 1858”. Number 3008 is stamped in the trigger guard and on the grip frame. Inspector’s initials “NW” are stamped in script in a medallion on the left grip.
The mechanism is the invention of C. S. Pettingill of New Haven, Conn., Pat. No. 15,388, July 22, 1856, and of Edward A. Raymond and Charles Robitaille of Brooklyn, N. Y., co-patentees, Pat. No. 21,054, July 27, 1858. The revolver was manufactured by Rogers & Spencer of Willowdale, N. Y. 2,001 were delivered to the government on contract during the Civil War. The arm did not prove serviceable, as the mechanism was complicated and delicate, and could not stand the gaff under field service conditions.
PETTINGILL NAVY PERCUSSION REVOLVER.
Similar in construction and appearance to the Army Model above, except that the caliber is .36, the barrel is four-and-five-eighths inches. Total length ten-and-one-half inches. Weight 1½ pounds.
PLANT ARMY REVOLVER, PERCUSSION OR CUP-PRIMER CARTRIDGE.
This arm, though equipped with an interchangeable percussion cylinder, was manufactured primarily as a cup-primer cartridge revolver, and is described in the chapter on cartridge revolvers.
REMINGTON ARMY PERCUSSION REVOLVER, MODEL 1861.
Caliber .44, six shot, single action. Eight inch octagonal barrel rifled with five grooves. Total length thirteen-and-three-quarters inches. Weight 2 pounds, 14 ounces. The cylinder is two inches long. On the barrel is mounted a German silver, cone front sight. The rear sight is in the frame. Oval brass trigger guard. A conventional loading lever operates the rammer. Oil finished walnut stocks.
The loading lever of this model is cut out at the top so that the cylinder pin can be slid forward and the cylinder removed without lowering the lever. Blue finish except the hammer which was case-hardened. The usual charge was a self-consuming, combustible cartridge, though loose powder and ball could also be used.
The specimen illustrated is marked on the top of the barrel “PATENTED DEC. 17, 1861 MANUFACTURED BY REMINGTON’S ILION N. Y.”
This revolver was made by Remingtons under patent issued to Wm. Elliott of Plattsburg, N. Y., for a single action revolver, Pat. No. 33,932, dated Dec. 17, 1861.
REMINGTON NAVY PERCUSSION REVOLVER, MODEL 1861.
Identical in all respects with the Army Model 1861 described above, except that the caliber is .36, the barrel is seven-and-three-eighths inches long, the total length is thirteen-and-one-eighth inches, and the weight is 2 pounds, 8 ounces.
REMINGTON ARMY PERCUSSION REVOLVER, NEW MODEL.
Illustrated—Figs. 2, 3 & 4, Plate 22.
Caliber .44, six shot, single action. Eight inch octagonal barrel rifled with five grooves. Total length thirteen-and-three-quarters inches. Weight 2 pounds, 14 ounces. The cylinder has intermediate hammer rest recesses and is two inches long. The barrel carries a blade front sight with a rounded base. The rear sight is in the frame. Oval brass trigger guard. Oil finished walnut grips. The New Model Remington may be easily recognized by the threads of the barrel which are visible where the barrel adjoins the cylinder.
Like the Beals revolver, the cylinder of the New Model is removed by lowering the conventional loading lever and withdrawing the cylinder pin to the front. Blue finish except for the hammer which is case-hardened. The revolver fired a self-consuming, combustible cartridge, or could be loaded with loose powder and ball.
The specimen illustrated is marked on the barrel “PATENTED SEPT. 14, 1858. E. REMINGTON & SON, ILION, NEW YORK, U.S.A.” and “NEW MODEL”. The left grip is stamped with inspector’s initials “O.W.A.” in script in a rectangle.
In this New Model the Remingtons overcame the slightly faulty design of the earlier Beals and of Model 1861, and provided a splendid weapon for its day. Its solid frame, easily removable cylinder and rugged construction, made it a dependable military weapon, and next to the Colt, the best known of the various Civil War types. 125,314 Remington revolvers were purchased by the U. S. government during the Civil War.
REMINGTON NAVY PERCUSSION REVOLVER, NEW MODEL.
Identical in all respects with the Army Model described above, except that the caliber is .36, the barrel is seven-and-three-eighths inches long, the total length is thirteen-and-three-eighths inches. Weight 2 pounds, 8 ounces.
REMINGTON-RIDER NAVY PERCUSSION REVOLVER.
Caliber .36, six shot, double action. Six-and-one-half inch octagonal barrel rifled with five grooves. Total length eleven-and-one-half inches. Weight 2 pounds, 1 ounce. The full fluted cylinder is one-and-seven-eighths inches long. Brass cone front sight; rear sight is a V-notch cut in the frame. Oval brass trigger guard. Blued barrel, frame and cylinder; case-hardened hammer. Walnut grips shellacked to a high finish.
The specimen illustrated was marked on the top of the barrel “MANUFACTURED BY REMINGTON’S ILION N. Y. RIDER’S PT. AUG. 17, 1858, MAY 3, 1859”.
The revolver was made from the designs of Joseph Rider, Remington’s factory superintendent, who patented its double action feature on May 3, 1859, Patent No. 23,861.
ROGERS & SPENCER ARMY PERCUSSION REVOLVER.
Caliber .44, six shot, single action. Seven-and-one-half inch octagonal barrel rifled with five grooves. Total length thirteen-and-three-eighths inches. Weight 3 pounds, 2 ounces. The cylinder is two inches long. Brass cone front sight. Rear sight in frame.
A conventional loading lever operates the rammer. The cylinder may be removed by unscrewing a double retaining screw in the front of the frame, and withdrawing the loading lever, with the attached cylinder pin, to the front. The barrel, frame and cylinder were blued; the loading lever and hammer case-hardened in mottled colors; the trigger was burnished bright. The square bottom, bell-shaped, black walnut grips were oil finished. The revolver fired a self-consuming, combustible cartridge, or could be loaded with loose powder and ball.
The specimen illustrated is marked on top of the frame “ROGERS & SPENCER UTICA N. Y.” Number 2199 is stamped on the frame, cylinder, and grip frame. Government inspector’s initials “RPB” in script in a rectangle are stamped on the left grip.
The revolver is a development of the Freeman army revolver and was made by Rogers & Spencer at Willowdale, N. Y., about seven miles south of Utica. Rogers & Spencer improved and refined the arm made under the purchased Freeman patents, and their revolver was a hand-some, sturdy, well balanced and fine-handling weapon. 5,000 Rogers & Spencer revolvers were obtained by the War Department between Jan. 30th and Sept. 26th, 1865, too late for use in the Civil War. This accounts for the fact that so many of them are found in fine condition.
SAVAGE-NORTH NAVY PERCUSSION REVOLVER.
Caliber .36, six shot, single action. Seven-and-three-sixteenths inch octagonal barrel rifled with five grooves. Total length fourteen inches. Weight 3 pounds, 7 ounces. The cylinder is two inches long. Brass cone front sight; the V-notch rear sight is dovetailed into the frame under the hammer loop. The arm has no trigger guard. Oil finished walnut grip.
The revolver has a bronze frame with a spur on the back-Strap. A figure-8 trigger cocks the hammer and operates the cylinder. The rearward movement of the ring trigger also draws the cylinder backwards, away from the barrel, before the cylinder starts to revolve. Releasing the ring trigger moves the cylinder mechanically forward. The end of each cylinder chamber is chamfered, and when the cylinder moves forward into firing position, the bevelled breech of the barrel fits against the chamber, forming a nearly gas-tight joint. The piece is then fired with the regular trigger, which fits into the upper space of the figure-8 trigger. The hammer is slightly offset in the frame. A conventional loading lever operates the rammer. The barrel and cylinder were blued, the loading lever and hammer were case-hardened. The revolver fired a load of loose powder and ball, or a combustible cartridge.
This model was made in a number of minor variations, and with iron as well as bronze frames.
An interesting feature of the Savage-North arm is the provision made for adjusting the fit between the barrel and the cylinder; a means for securing as nearly a gas-tight joint as is possible in a revolver. The detachable plate in rear of the cylinder contains an adjusting device consisting of a nut for moving the short bearing pin forward or to the rear as desired. The front of a lock-toggle bears against and supports this bearing pin, and as the bearing pin is moved to the rear by the action of the nut, the cylinder is forced forward to fit tightly against the breech of the barrel. (See sketch.)
SAVAGE-NORTH
The specimen illustrated is marked on the barrel “E. SAVAGE MIDDLETOWN CT. H. S. NORTH PATENTED JUNE 17, 1856”. Number 17 is marked on the barrel, loading lever, hammer, trigger guard and ring trigger.
The mechanism was invented by Henry S. North, and was patented June 17, 1856, Patent No. 14,144. The revolver was manufactured by Edward Savage who made arms at Middletown, Conn., between 1856 and 1859.
In 1860 the revolver was improved by Savage and North, Patent No. 28,331. The joint patentees organized the Savage Repeating Firearms Corporation, which in addition to the second model Savage revolver, made 25,520 rifled muskets for the government during the Civil War.
SAVAGE NAVY PERCUSSION REVOLVER.
Caliber .36, six shot, single action. Seven-and-one-eighth inch octagonal barrel rifled with five grooves. Total length fourteen-and-one-quarter inches. Weight 3 pounds, 6 ounces. The cylinder is two-and-three-sixteenths inches long. Brass cone front sight. The V-notch rear sight with a round base is set into the frame under the hammer loop. Oil finished walnut grips.
The hammer is slightly offset in the frame. An enormous trigger guard contains two triggers of which the front, (upper), drops the hammer and fires the piece, while the lower, a ring trigger, cocks the hammer and revolves the cylinder. The rearward movement of the ring trigger also draws the cylinder backwards, away from the bevel shaped rear of the barrel, before the cylinder starts to revolve. Releasing the ring trigger causes the cylinder to slide forward forming a gas-tight joint with the chamber. The piece is then fired in the regular manner with the forward, (upper) trigger. A conventional loading lever operates the rammer. The barrel, frame and cylinder were blued. The loading lever, hammer, triggers and the trigger guard were case-hardened in mottled colors. The revolver used a self-consuming, combustible cartridge, or could be loaded with loose powder and ball.
In the specimen illustrated the barrel is marked “SAVAGE R.F.A. CO. MIDDLETOWN CT. H. S. NORTH PATENTED JUNE 17, 1856. JAN. 18, 1859, MAY 15, 1860”. Inspector’s initials “WCT” and “IT” in script in medallions are stamped on the right and left grip respectively.
The mechanism is the invention of Hy. S. North and Edward Savage of Middletown, Conn. Patent Number 28,331. 11,284 Savage Navy revolvers were purchased by the government during the Civil War.
STARR ARMY PERCUSSION REVOLVER.
Illustrated—Figs. 3 & 4, Plate 23.
Caliber .44, six shot, double action. Six inch round barrel rifled with six grooves. Total length eleven-and-five-eighths inches. Weight 2 pounds, 15 ounces. The cylinder is one-and-seven-eighths inches long. A steel blade front sight is dovetailed into the barrel. A V-notch rear sight is cut into the hammer lip. (Fig. 4)
The revolver is provided with a removable screw on the right side of the frame which permits the barrel to drop and the cylinder to be removed. A conventional loading lever operates the rammer. The barrel, frame and cylinder were blued; the hammer, loading lever and trigger were case-hardened in mottled colors. The revolver fired a self-consuming, combustible cartridge or could be loaded with loose powder and ball.
The specimen illustrated is marked on the right side of the frame “STARR’S PATENT JAN. 15, 1856” and on the left side “STARR ARMS CO. NEW YORK”. Number 6229 is stamped on the cylinder and on the frame. The wood grips are stamped with inspector’s initials “ADK” in script in a rectangle on both sides.
The revolver was the invention of Eben T. Starr of New York City, Pat. No. 14,118, Jan. 15, 1856, and Pat. No. 30,843, Dec. 4, 1860, for a double action top break revolver. Starr revolvers were manufactured by the Starr Arms Company at Yonkers and at Binghamton, N. Y.
This army revolver was also made in single action, with an eight inch barrel. Total length thirteen-and-three-quarters inches. Weight 3 pounds, 1 ounce. (Fig. 3).
47,952 Starr revolvers were purchased by the government during the Civil War. The vast majority were of the army type. The Navy, cal. .36 Models are comparatively scarce.
The Starr plant located in Binghamton was later sold to “Jones of Binghamton—He pays the freight”, who made scales for a good many years. He was General Edward F. Jones, who commanded the Massachusetts regiment that was fired on while going through Baltimore early in the Civil War. The Binghamton street leading to the former location of the plant, is still called Starr Avenue.
STARR NAVY PERCUSSION REVOLVER.
This double action arm is similar in all respects to the double action army model with the six inch barrel, except that the caliber is .36, the cylinder is two-and-one-quarter inches long, the weight is 3 pounds, 3 ounces, and the total length is twelve inches, due to a different bend of the grip frame.
UNION NAVY PERCUSSION REVOLVER.
Caliber .36, six shot, single action. Seven-and-seven-eighths inch octagonal barrel rifled with six grooves. Total length thirteen-and-one-half inches. Weight 2 pounds, 8 ounces. The cylinder is one-and-three-quarters inches long. Brass cone front sight; the V-notch rear sight is in the frame. Oval brass trigger guard. The barrel, frame, cylinder, loading lever and hammer were blued. Varnished walnut grips.
The revolver is equipped with a conventional loading lever, and closely resembles the Whitney Navy revolver. The usual charge was a self-consuming, combustible cartridge, though loose powder and ball could also be used.
The specimen described is marked on the barrel “UNION ARMS CO.” Number 430 is stamped on the barrel, loading lever, cylinder and frame.
The Union Arms Company of New York, N. Y., and Newark, N. J., received a contract for 25,000 Springfield muskets on November 14, 1861, at $20.00 each, to be delivered at the rate of two thousand monthly, after five months from the date of contract. It is not believed that the contract was fulfilled.
Unions Arms Company is also listed in the Hartford, Conn., City Directory at No. 2 Central Row, in 1861.
WALCH NAVY PERCUSSION REVOLVER.
Illustrated—Figs. 1 & 2, Plate 24.
Caliber .36, twelve shot, single action. Six inch octagonal barrel rifled with six grooves. Total length twelve-and-one-quarter inches. Weight 2 pounds, 4 ounces. The cylinder is one-and-seven-eighths inches long. Brass front sight; no rear sight. Blued barrel, frame and cylinder; case-hardened hammers and triggers. Shellacked walnut grips, checked at the lower half.
The revolver is equipped with two hammers, two triggers and twelve cones, and was loaded with two loads, one on top of the other, in each of the six cylinder chambers, each load being fired by its own cone. A conventional loading lever was used to operate the rammer. The arm used self-consuming, combustible cartridges.
The first of the two specimens illustrated is handsomely engraved all over, is unmarked, and probably was a presentation piece. The usual marking of these arms was “WALCH FIREARMS CO. NEW YORK PAT. FEB. 8, 1859”.
The arm was invented and patented by J. Walch who obtained Patent No. 22,905 on Feb. 8, 1859, for a revolver with long chambers, holding two loads each, fired by separate cones.
WARNER NAVY PERCUSSION REVOLVER.
Caliber .36, six shot, single action. Six inch round barrel rifled with seven grooves. Total length twelve-and-one-half inches. Weight 2 pounds, 2 ounces. A brass cone front sight is set into the barrel; a V-notch rear sight is on the barrel extension. Iron trigger guard and frame. Walnut grips. Blued finish.
The revolver illustrated is equipped with a center hammer. A conventional loading lever operates the rammer. The usual load was loose powder and ball, or a combustible cartridge.
The arm is marked on the frame “WARNER’S PATENT JAN. 7, 1851”, and on the top of the barrel “SPRINGFIELD ARMS COMPANY.”
The revolver was invented by James Warner, manager of the Springfield Arms Company, and was manufactured by that concern under patents of Jan. 7, 1851, Patent No. 7,894, and July 15, 1851, Patent No. 8,229.
James Warner, believed to have been a former employee of the Massachusetts Arms Co., obtained three patents for revolver improvements, and manufactured three types of revolvers under the above patents and Patent No. 17,904, granted July 28, 1857.
The first model resembled the Leavitt revolver in outline, as the cylinder shaft formed the lower part of the frame. The arm had a side hammer similar to the Leavitt, and two triggers, of which the front one turned the cylinder, and the rear one released the hammer.
In the second model the releasing trigger was reduced to a latch, which was tripped by pressure on the front trigger.
In the third model is found the conventional center hammer, single trigger design described above.
WARNER ARMY PERCUSSION REVOLVER.
Similar in design to the navy model described above. Caliber .44, six inch barrel. The cones are covered by a shield. A heavy weapon.
James Warner & Co. pistol factory is listed in the Springfield City Directory from 1850 until 1869.
WESSON & LEAVITT ARMY PERCUSSION REVOLVER.
Caliber .40, six shot, single action. Seven-and-one-eighth inch round barrel rifled with seven grooves. Total length fifteen inches. Weight 4 pounds, 6 ounces. The cylinder is two-and-one-quarter inches long. A brass blade front sight and a small V-notch, open rear sight are set on the barrel, and the barrel extension respectively. Oval brass trigger guard. Walnut grip.
The mechanically turned cylinder is revolved by cocking the hammer, through the application of the Edwin Wesson Patent No. 6669 for revolving the cylinder by use of bevel gears, issued to Wesson August 28, 1849. Turning a catch in front of the cylinder around the barrel, permits the barrel to be raised and the cylinder to be removed. The finish of the specimen illustrated was:—blued barrel and back-strap; the cylinder, frame and hammer, case-hardened, or plated to a smooth, gray color.
The barrel extension is marked on the top “MASS. ARMS CO. CHICOPEE FALLS”; the frame is stamped “WESSON’S & LEAVITT’S PATENT”, and the barrel locking device is marked “PATENTED NOV. 26, 1850”.
These revolvers were made from 1849 until 1851, when their manufacture was discontinued as the result of the loss of a patent infringement suit.
The Massachusetts Arms Company was organized by the heirs and kin of Edwin Wesson, for the manufacture of revolvers under the Wessons patents. Edwin Wesson, who died in 1850, had been previously associated with Daniel Leavitt in the manufacture of the LEAVITT revolver, made with a hand turned cylinder under the Leavitt Patent No. 182, April 29, 1837. At the time of his death Wesson had a patent pending for an improvement embodying mechanical operation, the patent rights to which formed a part of the Wesson inheritance.
With the receipt of the patent right to mechanical operation, Patent No. 6669, dated Aug. 28, 1849, the Massachusetts Arms Company, which had been making the older hand-turned models, started the production of the new model revolver, which in addition to mechanical operation had several other desirable features, among them a frame that pivoted forward of the hammer, permitting easy and rapid removal of the cylinder. The new models were barely on the market when the company was faced with a suit brought by Colt Patent Fire Arms Company for the infringement of Colt patents. The Colt Company who was represented by Edward S. Dickinson, foremost patent attorney of the day, won the suit, though the Massachusetts Arms Co. had retained Hon. Rufus Choate, one of the famous lawyers of the era, as its counsel. The Massachusetts Arms Company had to cease the manufacture of revolvers under the Edwin Wesson patents until the expiration of the Colt patents for a mechanically operated cylinder in the fall of 1856.
WESSON & LEAVITT NAVY PERCUSSION REVOLVER.
Similar in design and construction to the army model above, except that the caliber was .36, and the seven inch barrel was tinned.
WESSON & LEAVITT PERCUSSION REVOLVER.
Caliber .40, six shot, single action, mechanically turned cylinder. Six-and-one-quarter inch round barrel rifled with seven grooves. Total length thirteen-and-three-quarters inches. Weight 3 pounds, 10 ounces. The cylinder is two-and-one-quarter inches long. Brass blade front sight; there is no rear sight. Oval brass trigger guard, walnut grips, blued finish.
The cylinder may be removed by turning a locking catch on the barrel, tilting the barrel up and sliding the cylinder off the shaft. This model embodies the Edwin Wesson improvement of revolving the cylinder by cocking the hammer through the use of bevel gears, Patent No. 6669, issued August 28, 1849. The appearance of these revolvers on the market brought on a suit for patent infringement by Colt Patent Fire Arms Co. The Massachusetts Arms Company lost the case, (see Massachusetts Arms Co. above), and the manufacture of these revolvers was discontinued.
The specimen illustrated is marked on the side of the lock frame “WESSON’S & LEAVITT’S PATENT”, and on the top of the barrel extension “MASS. ARMS CO. CHICOPEE FALLS”. The cylinder is etched with a floral and leaf design. The hammer is engraved.
This arm is a development of the Leavitt revolver, which had been manufactured in the Wesson shops under the Leavitt patents of 1837. In the earlier model of this revolver the cylinder was turned by hand for each shot.
WHITNEY NAVY PERCUSSION REVOLVER.
Caliber .36, six shot, single action. Seven-and-five-eighths inch octagonal barrel rifled with seven grooves. Total length thirteen-and-one-eighth inches. Weight 2 pounds, 9 ounces. The cylinder is one-and-three-quarters inches long. A small brass cone front sight is set into the barrel. A V-notch rear sight is in the frame and a U-shaped notch is cut into the hammer lip to clear the line of sight. Bronze trigger guard. Oil finished walnut grips.
The revolver is similar in mechanism to the New Model Remington. The cylinder may be removed by withdrawing a screw-held lug on the left side of the frame, and the loading lever and the attached cylinder pin can be pulled out to the front. The barrel, frame and cylinder were blued. The loading lever and hammer were case-hardened. The revolver used a self-consuming, combustible cartridge, or could be loaded with loose powder and ball.
The specimen illustrated is marked on top of the barrel, “E. WHITNEY NEW HAVEN”. The cylinder is marked “WHITNEYVILLE”, and is engraved with a coat of arms and a naval scene. Number 23,379 is stamped on the loading lever, barrel and cylinder.
The revolver was manufactured at the Whitneyville Armory, near New Haven, Connecticut, by Eli Whitney, son of the famous inventor of the cotton gin, who also was one of the early American arms contractors. Upon the death of Eli Whitney, Sr., in 1825, the Whitney Armory was managed by trustees until young Whitney’s coming of age in 1842. The superintendent of the Whitney plant at about that time was Thomas Warner, who had been the master armorer of the Springfield Armory and was let out in 1841, when the government abolished civilian superintendents. The revolver was probably manufactured under the Whitney revolver patent No. 11,447, of Aug. 1, 1854.
In addition to the manufacture of the Whitney Navy revolver of which 11,214 were purchased by the government during the Civil War, Whitney had had an earlier contract for Model 1842 (often referred to as Model 1841) percussion rifles, some of which were shipped by boat to New Orleans and were issued to the 1st Mississippi Regiment, commanded by Col. Jefferson Davis in 1847.
During the Civil War, Whitney had contracted for 40,000 Springfield rifle muskets Dec. 24, 1861, and for 15,000 Oct. 17, 1863. The Whitney Armory ceased operations in 1888.
*NOTE: “Armsmear” a memorial volume to Col. Colt was published in 1865 at the expense and with the collaboration of Mrs. Colt. With reference to the Walker Colt the book states that the original pistol carried by Walker was a part of Colt’s collection of arms, leading to the assumption that the above cut was made from that particular arm.