USS ALASKA
Captain
- Joined
- Mar 16, 2016
Colt’s ‘Old Model Navy’ Revolvers Found a Ready Market in the West
By: Joseph G. Rosa, Wild West Magazine 1 day ago
While most Union cavalry regiments used the new .44-caliber Army, some were armed with the Navy revolver. It also became a favorite of guerrilla bands on either side of the Civil War. Many carried spare loaded cylinders and extra Colts in their belts, giving them massive firepower when raiding or attacking.
While percussion, or cap and ball, weapons are accurate and generally reliable, they are somewhat tedious to load.
The shooter must set the weapon at half cock in order to revolve the cylinder. He then pours a measured amount of powder into each chamber, followed by a lead bullet; also available are prepared paper or foil cartridges, which include powder and ball. The shooter then rams the charge home using the hinged or creeping lever beneath the barrel. Finally, the shooter places small copper caps filled with fulminate of mercury over nipples at the rear of each chamber.
The Navy revolver also proved popular with Civil War spies, wagon masters, guides and scouts, such as Union scout James Butler Hickok, who by war’s end had earned the moniker “Wild Bill” for his action against Rebels.
Full article with pics can be found here - https://www.navytimes.com/home/left...revolvers-found-a-ready-market-in-the-west-2/
Cheers,
USS ALASKA
By: Joseph G. Rosa, Wild West Magazine 1 day ago
While most Union cavalry regiments used the new .44-caliber Army, some were armed with the Navy revolver. It also became a favorite of guerrilla bands on either side of the Civil War. Many carried spare loaded cylinders and extra Colts in their belts, giving them massive firepower when raiding or attacking.
While percussion, or cap and ball, weapons are accurate and generally reliable, they are somewhat tedious to load.
The shooter must set the weapon at half cock in order to revolve the cylinder. He then pours a measured amount of powder into each chamber, followed by a lead bullet; also available are prepared paper or foil cartridges, which include powder and ball. The shooter then rams the charge home using the hinged or creeping lever beneath the barrel. Finally, the shooter places small copper caps filled with fulminate of mercury over nipples at the rear of each chamber.
The Navy revolver also proved popular with Civil War spies, wagon masters, guides and scouts, such as Union scout James Butler Hickok, who by war’s end had earned the moniker “Wild Bill” for his action against Rebels.
Full article with pics can be found here - https://www.navytimes.com/home/left...revolvers-found-a-ready-market-in-the-west-2/
Cheers,
USS ALASKA