During the Civil War, the Union Army purchased almost 130,000 pieces of the M1860 percussion revolver, making it the most-used revolver in the conflict. Enterprising Confederate armories were quick to appropriate the design and produce the piece for Southern troops. The gun was a .44 caliber, six shot, front-loader that took linen or paper cartridges. This non-firing replica has the handling characteristics of the original, with functional lock and loading mechanisms. A muzzle-loaded cap & ball .44-caliber revolver used during the American Civil War. It was favored as a side arm by cavalry, infantry, and artillery troops. The 1860 Army uses the same size frame as the .36 caliber 1851 Navy revolver. The frame is relieved to allow the use of a rebated cylinder that enables the Army to be chambered in .44 caliber. Also, the barrel on the 1860 Army has a forcing cone that is visibly shorter than that of the 1851 Navy, allowing the Army revolver to have a longer cylinder. A major distinguishing feature introduced with the 1860 revolver was the "creeping" loading lever. This arrangemnt employs a cam interface between lever and barrel and ideally, prevents the lever from dropping and tying up the revolver if it should recoil loose from the barrel catch during firing. KEY FEATURES: MEASUREMENTS: |
|