Strongest Revolver

[WV_Hillbilly]

It has always been my understanding that the Rogers & Spencer was ordered and delivered for the war, but the war ended before any were issued so they never saw actual service.

BTW: I'm trying to figure out who made my Rogers & Spencer. It has Italian proof marks but no sign of a maker's name or code mark.

I read that Bannerman bought all of them at scrap metal prices and later sold them as military surplus at double the price he had paid for them. Nice way to turn a 100% profit, huh? Some of them supposedly made their way into peoples' hands that never fired them much (or at all), and were well taken care of.

Did you look on the bottom side of the barrel under the loading lever? That is a good "hiding place" for information sometimes.

Davide Pedersoli DOES make a Rogers & Spencer replica. It would be a high quality piece! I believe Euroarms (unknown MFR.) also makes these models.

Shoot Safely!
WV_Hillbilly

PS I think the Rogers & Spencers were a very good design. I'd have liked to think that they would have performed admirably during the conflict. But we'll never know...

 

[SAJones]

One cause given for Walker cylinders busting was from a quote by one of the original recipients in Mexico. He said that the Rangers were unused to pointed bullets, & frequently put them in backwards, causing the cylinders to burst. I suspect the canted ball may lodge against the forcing cone & build up unacceptable pressures.

I couldn't find that quote right off from Whittington's "The Colt Whitneyville-Walker Pistol", but one I did see in a quick scan concerned the turning in of the revolvers as the troops were demobilized: "They have been more or less damaged by firing, and the wear & tear of some eight months use in the field. In some cases the cylinders are entirely destroyed-in others the barrels are irreparabley injured where they join the cylinders-and again, having bursted at the muzzle, the barrels have been cut off to one half their original length"

Don't know how they could "bursted at the muzzle", I suspect the Rangers cut them off to make them easier to handle, as if a 4 pound revolver is easy to handle.

I have two, an Italian & a Colt 3rd generation. Get some good groups from the Colt with conical balls, & I did put a Remington barrel latch on the Italian, as that was a not uncommon modification.

However as far as strength, I also would have to go w/ the Ruger, as much as I like my Walkers.

 

[Myra lou]

With out a doubt a Ruger Old Army......modern steel which was unheard of in the 19th century......It is proofed with smokeless powder......shoots between a 357 and 44 Mag......it'll dent the steel gongs using 42 grs of 2F Pyrodex....multiple ignition is caused by 'flash over' from nipple to nipple......grease in front of the ball is for bore lube and to soften the powder residue that left in the bore from previous shot.......john...... :results:

 

[bezoar]

Well yes they used one loaded down with bullseye but they werent thinking about safety.
The strongest revolver being made right now is a big ruger chambered in 45-70. and then theres a company in england that converts 58 remingtons into smokeless powered muzzleloaders pushing modern jacketed bullets.

 

[Myra lou]

Ok, you win....I thought we were talking black powder precussion revolver.......