Can anyone tell me why we call the most common Remington replica revolver the "58" Remington, when the New Model Army started production in 1863? Remington Arms never used this term. The earliest "look alike" was the Beals Navy revolver, dating from 1860. Granted, the patent date stamped on the barrel of the New Model is Sept 14, 1858, but I believe the important part of this patent was Beal's idea of securing the cylinder pin with the loading lever. This patent apparently lead to the development of the Beals Navy Revolver in 1860. Any thoughts?
1858? Remington
- Thread starter SAJones
- Start date
Help Support Muzzleloading Forum:
I hear that it's because the Colt patent expired in 1857 and Remington started turning out their own Army revolvers in 1858. We collectively call those revolvers "1858's" whether or not that was a contemporary name. The New Model Army has its roots obviously in whatever model was turned out in 1858.
It also makes perfect sense that the year would be referred by the patent year. The Colt 1911's latest patent was from 1910, so it was originally the Model 1910. After changes were made and it was accepted by the US Army, which called it the M1911, it was forever known as the Colt 1911.
My guess is that around the centennial of the Civil War or so when replica revolvers started being mass produced, some importer mistakenly called it that and the name stuck ever since.
It also makes perfect sense that the year would be referred by the patent year. The Colt 1911's latest patent was from 1910, so it was originally the Model 1910. After changes were made and it was accepted by the US Army, which called it the M1911, it was forever known as the Colt 1911.
My guess is that around the centennial of the Civil War or so when replica revolvers started being mass produced, some importer mistakenly called it that and the name stuck ever since.
Remington did not start producing their "58" until 1861.
The Remingtons made prior to that (with the exception of the Remington-Beals Prototype "Army" Revolver (made in 1856)), which was a very strange looking pistol without a loading lever) were small pocket pistols.
These early Remington pocket pistols looked nothing like the Remington we think of. They also do not look like the much later Remington "Pocket Pistol" that looks like a baby "58".
One of the unusual things about these early pistols was the hand that rotates the cylinder. It was located on the outside on the left side of the frame and passed thru the rear of the frame to engage the cylinders ratchet.
The Remington-Beals Army Model pistol they first made in 1861, looked a great deal like the "58" but it had some problems which the Military asked Remington to fix.
In my opinion, the reason we call these Remingtons "58" is because the patent date (1858) is stamped on them.
The Remingtons made prior to that (with the exception of the Remington-Beals Prototype "Army" Revolver (made in 1856)), which was a very strange looking pistol without a loading lever) were small pocket pistols.
These early Remington pocket pistols looked nothing like the Remington we think of. They also do not look like the much later Remington "Pocket Pistol" that looks like a baby "58".
One of the unusual things about these early pistols was the hand that rotates the cylinder. It was located on the outside on the left side of the frame and passed thru the rear of the frame to engage the cylinders ratchet.
The Remington-Beals Army Model pistol they first made in 1861, looked a great deal like the "58" but it had some problems which the Military asked Remington to fix.
In my opinion, the reason we call these Remingtons "58" is because the patent date (1858) is stamped on them.
Similar threads
