My first purchase for my first reenactment

[Hag]

picked this up for $125... in decent working order... good deal?

 

[johan_steele]

I'm not a fan of handguns but I expect so. The most important thing is whether or not you like it.

 

[Hag]

I'm not a fan of handguns but I expect so. The most important thing is whether or not you like it.

I will be mounted so a handgun just makes more sense lolol

 

[Mrs. V]

I will be mounted so a handgun just makes more sense lolol

Picture of your horse, or it didn't happen!

 

[Hag]

Picture of your horse, or it didn't happen!

I have several but none have been on the battlefield yet since its my first time but I will probably ride my little gray horse McRae

 

[Rusk County Avengers]

I'd say you got a heck of deal for a Walker reproduction! I've shot them and love them, I just wish I could find as good a deal as you did! You got it for about $250 bucks less than used ones banged up fetch.

That being said, its not very good for CW reenacting.....

There were only 1100 Walkers made in the Mexican War. 1000 for the Army, 100 for the open market. Most of the ones that went to the Army ended up with Texas Mounted Volunteers, (my GGGG-Grandfather was with them, I wish I knew where his Colt Walker was!), and going through the Ordnance returns, very few survived the war. Around or over half were either lost or destroyed, what was left was either stolen by the men who carried them, or returned to arsenals to be sold off later. The 100 that went on the open market didn't sell too well, and most probably suffered the same fate as the Army purchased ones.

What it translates to, is very, very few revolvers like yours were used in the CW, if at all. Add to that locations, it'd only be proper amongst Texas troops, and even then would have been rare. And the gun is WAY over represented in reenacting. (I used to know one cavalry unit where every man had 3 or 4 Walkers like yours when 1 in the whole company would have been pushing it history wise.)

And if your reenacting Confederate Cavalry, you'd be doing good history wise to not even carry a handgun. Handguns actually weren't very common among Confederate troopers. Here's a great article giving great pointers to help build a Confederate Cavalry impression:

http://confederatesaddles.com/2010/07/31/reenactor-ten-ways-to-find-the-authentic-experience/

And an article to give you an idea of what to have weapon and accoutrement wise as far as Western Confederate Cavalry is concerned. Eastern cav. would have been similar:

Western Cavalry Equipped as Infantry???

** This was originally a post on the Authentic Campaigner (Cavalry Discussion) Forum about 2005 then developed into a full length article for the Camp Chase published in the June 2009 edition. …

confederatesaddles.com

Don't let anything I say dissuade you! We need all the cavalry reenactors we can get, and its a wonderful hobby that's lifechanging and the most fun to be a part of. And don't be afraid to carry your Walker, its what you got and its a good gun.

 

[Hag]

I'd say you got a heck of deal for a Walker reproduction! I've shot them and love them, I just wish I could find as good a deal as you did! You got it for about $250 bucks less than used ones banged up fetch.

That being said, its not very good for CW reenacting.....

There were only 1100 Walkers made in the Mexican War. 1000 for the Army, 100 for the open market. Most of the ones that went to the Army ended up with Texas Mounted Volunteers, (my GGGG-Grandfather was with them, I wish I knew where his Colt Walker was!), and going through the Ordnance returns, very few survived the war. Around or over half were either lost or destroyed, what was left was either stolen by the men who carried them, or returned to arsenals to be sold off later. The 100 that went on the open market didn't sell too well, and most probably suffered the same fate as the Army purchased ones.

What it translates to, is very, very few revolvers like yours were used in the CW, if at all. Add to that locations, it'd only be proper amongst Texas troops, and even then would have been rare. And the gun is WAY over represented in reenacting. (I used to know one cavalry unit where every man had 3 or 4 Walkers like yours when 1 in the whole company would have been pushing it history wise.)

And if your reenacting Confederate Cavalry, you'd be doing good history wise to not even carry a handgun. Handguns actually weren't very common among Confederate troopers. Here's a great article giving great pointers to help build a Confederate Cavalry impression:

http://confederatesaddles.com/2010/07/31/reenactor-ten-ways-to-find-the-authentic-experience/

And an article to give you an idea of what to have weapon and accoutrement wise as far as Western Confederate Cavalry is concerned. Eastern cav. would have been similar:

Western Cavalry Equipped as Infantry???

** This was originally a post on the Authentic Campaigner (Cavalry Discussion) Forum about 2005 then developed into a full length article for the Camp Chase published in the June 2009 edition. …

confederatesaddles.com

Don't let anything I say dissuade you! We need all the cavalry reenactors we can get, and its a wonderful hobby that's lifechanging and the most fun to be a part of. And don't be afraid to carry your Walker, its what you got and its a good gun.

Thanks for the info!

 

[Hag]

Picture of your horse, or it didn't happen!

here is McRae... pay no attention to the fat guy on his back hahaha

 

[CowCavalry]

Nice revolver! I have two navy Colts and a third model Dragoon, the Dragoon is heavyyyyyy and it's not quite as large as a Walker. You may want to carry it in a holster over the pommel of the saddle or something like that.

 

[frontrank2]

Seems like a real nice horse, just make certain she is familiar with the sound of gunfire. My wife used to have one that was very nervous of loud noises and smoke.

 

[CowCavalry]

here is McRae... pay no attention to the fat guy on his back hahaha

McRae wishes he could do the same............. Just kidding, my sister has had and been involved with horses all her life. She probably weighed 120 lbs and had a horse that we swore would wince and protest on the rare occasions that we saddled her up for my dad, who was probably 230-240lbs!

 

[turner ashby kidd]

I glanced at the picture, saw engraving on the cylinder and thought Navy 36. Good for western Confederate Cav.
Dang, it's a Walker !! I know nothing !
Years ago saw a fella receiving First Aid after the Walker stuffed in his boot went off unexpectedly. Ouch !

 

[Cavalier]

My heart belongs to muzzle loaders, but that is the one revolver I would love to have. And I 'd want to shoot the h--- out of it! I think it's beautiful and thanks for the photo.

John

 

[Mrs. V]

I have several but none have been on the battlefield yet since its my first time but I will probably ride my little gray horse McRae

Well, I will take any horse pic I can get! I ride. And I think there is no scent better than warm leather liberally seasoned with sweaty horse.

 

[sourdough]

picked this up for $125... in decent working order... good deal?

I am very much interested in repro Colt revolvers. For $125 you got either a good deal or a very good deal, depending upon a few things.

I would like to know the manufacturer and the date code.

If the maker was Armi San Marco, the right side of the barrel will be marked SM or ASM at the beginning of the logo. The bottom of the frame where it meets the barrel lug will have a stylized ASM in the form of an equilateral triangle above the serial #. The date code will either be 2 alpha characters in a rectangle above the serial# or in Roman numerals on the right side of the frame. All markings are normally stamped very lightly. That would be the good deal revolver, but ASM folded in 2002 and parts are scarce as hens' teeth.

If the maker was Uberti, the frame will either have "A. Uberti" on the left side or a logo that looks like the muzzle end of an octagonal barrel with a "U" in the bore. The date code will either be 2 alpha characters in a rectangle or in Roman numerals on the right side of the frame. That would be the very good deal as parts are readily available, but new parts may take a bit of fitting in older pre-CNC-machined revolvers (earlier than ~2001).

If the maker is any other than those two, parts are virtually non-existent (Armi San Paolo, C.O.M., DGG, et al).

Italian date code chart:

I am not a re-enactor, but if you do shoot it with lead balls at the range stick to FFFg BP charges of 40 grains or less. The Walker cylinder will hold up to 60 grain charges, but that is asking for cylinder failures eventually, even in modern repros IMO. The other problem you may encounter is that the load lever usually drops after each or every other shot, due to the fact that the load-lever retention spring is of poor design (which Colt remedied somewhat by using a lever latch on the future Dragoons, but improved it on the 1848/1849 Pocket and the 1851 Navy revolvers, which carried over to the 1860 Army). You can prevent that from happening by using a very small, stout rubber band to secure the lever to the barrel. Otherwise, when the lever drops the rammer will enter the bottom chamber and will not allow the cylinder to rotate for the next shot.

I know you are a big guy but if you are planning to wear it in a belt holster you might want to invest in some suspenders. Both the Walker and the Dragoons were called "horse" pistols because they were carried in holsters draped over the saddle pommel and not worn on the belt. That is the reason Colt designed the 1860 Army .44 revolver (based upon the 1851 Navy frame) as a "belt" pistol.

The Walker weighs 4 lbs. 9 oz., the Dragoons weigh 4 lbs. 2 oz. Last year I bought an Uberti 1848 Whitneyville Hartford revolver. I am 68 and a big fan of the 1851 Navy and Confederate variants. The WH Dragoon (transitional Walker) has the frame and grip assembly of the Walker, but it is still a chunk to handle. But, it makes a nice big "boom" when you fire it with a 40 grain BP charge.

Good luck with your endevours, sir!

Regards,

Jim

 

[Hag]

I'm not at home to see all the numbers but I'm nearly certain it's a cva.... l really appreciate all the info on load size etc... l have been wanting input from someone who has experience with them!

 

[sourdough]

If it is a CVA their logo will most likely be on the right rear side of the frame. Connecticut Valley Arms was an importer so there should be other maker marks on the revolver.

Awaiting your reply, sir.

 

[sourdough]

Western Cavalry Equipped as Infantry???

** This was originally a post on the Authentic Campaigner (Cavalry Discussion) Forum about 2005 then developed into a full length article for the Camp Chase published in the June 2009 edition. …

confederatesaddles.com

"Perhaps of greater importance is that there are a relatively small number of carbines, very few pistols and never a mention of extra cylinders."

I excerpted part of your link above and wholly agree, with a caveat. The Missouri Guerillas (Bushwackers as they were called: Anderson, Quantrill, Thrailkill, James, Clement, et al) all carried multiple revolvers on their persons and in pommel holsters and did not carry spare cylinders for purposes of reloading while in "battle" on horseback. These revolvers were most likely obtained from defeated Union troops or Union sympathizers during their forays/raids/operations. Normally Colt did not sell revolvers with spare cylinders.

"Little" Archie Clement (who was only about 5'-2" tall or less) was reputed to have at least six revolvers on him when he was brought to bay; some say as many as 14 which is really a stretch.

Here is a link to many of the Missouri guerillas:

Roster of Quantrill's, Anderson's and Todd's Guerrillas who fought along the Missouri-Kansas border before and during the Civil War.

Regards,

Jim

 

[Hag]

If it is a CVA their logo will most likely be on the right rear side of the frame. Connecticut Valley Arms was an importer so there should be other maker marks on the revolver.

Awaiting your reply, sir.

 

[Hag]

If it is a CVA their logo will most likely be on the right rear side of the frame. Connecticut Valley Arms was an importer so there should be other maker marks on the revolver.

Awaiting your reply, sir.

Says made in Italy on top of the barrel... 1847 us on the side