Revolver "Savage": a real competitor of the Kolt revolvers

116
Revolver "Savage": a real competitor of the Kolt revolvers
Revolver "Savage". The photo clearly shows all the features of its design: the presence of a traditional lever for tight bullets under the barrel, as well as a lever combined with a trigger located inside an extra large bracket. Brandtubes come out to the outside of the drum

Military affairs at the turn of the eras. Any product, be it a crust of bread or a revolver, must necessarily have a USP - a unique selling proposition. That is, to carry something in himself that distinguishes him from all others, and allows a person to exercise the right to choose given to him by God and nature. But USP is different. Moreover, it was especially difficult (both in the past and now) to create such a commercial device that would have significant technical differences from its counterparts. But there were smart people who could do that. Today we will tell you about two such “smart guys”.

Colt's naval opponent


And it so happened that in the middle of the XNUMXth century in the United States on the market for hand-held firearms weapons Colt's firm dominated in every respect. She had few competitors. These are, first of all, the Smith & Wesson company, which established the production of cartridge revolvers No. 1 and 2, and the Remington company, which produced a revolver with a closed frame, which looked purely visually stronger than the Kolt ones, and even had a replaceable drum. It was very risky to deal with them, but there were two people who decided to do it. They were Henry S. North and Edward Savage from Middletown, Connecticut.




This photo clearly shows that the revolver has a closed frame, in which there is a hole for the trigger, which hits the primer on the brandtube.

They owned a North & Savage firm, which they renamed the Savage Revolving Firearms Company in 1860. And already on May 7, 1861, they managed to sign a contract with the US government to supply the army with 5 revolvers of their own design at a price of $ 500 apiece. However, in the first two years of the war alone, the government purchased 20 such revolvers from them at an average price of $ 11. By June 284, the company had supplied more than 19 revolvers to the troops. In addition, it had a separate contract with the Navy for 1862 revolvers, also at a price of $ 10 each.

Since the Navy was the first to order these revolvers from the firm, the 1861 model was named Navy. But they were also used by the following US Army regiments: the 1st Wisconsin US Volunteer Cavalry, the 2nd Wisconsin US Volunteer Cavalry, the 5th Kansas Volunteer Cavalry, and the 7th New York Cavalry Regiment.


"Savage" 1861 "Marine". Rear right view

Confederate States Army regiments used them as well. These were the 34th Virginia Cavalry, 35th Virginia Cavalry, 11th Texas Cavalry, 7th Virginia Cavalry, and 7th Missouri Cavalry.


"Savage" 1861 "Marine". Left rear view

And so the question arises: “What was it about this revolver that the government ordered it in such quantities? After all, it cost more than the same time-tested Kolt revolvers? "

Based on the markings, North and Savage began work on this revolver as early as 1856 and received patents for it in 1856, 1859 and 1860. Like the Colt, it was a .0,36 caliber six-shooter capsule revolver weighing 3 lb 6 oz. The barrel, which could be 6-7 / 8 inches long, had 5 grooves. It seems to be nothing special, but this is only at first glance.


This photo clearly shows the grooves on the drum chambers, with which it moved on the barrel

Constructive safety


Unlike Colt revolvers, in which the hammer was cocked manually (which is why they all have such a small trigger stroke!), The Savage had a separate cocking lever or trigger ring, which, when pulled back, cocked the hammer, turned the drum and simultaneously took him back from the trunk. When the ring was released, the cylinder moved forward and slid onto the tapered barrel, forming a gas tight connection. So the designers paid great attention to the shooter's safety. Indeed, one of the problems of the then revolvers was the dangerous possibility of explosion of the drum due to the breakthrough of gases when fired from the barrel into its neighboring chambers.


Drum back with brandtubes

It would seem that this should not have happened. After all, all chamber revolvers under the barrel (or on the barrel!) Had a lever with a piston for tight bullet driving. This means that it fit quite tightly into the chamber and ... served as a "plug" for the powder charge. It happened that paper cartridges were inserted entirely into the chambers, so that paper also ended up between the bullet and the powder. But ... and that was not enough. Therefore, after loading, all owners of chamber revolvers were advised not to risk it, and to cover up the space between the bullet and the chamber walls with the so-called "cannon itself", a mixture of lard with paraffin or wax. Only in this case, the owner of such a revolver was guaranteed against bursting the revolver in his hand.


"Savage" 1861 "Marine" with a holster

That is, the revolver had, firstly, a movable cylinder, which increased the safety of using this revolver. Secondly, it was self-cocking, which reduced the pressure on the trigger itself and, thereby, increased the accuracy of the shots. And thirdly, the brand tubes on it were not at the end of the drum, but on its lateral surface.


The device of the revolver "Savage" 1861. As you can see, there are few details in it, which made it convenient to fabricate.

When this revolver first appeared in 1856, only ten copies of the First Model were sold. Following this, 250 copies of the "First Model" were sold, but already of the "Type II". Total - 260 revolvers. They had a fully octagonal barrel with the inscription “E SAVAGE. MIDDLETOWN CONN. HS NORTH. Patented June 17, 1856 ".


The inscription on the barrel of the revolver


The specific lever "Savage", which, when it was pulled back, turned the drum, at the same time pushed it onto the barrel and, in addition, also cocked the hammer. All that remained was to press the trigger located above ...

Octagonal barrel for $ 35K


Interestingly, very few of them survived in the United States. So even many of the most knowledgeable state gun collectors and dealers have never seen a single instance of it. Although during the Civil War, it was used very widely. And it is clear that the copies that have come down to us are very expensive: from 22 to 000 dollars.


Captain of the 39th New York Infantry Regiment Schwartz holds a revolver of the Navy "Savage" 1861

So you can imagine how the sellers praised this revolver. And the frame is one-piece. And the drum is pushed onto the barrel, which eliminates gas breakthrough. And his rate of fire is higher than that of others, since the hammer is cocked simultaneously with the rotation of the drum. And the trigger travel is just as easy as the Colt's.

And the result is a whole set of beautiful and unique USPs, right?

But as soon as cartridge revolvers appeared, all these "tricks" were immediately unnecessary. Rather, they have ceased to be relevant.
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116 comments
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  1. +12
    15 November 2020 06: 04
    Interesting design of the revolver! It turns out that the revolver successfully participated in the Civil War between North and South, and for both sides!
    Many thanks to Vyacheslav Olegovich once again - for a well-written article and excellent illustrations for it! good
    We are waiting for revolver rifles ... hi
    1. +14
      15 November 2020 06: 33
      Handsome, I salivate when I see such beauty! I would have made a box of wood for him and a wall stand with illumination for five years now, damn, even a layout costs under a hundred thousand. Guys, sorry for the emotions, I have been living with this manic idea for ten years !!!
      Vyacheslav Olegovich - I declare you a tempter the serpent!
      Thank you so much for the article!
      Regards, Vlad!
      1. +8
        15 November 2020 06: 38
        Once I met the "original" on one of the trading floors, Vyacheslav Olegovich was a little mistaken with its cost, in good condition without new-made parts. The price of this handsome man is much higher! Up to $ 100 thousand.
        1. +9
          15 November 2020 07: 11
          I do not aim at this, at least a working model for a 4,5mm pneumatic bullet.
          Italian remake for SPH about 99 thousand. Dear Alexey!
          1. +7
            15 November 2020 07: 13
            Well, you can dream crying and dreams sometimes come true wink !!!
            1. +4
              15 November 2020 19: 21
              So it is so, but in dreams it is desirable to observe reality, otherwise ...
          2. +1
            15 November 2020 15: 10
            3D printing is our everything. It can even be adapted under the "centrob" or HF to fit.
        2. +9
          15 November 2020 07: 36
          Alexei! I was not mistaken with the numbers. I took them from these auctions, but different auctions, different samples ...
          1. +7
            15 November 2020 14: 41
            Vyacheslav, hello and best wishes! hi
            Secondly, it was self-cocking, which reduced the pressure on the trigger itself and, thereby, increased the accuracy of the shots.

            It was not self-cocking, because the hammer was cocked when the trigger was pulled, for this there was a separate lever. About the same as on Henry-Winchester carbines, but nobody calls them self-cocking.

            Henry rifle arr. 1860
            And yet, when firing self-cocking from any weapon, accuracy does not increase, but rather decreases, because with more effort on the "shooting" finger, the barrel begins to "walk".
      2. +9
        15 November 2020 07: 33
        Quote: Kote pane Kohanka
        Thank you so much for the article!

        Dear Vlad! All this is for sale at auctions! You can indicate when purchasing that the product needs museum decontamination. You can go to the police, describe the sample and find out what they need to decontaminate. Then ... you buy and they send it to you. My friend collects rifles and they are sent to him across the ocean!
        1. +9
          15 November 2020 08: 16
          Vyacheslav Olegovich, I will humbly remind you as a colonel of the internal service feel I know the procedure for acquiring and deactivating weapons, although my hand will not rise to drill out such a miracle. I'll curse myself.
          So I modestly dream of a model, but not a Spanish or Chinese piece of iron on the wall, but something for a blank cartridge or pneumatics. I don't even aim at the Collectible Toy.
          In Italy, the company makes this revolver for a blank cartridge, but today more than 102 thousand wooden ones looked expensive. So, choosing a dream or renovating a daughter's apartment, the family votes for renovation. And my conscience does not allow me to hide a stash from my family, especially for such an amount. So maybe someday!
          And so, Savage 1861 could lie here!
          1. +10
            15 November 2020 08: 37
            Quote: Kote pane Kohanka
            family votes for renovation

            This happens to me all the time! This year we didn’t go to rest, but instead they laid tile curb paths in our country house ... Don't be angry that I don’t remember that you are a colonel. I generally have a bad memory for "who is who."
            1. +9
              15 November 2020 08: 47
              I'm already used to it, that's why we are not offended!
            2. +10
              15 November 2020 15: 06
              Quote: kalibr
              paved curb paths from tiles in the country ...

              Greetings, Vyacheslav Olegovich!
              Well, what have you not reported earlier?!?!
              Yes, I have a master! laughing

              One trouble is expensive! wink
              1. +7
                15 November 2020 15: 14
                Quote: Phil77
                One trouble is expensive!

                But he has a price list!
                Oh! Song!

                For example. wink
                And vice versa.
                1. +7
                  15 November 2020 16: 31
                  Seryoga, hello!
                  Leave this devil alone, that you thrust it on every branch. Inevitably, one gets the impression that you have become an advertising agent for him. laughing
                  Don't be offended, we're friends. smile
                  1. +5
                    15 November 2020 17: 09
                    Hello, hello Constantine!
                    Advertising agent? No, not an option. He has a sea of ​​such. * Agents *. If censored. But I agree with you. There is enough of it for today.
                    1. +6
                      15 November 2020 17: 20
                      I remember the unforgettable:
                      "Selling chairs. Ask Lena"
                      1. +6
                        15 November 2020 17: 25
                        Hello Anton!
                        * I will buy chairs. Requirement for them. Doroho and bohato *.
                      2. +6
                        15 November 2020 17: 31
                        I remembered the Inteko company
                      3. +6
                        15 November 2020 17: 45
                        Quote: 3x3zsave
                        Inteko

                        And I wonder where she is now? In the sense of Lena.
                      4. +5
                        15 November 2020 17: 56
                        And she's doing well! By the way, your same age.
                      5. +7
                        15 November 2020 17: 44
                        They will make it, but I can't resist. drinks
                      6. +4
                        15 November 2020 17: 57
                        Uncle Kostya! hi
                        We're actually talking about Baturin ...
                      7. +5
                        15 November 2020 18: 01
                        Are you sure that "young, pretty with options" has a different surname? laughing
                      8. +6
                        15 November 2020 18: 08
                        I'm not sure, but you can't say for sure either, because the given photograph of the person is unlikely to carry the hereditary traits of Baturina, or Luzhkov.
                      9. +8
                        15 November 2020 18: 26
                        "Naturally - no, because one person is like that, the other is like that. Why, why ..." (c)
                      10. +6
                        15 November 2020 18: 49
                        Quote: 3x3zsave
                        Baturina, or Luzhkov.


                        To paraphrase the words from the film, we can say the following.
                        * To become Baturina, you need to marry a young Luzhkov, and wander around construction sites with him for twenty years. * laughing
                      11. +5
                        15 November 2020 18: 55
                        Baturin is 30 years younger than Luzhkov. She didn't go anywhere with him. Simply, successfully married.
                      12. +6
                        15 November 2020 18: 58
                        Quote: 3x3zsave
                        30 years younger than Luzhkov.

                        But! She looks ... the same age.
                      13. +5
                        15 November 2020 19: 23
                        Give it up. She looks fine. Any woman who takes care of herself in the slightest degree looks the same at this age. And with the capabilities of Baturina, it is much better. But we must pay tribute to the lady, Lena does not grimace, hiding her age.
                      14. +6
                        15 November 2020 19: 38
                        Not everyone needs it. Remember, Armen Dzhegarkhanyan, chased a young man, and she was an otter, to put it mildly, "milked" him. Luzhkov, you see, is in better health, or maybe his brain?
                      15. +6
                        15 November 2020 19: 48
                        Vlad, I'm sorry, but what do you know about sexual relations in the theatrical and cinematic world?
                      16. +4
                        15 November 2020 20: 49
                        This is still that serpentarium and there may be "passions-muzzle" that mom does not grieve.
                        I try to stay away from such bastards and send my friends
                      17. +2
                        16 November 2020 11: 59
                        Are they somehow different from the banal promiscuity?
                      18. +1
                        16 November 2020 13: 21
                        Publicity, first of all.
                      19. +3
                        16 November 2020 13: 23
                        Public women are distinguished by their "publicity". No? wink
                      20. +1
                        16 November 2020 15: 02
                        Kostya, about women, the topic is slippery: they are by nature, like to show off. Among us, there are also women and warlike ones, I mean Astra, she is brainy, I like her comments, but sometimes she is emotional.
                      21. +1
                        16 November 2020 14: 55
                        As my grandmother used to say: "Marya is also in a sundress, but with a twist"
                      22. +2
                        16 November 2020 16: 00
                        "Dream Interpretation - Sundress
                        To expose facts from your intimate life, to gossip.
                        Interpretation of dreams from the Dream Interpretation of Dreams ".
                        So it's better not to remember the sundress in vain. laughing
                      23. +4
                        15 November 2020 20: 35
                        Quote: vladcub
                        Luzhkov, you see, is in better health, or maybe his brain?
                        Yu. M. Luzhkov "passed away" on December 10, 2019 in Munich.
                        1990-1991 - Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Moscow City Council. 1992-2019 Mayor of Moscow. Full Cavalier of the Order "For Merit to the Fatherland" 2016, Honored Chemist of the RSFSR 1986, Honored Builder of the Russian Federation 1996. Elena Baturina THE THIRD wife of Yu. M. Luzhkov (from 1991 to 2016 "common-law wife", from January 2016 - "legal wife").
                      24. +4
                        15 November 2020 20: 51
                        Baturina did not rob him and this is a fact
                      25. +4
                        15 November 2020 19: 29
                        Kostya, hello. You and I are "grown-up" boys and we know how "decent" she can be
              2. +8
                15 November 2020 15: 25
                But, Sergei! Thanks of course. But he's in Moscow !!! And I have a very good master in Penza, we have a very good place here, believe me. Here everything is as in the photo, only already ... Here is a cat Barsya inspecting one of the tracks
                1. +6
                  15 November 2020 15: 31
                  Quote: kalibr
                  But he's in Moscow !!!

                  What a pity! Nobody wants to take it! what What to do?

                  And the kitty Barsya is amazingly good! good
                  1. +5
                    15 November 2020 15: 57
                    Quote: Phil77
                    And the kitty Barsya is amazingly good!

                    I didn't think at first that it was your humor ... ha ha!
                    1. +4
                      15 November 2020 16: 35
                      Why humor? The cat is really beautiful and graceful. good The only breed of tailed people to whom I relate ... well, let's say, neutral. These are sphinxes. And the rest I just love. hi
                      1. +6
                        15 November 2020 17: 07
                        Quote: Phil77
                        Why humor?

                        About the tiler!
                      2. +6
                        15 November 2020 17: 20
                        Quote: kalibr
                        About the tiler!

                        Vyacheslav Olegovich!
                        And now my crazy, sorry, neigh !!!!! good laughing good
                      3. +4
                        15 November 2020 17: 49
                        The only breed of tailed people to whom I belong ... well, let's say, neutral. These are sphinxes.
                        In vain. Very cute creatures. And very unhappy.
                        1. The breed has a blocked "saturation center", that is, they eat as if not into themselves.
                        2. This breed does not know how to lick itself.
                        3. Constantly freezing.
                      4. +5
                        15 November 2020 18: 56
                        Quote: 3x3zsave
                        And very unhappy.

                        So I am about it, Anton! They are unhappy, so they evoke a feeling of sympathy instead of sympathy! recourse
                      5. +5
                        15 November 2020 19: 13
                        It's you, you don't understand dog breeds yet. There generally I want to cry ...
                        "-Your cat killed our dog !!!!
                        - It was a rat.
                        - No!!! It was our dog !!!!!!!
                        - Did the cat eat it? So a rat! "
                      6. +4
                        15 November 2020 19: 25
                        Ahhh! I know who I'm talking about! This is pure horror! I just feel sorry for the poor creatures! I heard that they have a very ... difficult character.
                      7. +4
                        15 November 2020 19: 31
                        You hardly know. This is the quintessence of dog squalor. There are more than a dozen similar breeds. From pugs to "naked Peruvians"
                      8. +4
                        15 November 2020 19: 34
                        Little ones, with thin legs, sharp-toed. They still love to bark.
                      9. +4
                        15 November 2020 19: 43
                        No, they are different. Now, at a glance, I will not name the breed, but something like that.
                2. +6
                  15 November 2020 16: 35
                  In figs, every tile, ours, calmly walks along clean earth and absorbs its primordial strength through the pads of the paws, well, just like Ilya, our Muromets. True, he has no equal in a fight among cats - the champion of the local district. good drinks
                  1. +5
                    15 November 2020 16: 38
                    My dacha, too, first of all rushes to the dry dug-up earth and turns from white-gray to gray. And catches mice. But walking ... is best on the tiles! They are for the cat !.
                    1. +5
                      15 November 2020 16: 49
                      But walking ... is best on the tiles!

                      You are just too lazy to wash her paws before being admitted to bed. smile
                  2. +6
                    15 November 2020 20: 00
                    You have a normal cat "peasant": to pout and fill his face if necessary.
                3. +5
                  15 November 2020 19: 48
                  Cute cat. Looks like the mistress pampered her. They are certainly cute, but capricious contagion. We have a cat, already from Whiskas, he turns his face up and says: eat it yourself, but give me "purine" or soft food: "kitiket".
                  1. +4
                    15 November 2020 20: 17
                    Quote: vladcub
                    We have a cat, already from Whiskas, he turns his face up and says: eat it yourself, but give me “purine” or soft food: “kitiket”.

                    Vlad, I greet you. So this is a question not for the cat, but for the food producers !!! My * Whiskas * used to eat it before, but recently. No!
                    The tailed people simply know what they can eat, and what only with great hunger. And since we do not bring them to this stage, our favorites have the right to choose. They blackmail us!
                    1. +4
                      15 November 2020 20: 55
                      Do not say. I suspect that they have their own social network and they are conspiring to joint actions
                      1. +1
                        16 November 2020 13: 16
                        Quote: vladcub
                        Do not say. I suspect that they have their own social network and they are conspiring to joint actions

                        Here! And you noticed it. Soon there will be an article about this directly related to many social problems of our society !!!
                      2. 0
                        16 November 2020 14: 53
                        Did Basya tell you cat secrets? I'll wait, but for now watch out for my cats.
                      3. 0
                        16 November 2020 15: 46
                        It's just that Svyatoslav I grew up with cats, as I remember cats lived in the house. And then ... I became very observant and also began to read a lot. And cats lived with me all the time. One lived for 19,5 years and was even featured in my novel Three from Ensk. And my observations fit very well with what I read ...
              3. 0
                19 November 2020 18: 18
                Belokamennaya is traditionally famous for its craftsmen who "charge" dearly.
          2. +5
            15 November 2020 14: 51
            Good afternoon, Vladislav! hi
            ... my hand will not rise to drill out such a miracle. I'll curse myself.

            And to me, can you imagine what it was like, because according to my position in the museum, I was simply OBLIGED to disfigure the newly received trunks. So it turned out - a drill into the barrel, and a sickle for yourself ... you yourself understand at what place. But all the same, I tried to make these holes in the least noticeable places, and with a smaller diameter. And go and do not, so in fact almost a criminal case. Fortunately, the guys from the Ministry of Internal Affairs were normal people and they were more interested in looking at the closed storeroom, and not looking for "holes", so I didn’t mutilate anything before leaving the museum. smile
          3. +5
            15 November 2020 15: 22
            Score box! And what about the grooves?
          4. +4
            15 November 2020 19: 24
            Namesake, what a miracle in a box? Looks spectacular
    2. +7
      15 November 2020 07: 31
      One is ready for moderation. I will write the second one today ...
      1. +5
        15 November 2020 07: 34
        Quote: kalibr
        One is ready for moderation. I will write the second one today ...

        Excellent, otherwise we are tired of waiting! If the second article has not yet been prepared, please open the topic of smooth-bore revolving guns, I think it will be interesting to all your readers! hi
        1. +5
          15 November 2020 07: 55
          This will not be the case in the second article. This will be a separate article.
          1. +4
            15 November 2020 08: 02
            Class good This is even better!
          2. +3
            15 November 2020 21: 05
            Vyacheslav Olegovich, if you can, pay attention to Smith Weson "Russian model", how did he actually surpass the Colt other revolvers? In your book, "People and Weapons" I do not really understand. After all, in reality there was no Bakhmetyev? Probably the Russians were making inquiries?
            1. +1
              16 November 2020 07: 09
              Dear Astra! There will be a whole article about this! There is already a blank. Everything is detailed !!!
              1. +1
                16 November 2020 09: 04
                Perfectly. There will be something to read. Just don't forget the History section
  2. +4
    15 November 2020 06: 54
    But as soon as cartridge revolvers appeared, all these "tricks" were immediately unnecessary.

    Nagant, however, not without success continued the work of Savage
    1. +6
      15 November 2020 08: 31
      Nagant is our revolving everything! The weapon of the era, although today it has to be heavy in the language more than PM, but to each his own. It is boldly fashionable to say the Revolver of the Nagant system is the legendary weapon of Russia and the USSR!
      1. +4
        15 November 2020 20: 11
        Namesake, Kostya, imagine the situation: we ended up 100-110 years ago, which of the weapon systems (of that time) would you prefer?
        I personally, between: Nagant sample 1910 and Colt M1911.
        1. +4
          15 November 2020 20: 27
          I'm probably Lewis's machine gun!
          1. +3
            15 November 2020 21: 09
            I meant short-barrels. And Luce was really good. Perhaps Degtyarev repelled from him when he was working on DP-27
            1. +1
              16 November 2020 03: 21
              Tse Mother-in-law pukalki, but either there is a machine gun, or there is no machine gun !!!
              1. +1
                16 November 2020 07: 43
                Namesake, the machine gun is certainly good, but you can't hide it in your pocket. And the period of the Civil War and years later, until about 1935, was not calm in the villages. There was such a wisdom: "It's hard to live in a village without a revolver." Guys appreciated compactness, not rate of fire
                1. 0
                  16 November 2020 15: 49
                  Review the film "Lenin in 1918". The whole Cheka is running around with the 1900 Browning!
  3. +4
    15 November 2020 07: 08
    it was self-cocking, which reduced the pressure on the trigger itself and thereby increased the accuracy of shots .. firing with the hammer cocked is always more accurate than with self-cocking and the effort to spin the drum and cock the hammer is always higher, the rate of fire is yes. Something messed up
    1. +5
      15 November 2020 18: 41
      The hammer was cocked with a separate trigger.
  4. +6
    15 November 2020 07: 51
    Never heard of such a design!
    It seems complicated and not familiar to use.
    Thank you, Vyacheslav Olegovich.
    1. +5
      15 November 2020 07: 54
      Quote: Leader of the Redskins
      Never heard of such a design!

      These are the comments I like the most!
    2. +8
      15 November 2020 08: 27
      I had a chance to hold it in my hands and even load it a couple of times and click it in idle. The feeling is completely different than from a revolver, a colt, etc. The trigger is unusual, but you get used to it intuitively. Weight distribution only for classic one-handed shooting with lowering the revolver from the top. Honestly sunk into the soul, more than any other revolver of the century before last!
      1. +5
        15 November 2020 08: 40
        Lucky you! I always like to hold weapons in my hands. Without that ... there is no scent of authenticity in the description. But what is not - that is not.
        1. +6
          15 November 2020 08: 51
          Quote: kalibr
          Lucky you! I always like to hold weapons in my hands. Without that ... there is no scent of authenticity in the description. But what is not - that is not.

          And so Vyacheslav Olegovich turned out deliciously !!!
  5. +8
    15 November 2020 09: 55
    Yeah ..... That "glorious" period in the history of American weapons! In a matter of years, such a twist has been made that it is still necessary to disassemble the "bottom"! There was a weapon that was used mainly by the "northerners" ... there were Ghans in everyday life, both among the "northerners" and among the "southerners" ... But the "southerners" also tried to keep their mark! And they produced "something" ! 1. For example, the Kofer revolver!

    The designer took care of fast reloading, and with the existing limitations of cartridge production, he invented something. Namely, a UNITARY cartridge, which was loaded, literally, by hand. No gadgets. With the help of what is at hand.

    As you can see, a standard brandt tube is screwed into the sleeve, which was intended for a conventional revolving capsule. It was possible to load the cartridge using the revolver's scrubber lever.
    True, even carrying such a cartridge in a pouch is quite dangerous: a blow to the primer certainly caused a shot, and the primer was not protected by anything from accidental impact.
    In addition, when needed, nothing prevented the cartridge from being used as a chamber loaded from the front of the drum ...

    As a result, a revolver with a composite barrel was obtained, which could easily be converted under the Kofer cartridge and under ordinary charges, like all primers of that time. (There was also a purely primer version ...) Of course, there were problems with the safety of the "cartridge", there were no very convenient loading. But the concept of a unitary cartridge was worth something!
    2. There was also such a "confederate" revolver ... (Brothers Dance)


    By design, they were a cross between the Colt Dragoons of the third model and the Colt Navy 1851 of the fourth model. From the Dragoon there was a barrel part, including a partly octagonal, partly round barrel, 44 caliber, 6 chambers in the drum and dimensions. Due to the less massive frame and smaller drum, despite the barrel length of 8 inches, the weight was less (1,6 kg instead of 1,9 kg). From the Navy 1851 revolvers of the Dance brothers got an extended handle and a trigger guard. It is important to note that the parts were not interchangeable with Colt revolvers. In principle, the Dance brothers revolver was an independent model.
    3. You can also remember the "southern" revolver "Spiller and Burr"

    This revolver was copied by the Southerners from the North American Whitney "Navy"; it was produced from 1862 in Rinda, Virginia, then production was moved to Atlanta. Moreover, these weapons were manufactured on the trophy machines of the northerners captured by the southerners during the attack on Washington. The Confederate government ordered 15.000 of these revolvers from the firm, but due to constant problems with materials and equipment, the gunsmiths of the South were able to produce only 1.500 Spiller-Burrs; and even those of those had extremely low workmanship, which is clearly visible in the picture. The combat properties of this "freak" were no better than the appearance: the brass frame did not differ in strength, and the rest of the parts, made of unhardened iron, quickly deformed, or even broke completely ...
    1. +7
      15 November 2020 10: 09
      PS 4. The Confederate government in 1862 ordered the owners of the cotton mill, Greenswold and Gunnison, for revolvers for the army of the South, as they were able to re-equip their enterprise for the production of this type of weapon. After receiving subsidies from the government, the companions began to produce an almost exact replica of the Colt Navy model in .36 caliber. The revolver of the southerners differed from its prototype with a brass body (due to a lack of weapon steel) and a round, not faceted barrel. Oddly enough, the Greenswold and Gunnison revolvers were of good workmanship, although their brass body was not as reliable as the steel one. However, high-quality work could not replace mass production, and as a result, over 3 years of the war, the company was able to produce only 3.600 revolvers, which was clearly not enough for a large-scale war. Moreover, due to the difficult financial situation of the Confederation and the high cost of materials, these revolvers were sold to the southern army at an astronomical price for that time - $ 40 per copy (the northerners had a long-range rapid-fire Henry rifle cost less!). The production of the Greenswold and Gunnison revolvers was discontinued in 1864 when General Sherman's troops invaded Georgia destroyed the weapons factory.
      Today, the opinions of weapon experts about this revolver differ: some believe that Greenswold and Gunnison were worse than Colt, but there are also those who believe on the contrary that some of Colt's mistakes were taken into account in the Confederate model, and it was easier and more reliable to handle due to for a better trigger. Yes, of course, the brass body was inferior in strength to the steel one, and parts made of unhardened iron tended to corrode very quickly, but the Confederate revolver shot very accurately and gave fewer misfires than the Colt. And against the background of other types of revolvers produced by the Confederates, the high-quality Greenswold and Gunnison generally looked like a royal masterpiece!
      Revolvers Greenswold and Gunnison were released by the standards of wartime, but they left a noticeable mark in the history of weapons. This revolver became an example of how good weapons can be made without the funds or the proper materials.

      5.

      The founder of this arms company was Charles Ridjdon, an entrepreneur of the North who sympathized with the South. A year before the start of the war, Riddon, who had a sense of where things were going, liquidated his enterprise and moved the equipment to the South - to Memphis (Tennessee). Here Ridjdon teamed up with Thomas Leach, a knife maker, and began manufacturing revolvers and sabers. Revolvers Lich-Ridjdon were a frank copy of the Colt "Navy" arr. 1851, but due to a shortage of materials, they were of much worse quality. So, the frame was made not of weapon steel, but of ordinary iron, the handle frame and the protective frame of the trigger were made of brass; roughly manufactured parts did not interact well with each other. Naturally, this led to frequent breakdowns and ineffective use of this revolver in combat conditions - it often refused, or even broke down at the most inopportune moment. In addition, the normal operation of the company was hampered by the fighting, which now and then moved to the South, because of which the company often had to move from place to place, temporarily stopping production. As a result, until 1864, when the company ceased to exist due to numerous failures and difficulties, the company managed to release only 1.500 Leach-Ridjdon revolvers. However, even after the collapse of the company until the very end of the war, Ridjdon continued to produce revolvers - now in collaboration with Chase Ansley. The new revolvers of Ridjon were all the same clones of the Colt "Navy", but their mechanism was slightly redesigned, which caused a change in the appearance of the drum. In total, until the end of the war, they managed to produce 1000 Ridjon-Ensley.
      1. +9
        15 November 2020 12: 13
        Wonderful addition!
        1. +6
          15 November 2020 13: 28
          Thank you for your appreciation! Although, I'm still embarrassed! Here are some of my "merits"! feel
          1. +5
            15 November 2020 16: 02
            Quote: Nikolaevich I
            Here are some of my "merits"!

            Modesty is like underwear, a must have, but not worth showing!
            1. +4
              15 November 2020 19: 19
              We will take into account your remark!
              1. +2
                15 November 2020 19: 22
                Quote: Nikolaevich I
                We will take into account your remark!

                It's kind, Vladimir!
                1. +1
                  15 November 2020 21: 26
                  Quote: kalibr
                  It's kind, Vladimir!

                  No doubt !
      2. +6
        15 November 2020 15: 24
        Good afternoon, Vladimir! hi
        Luxurious additions, worthy of a separate article on the "Revolving" topic, would have written themselves, would have pleased the people, because you also have something to tell people. smile
        But I'm interested in something else, at that time there was an Adams revolver, which was much more convenient and efficient in operation than the Colt, I mean self-cocking, and for some reason the people were chasing the Colts and others. Is it a matter of price, or was it simply that the barrels from Britain were not delivered to America?

        Adams M 1851 arr. 1854.

        Beaumont-Adams Revolver 1855.

        In 1855, a modified Adams revolver with a Beaumont trigger was adopted by the British Army under the name "Beaumont-Adams Revolver". In the Beaumont system, the spur hammer could be cocked with the thumb, as in the Colt, or it could be activated by pulling the trigger, as in the original Adams model. Subsequently, this system became standard for the vast majority of revolvers.
        How do you yourself assess the "revolving situation" of that time in the world? smile
        1. +3
          15 November 2020 22: 56
          Quote: Sea Cat
          at that time there was an Adams revolver, which was much more convenient and efficient in operation than the Colt, I mean self-cocking, and for some reason the people were chasing the Colt

          I. This was not quite the case! The Adams revolvers were in great demand and were popular not only in the English army, but also “in the world!” In Europe, Adams revolvers occupied the same place as Colt revolvers in the USA! Moreover , Adams' revolvers were purchased by the Confederates and fought in the North-South Civil War! (Actually, the Confederates were armed with a considerable number of "European" revolvers: Lefosche, Perin, Le Ma> France; Adams, Trenter, Kerr> Great Britain .... Le Ma revolvers occupy a special place! "they were more!" European or "American"! These revolvers were produced both in Europe and in the USA ... Moreover, Jean Le Ma moved to America and "worked" for the Confederates ... By and large, oh You can write a whole article with Le Ma revolvers! We are "used" that "southerners" bought these revolvers in Europe ... that they were 9-rounds + a shot barrel of 16,5 mm caliber ... perhaps that's all! But that's not so! "Le Ma" was partially produced in the USA, and also: 1. rifled barrels were of different calibers; 2. "Shotguns" were of different calibers; 3. "Charge" was from 6 to 9 charges; 4. 3 options were issued: a ) capsule; b) hairpin; c) unitary cartridge of central ignition ...)
          II. In Europe, revolvers have become widespread since the middle of the 19th century! In particular, this was influenced by the Crimean War of 1854-55. There were not so many "original" designs in the "world" ... many of them were frank and "improved" copies of American revolvers ... But the world's leading weapon powers (for example, France, England) could boast of original designs of these weapons! National designs quickly replaced the "original" "Colts"! Often, these designs were more perfect and of better quality than American revolvers!
          For example, Adams' English revolver was superior to the Colt in the following parameters:
          1. Was much stronger! 2. Faster ... "Adams" fired 5 rounds in 4 seconds. "Colt" - for 11 s. Charged: "Adams" - for 38 s. "Colt" - for 58 s. 3. The "highlight" of European revolvers was the presence of double loading or, even, only "self-cocking"! When shooting, you did not have to use both hands, as when shooting from a "Colt"! (True, American "cowboys", accustomed to "Colts", "disliked self-cocking" Europeans "!) 4 The presence of a safety catch ...
          The Trenter's revolver, for example, being non-self-cocking, had a rate of fire no less than that of self-cocking guns, thanks to its design ...
          PS A lot more can be said about revolvers! But there is currently not enough time! Therefore, I beg your pardon that, in a hurry, I expounded the "weapon" story in a crumpled manner and without illustrations (although they are ...)!
          1. +2
            16 November 2020 07: 34
            Quote: Nikolaevich I
            By and large, you can write a whole article about Le Ma's revolvers!

            We will write!
  6. +6
    15 November 2020 15: 04
    ... After all, one of the problems of the then revolvers was the dangerous possibility of explosion of the drum due to the breakthrough of gases when fired from the barrel into its neighboring chambers.

    Something I have big doubts about the fact that such explosions were constant (frequent) in the process of using Kolt revolvers, most likely these were isolated incidents, and not a rule, otherwise hardly anyone began to spend their money on a weapon more dangerous for the owner than for his opponent.
    1. +5
      15 November 2020 15: 59
      Konstantin! You know PEOPLE! It happens for a penny, but the rumor is a difference of many rubles! Further I will have about this ...
      1. +4
        15 November 2020 16: 02
        Of course, better in more detail, and in general, the topic is very interesting, I've never fired a percussion capsule, and the vast majority of ours too.
  7. +3
    15 November 2020 17: 26
    About Burton's revolver, post-shots from a replica.
  8. +2
    15 November 2020 17: 43
    Thanks to the author, it's nice to read!)
  9. +3
    15 November 2020 20: 19
    Quote: Nikolaevich I
    Thank you for your appreciation! Although, I'm still embarrassed! Here are some of my "merits"! feel

    Such material was unearthed
  10. +4
    15 November 2020 20: 27
    Good evening everyone. I just walked in by chance, and here is Vyacheslav Olegovich. To be honest, I counted that he would be more in History.
  11. +1
    16 November 2020 02: 17
    The article as well as the comments made me very happy. I didn't understand this:
    to cover up the space between the bullet and the chamber walls with the so-called "cannon itself" ...
    What is cannon self? lol
    1. +1
      16 November 2020 07: 35
      Lard is a mixture of stearin and lard. I wrote the wrong letter, of course ...
  12. +2
    16 November 2020 08: 47
    It turns out that Savage was the first to use a drum sliding on the barrel in the design of a revolver. Everyone else just repeated his solution or came up with it again.
  13. +1
    16 November 2020 14: 14
    Dear Vyacheslav Olegovich, I have processed for printing the memoirs of my grandfather, a company commander in WW1. He had a soldier in his company with a donated Le Fauchet revolver - a 10-shot, long-barreled, caliber 10,4 mm, weight about 1,8 kg. I am trying to provide illustrations for the future book and therefore I ask you, if possible, to send a picture of this revolver. my address: [email protected] Vladimir Grigorievich. Also, I enjoy reading your articles. They are very informative. Thanks.
  14. 0
    19 November 2020 18: 27
    "But as soon as cartridge revolvers appeared, all these 'tricks' were immediately unnecessary. Or rather, they ceased to be relevant." The revolver, which was adopted by the Russian Empire, developed by Leon Nagant, had a drum approaching the barrel. "Hit" provides improved obturation. This "trick" is not superfluous.
  15. 0
    11 January 2021 02: 36
    The quality was below Kolt's. Therefore, they did not survive. They were unpopular. The Colt even had the drums interchangeable - which even the later Nagant does not have. Therefore, these were simply thrown out, and the Colts were kept to the last and even remade under the cartridge.

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