Colt Revolving Rifle

[frontrank2]

An unidentified soldier poses with his model 1855 Colt Revolving Rifle. A Berdan's sharpshooter, perhaps?

 

[gary]

I think i've seen his image in one of the books about Berdan's Sharp Shooters. Note the gaiters.

 

[frontrank2]

I think i've seen his image in one of the books about Berdan's Sharp Shooters. Note the gaiters.

I'm wondering, he kind of looks the part. But IIRC, Berdan's men had the black rubber coated buttons, not the shiny brass ones.

 

[Michael W.]

I wonder, how many of Berdan's men were equipped with Colt Rifles?

 

[ikesdad]

I wonder, how many of Berdan's men were equipped with Colt Rifles?

Or anybody, for that matter.

 

[mofederal]

The rifles were popular, with some men, others not so much. The Army adopted them in 1855, but it wasn't until 1857 that they reached any full scale use. A fear of chain fires, metal shavings, and other problems plagued the rifles, and they had to be kept clean and well maintained to function effectively. The Berdan's Sharpshooters, 9th Illinois, 21st Ohio. 1st Colorado Cavalry and some were carried by soldiers of the Confederacy.. The 21st Ohio used them effectively at Chickamauga.

 

[BTWhite61]

Yes, an unidentified Berdan's Sharpshooter by Matthew Brady. I believe the original is part of the Michael J. McAffee collection.

 

[leftyhunter]

Or anybody, for that matter.

The 1st Missouri Cavalry Union used them successfully to beat back a large group of bushwackers. I have an old The Missouri State Milita used some. Overall it was not commonly issued and the Henry and Spencer rifles were superior.
Lever action rifles were used by both the French and Russian armies as late as WW1.
Leftyhunter

 

[Crazy Delawares]

But his buttons are shiny! I thought Berdan's wore black rubber buttons so they wouldn't shine.

 

[BTWhite61]

But his buttons are shiny! I thought Berdan's wore black rubber buttons so they wouldn't shine.

Contrary to popular belief, the USSS frocks were issued with brass and rubber buttons. This was due to a number of circumstances including availability of rubber buttons, regimental orders, and personal preference. A part of the first production run of frocks made by Martin Bros. of New York were trimmed with old stock rubber buttons but most appear to have had brass enlisted eagles on them. Later, the coats made by Schuylkill Arsenal for the USSS (beginning in April, 1862 and continuing at least through late 1864) included several types of rubber buttons including "general service" eagles as well as the old-style enlisted eagle with letter "I" in the shield (Cpl. W. Henderson coat, Gettysburg Nat. Military Park). When rubber eagles were unavailable a plain civilian style with a "pin shank" on the face were purchased in bulk from merchant Thomas Carhart (Sgt. W.F. Tilson coat, formerly Don Troiani collection.

Despite Schuylkill Arsenal's efforts to provide rubber buttons for newly-made USSS frocks, some of the men still retained the first issue coats from Martin Bros. or the brass buttons from them. Several original diary accounts note removing "leather" or "rubber" buttons from coats and adding brass. Photographic evidence and some buttons dug in original USSS camps show that state seal buttons were also worn. Finally, in the spring of 1864 Major Chas. Mattocks of the 17th Maine, then in command of the 1st USSS, levied a tax for each man present on the rolls that would pay for the purchase of rubber buttons (and NCO chevrons/trouser stripes). Apparently Mattocks considered the men wearing dark blue sack coats and uniform coats with brass buttons to be out of the uniform of their corps (sharpshooters).

Finally, a word about officer uniforms because it has come up before. There is no evidence that the USSS officers wore rubber buttons on their coats. To date, I have either studied in person or seen photos of seven original USSS officer frocks and they all have various types of brass buttons. They include rifle officer, infantry officer, Michigan state seal, and US staff.

Some photos for your consideration. They are all from my USSS collection. Zoom in for more detail.

1.) William H. Davis, Co. G 2nd USSS in a late 1861/early 1862 portrait. Brass buttons on his coat.

2.) Corporal Eugene C. Mead, Co. F 1st USSS. Mead's coat has rubber eagle buttons on it; the second button from bottom appears to be a replacement civilian type or pin-shank rubber button. His vest is closed with Vermont state seal buttons.

3.) Franklin S. Holley, Co. F 1st USSS in a portrait taken sometime in the fall of 1864 while at home in Vermont. Holley's coat bears the civilian style "pin-shank" rubber buttons.

 

[Crazy Delawares]

Alright! Thank you for the education!!!

 

[Mr King]

How long did it take to reload a colt revolving rifle? I've searched online but find so little on this rifle but nothing on how long it takes to reload it.

 

[JOHN42768]

How long did it take to reload a colt revolving rifle? I've searched online but find so little on this rifle but nothing on how long it takes to reload it.

I believe it would be very much the same as reloading a Colt revolver only with a long barrel.

 

[Mr King]

I believe it would be very much the same as reloading a Colt revolver only with a long barrel.

Thanks JOHN42768!