Army and Weapons | Deadly Colt M1861 Navy | The Colt Model 1861 Navy cap & ball .36-caliber revolver was a six-shot, single-action percussion weapon produced by Colt's Manufacturing Company from 1861 to 1873. It converts the "creeping" or ratchet loading lever and round barrel of the .44-caliber Army Model 1860, but had a half inch shorter barrel at 7.5 inches. Total production was 38,000 revolvers.
Like its predecessor, the 1851 Colt Navy Revolver, it saw widespread use in the American Civil War and the American western frontier, but much less produced. It has the same general specifications as the previous model, but with a round barrel and some other pestle. [2] Although similar in design to the Colt Model 1860 Army, the lighter recoil of the .36 caliber 1861 Navy was the preference of some cavalry soldiers.
There were few variations of the Model 1861 Colt Navy. Approximately 100 of the first guns made had fluted cylinders with no cylinder scene. Another 100, between the serial sets of 11,000 and 14,000 were cut for shoulder stock - the lower part of the recoil shield was milled away and the fourth screw stock is added to the frame. With the exception of the first fifty or so of this model, all guns have a capping groove. A brass trigger guard and back strap, silvered, were standard.
There were few variations of the Model 1861 Colt Navy. Approximately 100 of the first guns made had fluted cylinders with no cylinder scene. Another 100, between the serial sets of 11,000 and 14,000 were cut for shoulder stock - the lower part of the recoil shield was milled away and the fourth screw stock is added to the frame. With the exception of the first fifty or so of this model, all guns have a capping groove. A brass trigger guard and back strap, silvered, were standard.
During the Civil War, its main rival in England the Adams self-cocking revolver. The Adams fired a .49 caliber bullet and did not require the shooter to the hammer withdraw. Colt Colt revolver was more popular because of its mass-produced weapons, while Adams' products were handmade by skilled craftsmen. In the United States, the main rival was the Remington Model 1858 Colt revolver.
The Colt 1861 Navy typically used with paper cartridges, ie with a pattern consisting of nitro-paper, a measured black powder charge, and a bullet that was either a round lead ball or conical lead bullet. The nitro-paper of the cartridge was fully consumed in use, and using paper cartridges able to quickly re-loading. Alternatively, it was always possible to feed the measured powder charges and round lead balls.
The Colt 1861 Navy typically used with paper cartridges, ie with a pattern consisting of nitro-paper, a measured black powder charge, and a bullet that was either a round lead ball or conical lead bullet. The nitro-paper of the cartridge was fully consumed in use, and using paper cartridges able to quickly re-loading. Alternatively, it was always possible to feed the measured powder charges and round lead balls.