I have to rethink the spare cylinder idea

Bad Karma · 2025-01-22T19:49:18-0500

Trev said:
Is that on an original or on one of the reproductions? If the originals were that bad it's hard to understand their popularity with both the military buyers during the war and afterwards with the general population.

The Colt has gotten a bad rap for its supposed inaccuracy. The sights are a hindrance certainly for close fast work. Or, viewed another way, provide a very fine sight picture if you have the time to aquire it. At close range and under combat conditions they point quickly, easily, and naturally. Certainly they’re the most pointable of the percussion revolvers. I’ve lost track of how many picket pins I’ve killed from 20 yards out to 75 yards or more. Sight the gun in to the load you like, replace the front sight as soon as it’s in your hands, adjust the rear notch with shim and files and then shoot a few dozen pounds of powder through it.

This is a ground squirrel, we call them “picket pins” locally, they’re maybe best target the Good Lord ever created for kids with .22’s, and older kids with handguns, muzzleloaders, bows and arrows, slingshots, and central fire rifles.

KingOfKindling · 2025-01-22T19:54:57-0500

Smokerr said:
It does not matter, the design was such that you had to drive the Wedge in, think of it as a firm tap with a wood hammer handle. Equally it takes a bit to get it moving, its the nature of the design.

You don't have to drive the wedge in hard to get good functionality.

You do have to drive it in for the best longevity and accuracy. If you were a soldier that just put the wedge in thumb tight, the gun would easily survive the length of the war with acceptable accuracy. I'm talking belt models here. Dunno how many shots you can get out of a walker or dragoon with a loose wedge before you beat it to death.

It's the same for originals or reproductions.

Trev · 2025-01-22T19:55:30-0500

@Bad Karma my question was more to the "beat the wedge out/beat the wedge in" reputation. People on other forums have said the originals worked much better in that respect.

KingOfKindling · 2025-01-22T20:00:10-0500

Trev said:
@Bad Karma my question was more to the "beat the wedge out/beat the wedge in" reputation. People on other forums have said the originals worked much better in that respect.

The originals are just about all very broken in. If you've got a reproduction down to the same level of wear, or if you make sure to fit it better than the factory did, it functions pretty much the same way.

Trev · 2025-01-22T20:08:57-0500

Isn't that disassembly a daily thing for maintenance? I'd have thought that with all the romancing of the Colt that some mention would have been made of the mallet needed for the cleaning kit.

Bad Karma · 2025-01-22T20:16:18-0500

Trev said:
Isn't that disassembly a daily thing for maintenance? I'd have though that with all the romancing of the Colt that some mention would have been made of the mallet needed for the cleaning kit.

A screwdriver handle, small hammer handle, knife handle, or the like will serve just as well as a mallet. I will from time to time fire a chamber or three and then I’m done for the day. Easy enough to run a cleaning rod and damp patches down the barrel and into the empty chambers, dry them, wipe and dry the exterior and then reload those chambers for the next day. No need to disassemble every day.

TNGhost · 2025-01-22T20:21:47-0500

Smokerr said:
You did. And you can see that being a case where weight of pistols vs a need for more rounds becomes a trade off.

If he carried a Remington type, then its possible to swap cylinders. I guess you could throw the used one at your adversary!

But on foot its not easy, on a horse, ungh. Trying to turn the cylinder into the frame, get the pin to secure it is fiddly, even at the bench.

I believe he specified Colts.

Clark Badgett · 2025-01-22T22:06:33-0500

fireman1 said:
It does not always split. In fact it is uncommon.

Every burned round I have seen was split.

Smokerr · 2025-01-22T22:35:30-0500

my question was more to the "beat the wedge out/beat the wedge in" reputation. People on other forums have said the originals worked much better in that respect.

Its more tap in and tap out, but if you don't seat it a good tap tight, it can work loose and then you have a floppy barrel assembly.

As you would load those and park them in the holster, not an issue.

The bottom line is its pretty much absurd to think you would change cylinders on them in a fight. They do have more to deal with than a Remington Top Strap type that way.

Nazgul58 · 2025-01-23T07:24:32-0500

Another view with some supporting evidence.

Just to fuel the debate.

Don

fireman1 · 2025-01-23T07:56:10-0500

Nazgul58 said:
Another view with some supporting evidence.

Just to fuel the debate.

Don

Posted yesterday. Good video.

nick_1 · 2025-01-23T09:06:00-0500

Bingo.

Whitworth · 2025-01-23T10:48:07-0500

My years of relic hunting and poring over relic websites, CW relic publications and relic shows without seeing a lone dug cylinder leads me to believe it rarely if ever happened in the CW. Check out CW relic books and metal detecting websites for recovered cylinders and draw your own conclusion. YMMV

RedPoin · 2025-01-23T10:51:25-0500

I have changed out loaded cly in my Remingtons not a problem on the ground.
probably on horseback just carry extra guns in saddle horn holster

Trev · 2025-01-23T11:13:49-0500

what percentage of the CW cavalry was armed with revolvers? was it whole units or just individuals within units? were the cavalry units usually deployed against other cavalry, or against infantry, or against artillerymen?

nick_1 · 2025-01-23T11:18:33-0500

I have no doubt that an expert Horsman who was also an expert pistolero could change cylinders on a Remington at a gallop. I think the idea of doing this was with and open top is a joke at best. I also believe based on evidence that it never happened in real life with the Remington. As far as multiple revolvers there is a large body of evidence that the border guerrillas in the Kansas and Missouri troubles carried multiple revolvers both on their person and in saddle holsters. there is zero evidence of spare cylinders. There is a large body of evidence of civilian scouts in the west carring multiple revolvers. No evidence that I have seen or read of spare cylinders.

nick_1 · 2025-01-23T11:20:58-0500

Trev. watch the video above. very informative on that subject. many units just NCOs and officers. many units who did arm most of the soldiers with revolvers did not show enough revolvers on in their inventory to arm the entire unit. zero units showed extra cylinders in inventory.

Trev · 2025-01-23T11:27:07-0500

I can't watch videos, 20 seconds in and I get distracted ..

TNGhost · 2025-01-23T11:31:03-0500

Whitworth said:
My years of relic hunting and poring over relic websites, CW relic publications and relic shows without seeing a lone dug cylinder leads me to believe it rarely if ever happened in the CW. Check out CW relic books and metal detecting websites for recovered cylinders and draw your own conclusion. YMMV

It was not only soldiers during the war that carried revolvers. And seeing as most carrying revolvers were cavalry and could carry several easily that could account for this.

More likely to carry spares were people like the aforementioned Pony Express rider. We know the Rangers did the Pattersons they had were issued with spare cylinders and designed to be specifically reloaded quickly that way as they had no loading lever.

Also not everyone was on a horse running around while needing a reload. I suspect a majority of protracted gunfights, that required reloads, would be as they are today, with participants hunkering down behind cover, giving them the time and stability to swap cylinders.

nick_1 · 2025-01-23T11:41:19-0500

except they did not swap cylinders... they reloaded revolvers and rifles and carbines or they used multiple revolvers.

I have to rethink the spare cylinder idea

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