basic revolver question

[pepperbelly]

I have sort of had a desire for a cap and ball revolver for a while.
I have looked online and on The History Channel at the differences between the Walker, the various years the Army and Navy revolvers were made, etc.
I kind of understand the differences, but... What is a Dragoon? I understand that the Army and Navy revolvers were made under contract for the respective services.
I heard the Colt Dragoon mentioned in the movie True Grit tonight.
I have also, I think, heard of a rifle called a dragoon.
Were they smoothbores?
I could do a websearch but asking questions here is more fun and the different answers give me better answers.
Thanks,
Jim

 

[tna]

i'm no expert but i'm pretty sure the dragoon was colts model that came out somewhere between the paterson and the 1851 navy. i seem to think these were huge hunks of metal that weighd in at somewhere around 4 lbs. and were holsterd on a calvery troops (dragoon) saddle. that's all i know and i got that from wild west tech. thank you history channel.

 

[Darryl]

COLT PERCUSSION REVOLVERS 101

The following is a very general descriptive outline of the original thirteen basic Colt cap and ball revolvers. Most original, second and third generation and Italian reproduction Colts are not marked with the model and year, as they are known by today. This outline should be helpful to a non-Colt collector in identifying these revolvers that may be encountered at a gun show. It should also be helpful when selecting a historical modern reproduction.

1.COLT PATERSON: Normally a #5 Paterson, .36, 5 shot, no trigger guard, the trigger emerges from the frame as the hammer is cocked, early stagecoach holdup rolled engraving on cylinder, 7.5

 

[pepperbelly]

Yeah! I remember that now. Thanks!
I was looking at some returns on a search and found this 1860 Army here The Hstory Store .
That is a beautiful revolver!
Jim

 

[pepperbelly]

Darryl, thanks! That does help.
I have spent the last couple of years collecting C&R rifles, like my Swedish M38 Mauser and Swiss K31. Black powder is at least, if not more, interesting, and as complicated.
I love it! Now I have to convince my wife that this is just another stage of collecting, and, yes honey, I really do need more guns!
Jim

 

[Darryl]

If you want to get a Colt percussion revolver, I suggest either the 1860 Army in .44 or the 1851 Navy in .36. Keep away from the brass framed models and be sure you get the historically correct caliber. The Walker and Dragoons are very heavy. Alternatively consider the Remington New Model Army incorrectly called the 1858. It's a very nice sturdy piece. Lastly buy the revolver from a dealer who has a good return policy. The quality control on Italian reproductions is spotty. Hope you can make smoke soon.

 

[pepperbelly]

After looking over the site I linked to above I am leaning towards the Colt 1860 Army. I like large calibers and that is a beautiful firearm.
I saw the Remington 1858 in a History Channel Tale of the Gun, or Wild West Tech. I like it too.
Can I have both? :>)
Jim

 

[IronMan]

Ok I got a question. What is a "creeping loading lever"?? :huh:

IronMan

 

[Stumpkiller]

Rack & Pinion as opposed to straight leverage.

Note the "gear" teeth.

 

[IronMan]

Thanks Stumpkiller, I have two 1860's and really like them.
My dad gave them to me for Christmas last year. They have been in the family for like 30yrs.

IronMan

 

[JeffS]

The pistol in True Grit was a Walker, but if the Duke wants to call it a Dragoon, thats fine with me. (first rule... The duke can do no wrong...) ::

Cap and ball revolvers are fun, and you can get one pretty cheap. I recommend it. I personally like the Colts, and not the Remington so much, but a lot of people like Remingtons too. THe Remingtom gums up too fast for me. The most comfortable one to me, is the 60' Army.


http://www.curtrich.com/frontiersmen.html some good reading from a SASS shooters page.


Jeff

 

[Darryl]

Stumpkiller is right. The creeping lever is a rack and pinion system. It's inaccurately called the creeping lever because it slowly crept downward if it was jarred loose from the latch. The hinged lever would just fall downward and the plunger would jam the revolver. The 1855 side hammer was the first Colt with the creeping lever. The two typical examples are the 1860 Army with the creeping and the 1851 Navy with the hinged.

 

[crockett]

Are those guys at SASS nuts? Heaven help anyone that goes through that hell just to reload. The only time I have trouble with percussion revolvers is if a fired cap blows off and gums up the works. Other than that, I find them highly reliable, all things considered. Years ago guys would carry a spare cylinder for the Colts and do a cylinder change. I can do it in about 20 seconds so I assume others could do it faster than that. A cylinder change on the Colt is about as fast as reloading the Peacemaker. Slapping wedges in and out isn't a safe practice so be forewarned or try it unloaded. Strange as it may seem, I think the Colts were better on this, the Remington is too tight, if I put in a new cylinder I have trouble positioning in properly to quickly put in the pin. Could just be me.
We were talking the other day about whether a Colt could be carried with six chambers loaded and the hammer on the pins. Thought occurred to me that sometimes the slit in the Colt hammer gets bits of copper from the caps stuck in it and in that situation the hammer may not safely rest on the pin. Probably best to load and cap only five for a carry mode.

 

[JeffS]

Crockett, I agree that the method on that SASS page is tedious and overkill. The Ruger has deeper cylinders, and is a pain to load light (as many SASS shooters prefer) because of the short rammer. Most people will agree that the Ruger is more dependable and accurate off the shelf. I tried to edit my post but it didnt take. The info and pictures on the page are interesting though, for a guy who hasnt shot one. Personally, I like the regular Colt 60 Armys, and I just load and lube normal between stages, and I dont load mine light. If I had Rugers, (relatively too expensive for me, but I like them) I would just load them heavy enough to not have to bother with all that stuff mentioned.

Oh, and to answer your question, Yes! Most Ive met are a little bit nuts. ::

Jeff

 

[Dances With Coyotes]

As for a cap'n ball,,Cabela's is about the cheapest, most of their revolvers are Piettas (nothing wrong with them) I just got a pair of 1851 Navies from them for about $150.00 apiece.(Hickok pistols) 1860 Army goes for about $180 ,,, 1858 Remington about $175 thats about it for the lower end, I agree with the other guy, don't get a brass frame (they eventually shoot loose) and its just not the same as a steel frame. But whatever you get take the time and do your homework on proper safety(ie chain fires prevention) I don't know about you but if I had two or three chambers go off at once it would :curse:REALLY :cry:ruin my day. Go to[url] Cabelas.com[/url] and check 'em out. :thumbsup: