Euroarms Rogers & Spencer 44 revolver

[B P Arn]

Some were definitely in civilian hands by 1865. At least a few were used in the Uncivil War, and these might have been privately owned. Don't ask me to support this with original sources, but that is what I learned a long time ago from my own research.

 

[Cap'n Ball]

The entire purchase of 5000 was warehoused until Bannerman bought them. I have no confirmed information, but it is believed that a few or even a few dozen more were made. That be prototypes, demonstration pieces, sales samples and gifts to influential persons. I find this plausible enough to use my Dixie copy as a wild west period, but the delivery started the day before Lee's surrender
My late father-in-law had an original from Bannerman in the 1930s. After WWII he moved to California. He went to a match at a local gun club and was granted a waiver for reloading time. He won first place against the (mostly) 38s. Several of the regulars became angry and refused the waiver afterward. He decided not to join the club with that attitude.

The R&S is accurate. Sadly a divorce removed ti from my reach although it was the first muzzleloader I ever shot. I do have the powder measure he used though. It holds 35 grains.

 

[goodshot]

Wish someone made one today, I have read the Ruger Old Army was based on the R&S.

 

[Eras Gone]

"Skirmisher" refers to a North-South Skirmish Assn competitor. You have revolver worked over and rebarreled by Tom Ball. He did most of his with gain twist rifling. Congrats on a great find. It should be a tack driver with the right load.

 

[Smokey Plainsman]

I don't have anything to add to what the OP stated, other than to reiterate that the Rogers & Spencer revolvers definitely have a feel of their own, unlike all others.

Mine is a great shooting gun.
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I got this generic holster on a "package deal", with no idea of what is was supposed to fit. I modified it to fit my S&R revolver, and removed the non-period correct metal snap fastener. I replaced that with a brass stud.
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Oh gosh! That plum frame is just amazing! ME LIKEY LIKEY!!!

 

[B P Arn]

I plum like it too !

 

[Newtire]

I used 25 gr. 3f with corn meal filler and a Lee cast ball. A guy came along and commented on it so much that I let him shoot it. He shot the best group ever shot out of that revolver. I never could equal that “one ragged hole” shooting like he did but it is my most accurate revolver. I bought it unfinished in a box for $100.00 back in ‘81 or ‘82. I replaced the little coned front sight with a taller metric brass screw and nut to get it to shoot to point of aim. It looks like an original except for my sight. Later on, I picked one up from GB brand new. Lucky to have found it. Not for sale. It’s a real sleeper.

 

[saaman]

Disassembly of the R&S is easy--this shows one way using a block of wood to hold the mainspring out of the way.

 

[jonathan butcher]

Me 2 !!

I plum like it too !

 

[jonathan butcher]

 

[Zonie]

Good video.

As you Colt and Remington shooters know, after a few shots, the cylinder gets hard to turn because of the fouling that is deposited on the front of the cylinder, in the joint and on the cylinder pin or arbor.
As was mentioned in the video, the Rogers & Spencer revolver design pretty much solved this problem.

With the Colt, Remington, Whitney and Speller & Burr, the front face of the cylinder is flat. This feature allows the blast from the burning powder to blow down directly onto the cylinder pin or arbor. The fouling is not only deposited on the joint but it tends to blow into the joint, gumming up the works.
Colt tried to solve this problem by putting a bunch of grease grooves on the arbor. The other makes relied on the small diameter of the cylinder pin to reduce the effects of the fouling.

Rogers & Spencer took a different tact on solving the problem. Rather than leaving the front face of the cylinder flat, they changed the design to add a short cylindrical area below the chambers that moves the joint between the cylinder and the frame forward about 1/8". With this stepped design, the powder gas doesn't have direct access to the pin or the joint between the cylinder and the frame so, the pistol can be shot many more times than the other brands without the cylinder getting gummed up.

It works. I've shot well over 20 rounds thru my R&S without noticing any cylinder drag at all.

 

[jonathan butcher]

For me the most interesting part of the vid was when he remarked, ' this was not a cowboy gun' with only 800 civilian models in circulation post-War.
Someone above said something to the effect of, if it could shoot then it was used. I tend to agree with this theory.

Good video.

As you Colt and Remington shooters know, after a few shots, the cylinder gets hard to turn because of the fouling that is deposited on the front of the cylinder, in the joint and on the cylinder pin or arbor.
As was mentioned in the video, the Rogers & Spencer revolver design pretty much solved this problem.

With the Colt, Remington, Whitney and Speller & Burr, the front face of the cylinder is flat. This feature allows the blast from the burning powder to blow down directly onto the cylinder pin or arbor. The fouling is not only deposited on the joint but it tends to blow into the joint, gumming up the works.
Colt tried to solve this problem by putting a bunch of grease grooves on the arbor. The other makes relied on the small diameter of the cylinder pin to reduce the effects of the fouling.

Rogers & Spencer took a different tact on solving the problem. Rather than leaving the front face of the cylinder flat, they changed the design to add a short cylindrical area below the chambers that moves the joint between the cylinder and the frame forward about 1/8". With this stepped design, the powder gas doesn't have direct access to the pin or the joint between the cylinder and the frame so, the pistol can be shot many more times than the other brands without the cylinder getting gummed up.

It works. I've shot well over 20 rounds thru my R&S without noticing any cylinder drag at all.

 

[B P Arn]

Wish someone made one today, I have read the Ruger Old Army was based on the R&S.

The Ruger Old Army was based on the Whitney revolver, IIRC, not the Rogers & Spencer.

 

[Dave Markowitz]

A major reason why the Rogers and Spencer feels different from Colts and Remingtons is that it has a shorter hammer throw. In effect, it's a short action. I bought one by EOA from DGW in London Gray about 10 years ago.

It's probably my most accurate percussion revolver, next to my Ruger Old Army. I wish I had one of the target models with adjustable sights.

I have never had a cap jam with it. The large dished out areas around the nipples allow cap fragments to fall right out. It handles fouling better than Remingtons due to the bushing on the face of the cylinder. I've fired up to 42 rounds in one session without wiping or adding more lube, and the gun was still running fine.

I use .454 balls on top of 25 - 30 grains of 3Fg, although I've loaded up to 35 grains of 3Fg Triple 7 in it. That load really let you know you were firing a big bore sixgun! I have loaded .457s in it but they take significantly more effort to load and I don't see the need to strain the loading lever doing so. I'll reserve .457s for the Ruger.

 

[Flintlock]

I thought I was done with cap-n-ball revolvers but now I have the bug again so bad. Thanks a bunch guys.

 

[BillinOregon]

Flintlock, my sentiments as well. A fresh itch to scratch, dang it ...

 

[David Y. Snellen]

Gentlemen,
There is one article I found on the R & S being used in the War of Northern Aggression. Here is the link:
http://www.antiquearmsinc.com/rogers-spencer-revolver.htmI would say though at best 800 were out there at the time. It is good enough for me to carry in an 1863 and afterward impression, even if it may be questionable.
Respectfully,
David

 

[Cap'n Ball]

Thank you for this link. I am always glad to get more info. I had never heard about the 800 private sales before.

 

[Cap'n Ball]

You might be interested in seeing theholster that I made for mine. It is copied from one in Packing Iron. The carving was done with a knife, a coin and a spoon. I wish I had lined it with pigskin though.

 

[jonathan butcher]

Thanks for posting, I’m looking for a holster for it now, yours is a dandy!

You might be interested in seeing theholster that I made for mine. It is copied from one in Packing Iron. The carving was done with a knife, a coin and a spoon. I wish I had lined it with pigskin though.
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