Seriously, until now I’ve focused on guns that were more likely to have been in use in the ACW. The few hundred civilian R&Ss may have been acquired by individuals but the 5K government order was too late to be issued.
This was the rather delightful challenge I had in the early 1980's when I was looking to add a revolver to my "personal arsenal" as a Confederate Partisan Ranger/Scout (on foot) and shortly afterwards as a reenactor Confederate Officer of Infantry.
I quickly ruled out Walkers and Dragoons as being too bulky for a soldier on foot.
At the time, I was particularly fortunate to do Armorer work at an N-SSA Nationals and in a Sutler's booth where I could buy most any repro available for distributor cost, a distinct financial advantage.
I have large "meat hooks" or hands, so I particularly liked the grip of the 1860 Army replica's and at first bought one of those. I was also into making very accurately detailed copies of UnCivil War leather gear, so I made a very uncommon copy of a butt to the rear/ flap holster. This so I could carry it cross draw on my waist belt, as I'm a right hand shooter. Even though I'm just shy of 6' 1", I was very surprised and disappointed that when doing Partisan Ranger/Scout work during "Tacticals" (Civil War War Games, not meant for viewing by the public), the 1860 was still too bulky for me on foot. Darn it!! So when I switched to doing a Confederate Infantry Officer, I was looking for another revolver.
OK, this next part is somewhat on shaky ground as I never was an original Remington revolver collector. As was commonly understood then, the grips of most repro Remingtons were undersized from the originals. I considered the German "Hege" repro Remingtons that had "full size" grips according to the original specs. That revolver really fit my hand well, though I just couldn't justify spending at least twice as much, if not more on a Hege Remington.
I ruled out bronze framed revolvers because they wouldn't stand up to heavy use as well as steel frames, even though a repro of a Southron bronze frame revolver would have been "correct" for me as a Confederate Officer. I ruled out a repro of a Starr single action, because the grip didn't feel good.
As a Confederate Officer it was not unusual that I may have been armed with a foreign made revolver. So, I looked into British Tranter and Adams revolvers, but the grips felt weird. It just so happened a good friend offered me an original British Kerr revolver that had the JS Anchor markings and included an original holster that was in extremely good condition, for a price that was way too good to pass up. The Kerr's grip was "different," but still felt very good. Original Kerr holsters in any condition are extremely uncommon and one in the condition of mine was downright rare. I played with the idea of wearing the Kerr and the original holster ONLY at living histories, but decided even that would risk the condition of the original holster too much. OK, so back to repro's.
From original documentation, I found the overwhelming majority of both Northern and Southron Infantry Officers preferred the Colt "Navy" 1851 over any other revolver and even for most rich Officers who could afford any revolver available. Somewhat surprising to me was how popular that model Colt was with the Cavalry and Partisan Rangers on horseback throughout the War by both sides, even when 1860's became readily available. For instance, CSA General "Fighting Joe" Wheeler normally carried FIVE of them throughout the War AND still preferred/used them as a US General when he fought in the Spanish American War. There is also some documentation that US Calvary in the "West" (nowadays known as the Midwest) carried as many as EIGHT 1851's in saddle holsters and on their persons after the 1860's were commonly issued.
So my choice was a Colt 1851 and found it much preferable to carry and use over my earlier 1860, even though the grip didn't fit me quite as well as the 1860. It wasn't terribly hard to get used to the grip of the 1851 and I found it perfectly serviceable
Navy Arms came out with their repro of the Lemat Revolver not long afterwards and I briefly thought of buying one of them. I really did not like the feel of the Lemat and when the head of Navy Arms customer service informed me of how poorly the internal parts were made and fitted, I dropped that idea quickly.
Now for target shooting, I found I much preferred the Rogers and Spencer as it is a more accurate revolver for target use.
So I might suggest the "perfect" revolver is not one, but two, depending on what you mainly intend to use it for.
Gus
