cap and ball revolver - The Firearms Forum

remington1990 · 10-30-2010, 10:43 AM

I have been looking at several cap and ball pistols I don't know which one to get I am a civil war reenactor. i want one that would be approately go with the era. I like the colt army or the remington

ofitg · 10-30-2010, 10:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by remington1990

I have been looking at several cap and ball pistols I don't know to get I am a civil war reenactor. i want one that would be approately go with the era. I like the colt army or the remington

I think the 1860 Colt and the 1858 Remington would both be suitable for the reenactments. I'm too lazy to go look it up at the moment, but I believe that the Union army bought a lot more Colts than Remingtons.

BillM · 10-30-2010, 11:11 AM

Are you blue or gray??

Enlisted or Officer? Ground pounder or horse
soldier?

There are replicas of pretty much every civil war era revolver ever made.

1851 Navy was carried by a LOT of soldiers, but just about ANYTHING that
went bang was used. The common soldier on both sides typically bought
their own handgun. Everything from S&W pocket 22's to LeMat's saw
combat use.

remington1990 · 10-30-2010, 11:43 AM

I am in gray and in the artillery. And I am a pvt. Look at dixie gun work I like the colt army or the colt walker. But the one I like the spiller and burr one the best

quigleysharps4570 · 10-30-2010, 01:36 PM

Buffalo Arms also has a wide variety to choose from.

jim brady · 10-30-2010, 03:28 PM

Johnny Reb used pretty much what he could find or capture. One thing I'd consider is that the majority of the Reb enlisted men were poor farmers, so a LeMat or other expensive/exotic revolver wouldn't be all that common. Colt's were more widely issued to Union troops, and so more likely to be captured in or after combat than the Remington.

If you were talking purely as a shooter, I'd go with the Remington. Accuracy with that rigid frame is very good, and they were and are a solid piece of equipment. My humble opinion is that the Remington is easier to maintain than a Colt's revolver.

BillM · 10-30-2010, 06:36 PM

Heck---If you like the Spiller and Burr go for it!

Griswold and Gunnison, Leech and Rigdon are other Southern produced
guns that are available as (somewhat) true to form replicas.

An artillery private in "The war of Northern Aggression" could have carried
almost anything that went bang as a sidearm, or carried nothing at all.
It would be a gun purchased with their own money or captured on the battlefield, so anything made in that time period or before would be "correct".

ETA: Here's an interesting link http://civilwarhandgun.com/obscure.htm
A few on there I've never even heard of----

ofitg · 10-31-2010, 01:39 AM

I'm sure that the senior citizens out there will remember Nick Adams in the TV series "The Rebel", carrying a double-barrelled shotgun "pistol".

I wonder how many Confederate privates might have actually used something like that.

jim brady · 10-31-2010, 03:41 PM

I understand that shotguns were pretty popular with Confederate guerilla units, especially in the border states like Missouri. These were of course percussion guns, but still deadly at close range. Many were cut down from the typical farm gun length to make them handier. That was so in the War of Southern Rebellion, so indeed a Rebel private may have used one of those.

22shot · 11-18-2010, 09:09 AM

If ya wanna be a bear; be a grizzly..

This is a .44 Colt Dragoon 3rd Model repro wih flip up "express" sights and shoulder stock. (U.S. CavaIry)
In their day; they were the most powerful revolvers made. (They weren't called Horse pistols for nothing...)

The powderflask is repro Dragoon (originally issued to go with the gun). I've taken out the adjustable powder measure for detail.

A similar one was carried in a empty flour sack by little "Missy": in one of those John Wayne westerns.

Made by:
S.Marco-Gardone VT
Brescia
Italy

ofitg · 11-18-2010, 09:58 AM

I've always admired those Colt Dragoons, but I never got around to buying one....

I remember that the Kansas City Museum used to have (might still have, I don't know) an old 2nd model Dragoon on display, which had been carried by a lawman in some eastern Kansas town. Couple of notches carved into the grip.

22shot · 11-18-2010, 02:31 PM

remmington1990..

If you want to be a "war crrespondent/photographer"; have this in your "kit".

Remmington Pocket .31 revolver

CVA repro
kit built

22shot · 11-18-2010, 03:02 PM

Finally, whatever you "Civil War" buffs do; don't leave home without it!

.41 Derringer
Turner Kirkland
Dixie Gun Works
Belguim

(Can't help it; going crazy with the wifes' camera!)

johnlives4christ · 11-18-2010, 03:16 PM

id go with a replica of the richard mason i believe its called.

ElvinWarrior · 03-30-2011, 09:43 PM

Naw....

Go for the KA-BLEWIE... Get a LeMat. 9 Shot 44 cal cylinder, and a second smooth bore barrel, sized to the 20ga shotgun size... You can clear out old trees on your property with this one !!!

Sincerely,

ElvinWarrior... aka... David

Hawg · 03-31-2011, 06:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnlives4christ

id go with a replica of the richard mason i believe its called.

That's post war by a number of years. Some privates were issued revolvers in the beginning of the war but most were lost or thrown away. Officers and cavalry carried revolvers. Southern cavalry especially carried up to eight and they swapped the saber in favor of a sawed off shotgun.

remington1990 · 03-31-2011, 08:56 PM

I finally got an cap and ball revolver I got the 1858 remington army by pietta I shot it today and I really like it

10-30-2010, 10:43 AM	#1
remington1990 V.I.P. Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 290	cap and ball revolver I have been looking at several cap and ball pistols I don't know which one to get I am a civil war reenactor. i want one that would be approately go with the era. I like the colt army or the remington --> Last edited by remington1990; 10-30-2010 at 10:51 AM..

10-30-2010, 11:11 AM	#3
BillM V.I.P. Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Amity Orygun Posts: 389	Re: cap and ball revolver Are you blue or gray?? Enlisted or Officer? Ground pounder or horse soldier? There are replicas of pretty much every civil war era revolver ever made. 1851 Navy was carried by a LOT of soldiers, but just about ANYTHING that went bang was used. The common soldier on both sides typically bought their own handgun. Everything from S&W pocket 22's to LeMat's saw combat use.

10-30-2010, 11:43 AM	#4
remington1990 V.I.P. Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 290	Re: cap and ball revolver I am in gray and in the artillery. And I am a pvt. Look at dixie gun work I like the colt army or the colt walker. But the one I like the spiller and burr one the best

10-30-2010, 01:36 PM	#5
quigleysharps4570 V.I.P. Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Kansas Posts: 161	Re: cap and ball revolver Buffalo Arms also has a wide variety to choose from.

10-30-2010, 03:28 PM	#6
jim brady Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 1,100	Re: cap and ball revolver Johnny Reb used pretty much what he could find or capture. One thing I'd consider is that the majority of the Reb enlisted men were poor farmers, so a LeMat or other expensive/exotic revolver wouldn't be all that common. Colt's were more widely issued to Union troops, and so more likely to be captured in or after combat than the Remington. If you were talking purely as a shooter, I'd go with the Remington. Accuracy with that rigid frame is very good, and they were and are a solid piece of equipment. My humble opinion is that the Remington is easier to maintain than a Colt's revolver.

10-30-2010, 06:36 PM	#7
BillM V.I.P. Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Amity Orygun Posts: 389	Re: cap and ball revolver Heck---If you like the Spiller and Burr go for it! Griswold and Gunnison, Leech and Rigdon are other Southern produced guns that are available as (somewhat) true to form replicas. An artillery private in "The war of Northern Aggression" could have carried almost anything that went bang as a sidearm, or carried nothing at all. It would be a gun purchased with their own money or captured on the battlefield, so anything made in that time period or before would be "correct". ETA: Here's an interesting link http://civilwarhandgun.com/obscure.htm A few on there I've never even heard of---- Last edited by BillM; 10-30-2010 at 06:42 PM..

10-31-2010, 01:39 AM	#8
ofitg Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Contributor Posts: 1,447	Re: cap and ball revolver I'm sure that the senior citizens out there will remember Nick Adams in the TV series "The Rebel", carrying a double-barrelled shotgun "pistol". I wonder how many Confederate privates might have actually used something like that. Last edited by ofitg; 10-31-2010 at 08:14 AM..

10-31-2010, 03:41 PM	#9
jim brady Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 1,100	Re: cap and ball revolver I understand that shotguns were pretty popular with Confederate guerilla units, especially in the border states like Missouri. These were of course percussion guns, but still deadly at close range. Many were cut down from the typical farm gun length to make them handier. That was so in the War of Southern Rebellion, so indeed a Rebel private may have used one of those.

11-18-2010, 09:09 AM	#10
22shot V.I.P. Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: U.S.of A. Posts: 376	Re: cap and ball revolver If ya wanna be a bear; be a grizzly.. This is a .44 Colt Dragoon 3rd Model repro wih flip up "express" sights and shoulder stock. (U.S. CavaIry) In their day; they were the most powerful revolvers made. (They weren't called Horse pistols for nothing...) The powderflask is repro Dragoon (originally issued to go with the gun). I've taken out the adjustable powder measure for detail. A similar one was carried in a empty flour sack by little "Missy": in one of those John Wayne westerns. Made by: S.Marco-Gardone VT Brescia Italy Attached Images Last edited by 22shot; 11-18-2010 at 03:14 PM..

11-18-2010, 09:58 AM	#11
ofitg Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Contributor Posts: 1,447	Re: cap and ball revolver I've always admired those Colt Dragoons, but I never got around to buying one.... I remember that the Kansas City Museum used to have (might still have, I don't know) an old 2nd model Dragoon on display, which had been carried by a lawman in some eastern Kansas town. Couple of notches carved into the grip.

11-18-2010, 02:31 PM	#12
22shot V.I.P. Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: U.S.of A. Posts: 376	Re: cap and ball revolver remmington1990.. If you want to be a "war crrespondent/photographer"; have this in your "kit". Remmington Pocket .31 revolver CVA repro kit built Attached Images

11-18-2010, 03:02 PM	#13
22shot V.I.P. Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: U.S.of A. Posts: 376	Re: cap and ball revolver Finally, whatever you "Civil War" buffs do; don't leave home without it! .41 Derringer Turner Kirkland Dixie Gun Works Belguim (Can't help it; going crazy with the wifes' camera!) Attached Images Last edited by 22shot; 11-18-2010 at 03:11 PM..

11-18-2010, 03:16 PM	#14
johnlives4christ Former Guest Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Kentucky Posts: 3,828	Re: cap and ball revolver id go with a replica of the richard mason i believe its called.

03-30-2011, 09:43 PM	#15
ElvinWarrior Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Los Angeles California, USA Posts: 34	Re: cap and ball revolver Naw.... Go for the KA-BLEWIE... Get a LeMat. 9 Shot 44 cal cylinder, and a second smooth bore barrel, sized to the 20ga shotgun size... You can clear out old trees on your property with this one !!! Sincerely, ElvinWarrior... aka... David __________________ God Made Man, But COLT Made Them Equal !!!

03-31-2011, 08:56 PM	#17
remington1990 V.I.P. Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 290	Re: cap and ball revolver I finally got an cap and ball revolver I got the 1858 remington army by pietta I shot it today and I really like it