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| Posted: Wed Aug 8th, 2007 02:32 am |
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1st Post |
learjet45
Member
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I have recently become very interested in Civil War firearms and had a question regarding Confederate 1860 model Colt Army Pistols. Is it true that Colt actually made an 1860 with a brass frame, or was that only done by southern companies copying the Connecticut produced Colts of the north? I've heard differing stories about the lack of steel in the south at the time...but why would that matter to Colt...with a northern production plant? Thanks for any information.
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| Posted: Wed Aug 8th, 2007 06:39 am |
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2nd Post |
ole
Member
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learjet:
Colt may have made a few1860 Armies with brass backstrap and trigger guard, but most were all steel. Any real Colts in Confederate possession were pre-war purchases and indirect "requisitions." Confederate-made "Colts" from one manufacturer had frame components of brass. From another, the trigger guard and backstrap were brass. And the book I looked in mentioned the lack of steel.
ole
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| Posted: Wed Aug 8th, 2007 11:18 am |
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3rd Post |
Johan Steele
Life NRA,SUVCW # 48,Legion 352
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Colts werre all steel; CS Colts were not and their quality was not on par w/ the Colt factory. They were copies... some better than others. At least the CS copies of the Colt were a decent weapon... the CS copy of the Sharps... shudder.
Here is a booklist that might help feed your new interest; it certainly isn't all inclusive but it is a start...
Barry, Craig L., The Civil War Musket: A Handbook for Historical Accuracy-Lock, Stock and Barrel, Watchdog Press, 2006.
[size=Bilby, Joseph G., Civil War Firearms , Combined Books, 1996.]
Coates, Earl J. & McAulay, John D., Civil War Sharps Carbines & Rifles, Thomas Publications, 1996.
Coates, Earl J. & Thomas, Dean S., An Introduction to Civil War Small Arms, Thomas Publications, 1990.
Edwards, William B., Civil War Guns, The Stackpole Company, 1962.
Fuller, Claud E., The Rifled Musket, The Stackpole Company, 1958.
Fuller, Claud E., Springfield Shoulder Arms 1795-1865, S&S Firearms, 1986.
Houze, Herbert G., Colt Rifles & Muskets from 1847-1870, Krause Publications, 1996.
McAulay, John D., Rifles of the U.S. Army 1861-1906, Andrew Mowbray Publishers, 2003.
Reilly, Robert M., United States Military Small Arms 1816-1865, Eagle Press, 1970.
Smith, Graham, Civil War Weapons, KP Books, 2005.
Sword, Wiley, Firepower from Abroad The Confederate Enfield and the LeMat Revolver, Andrew Mowbray Inc., 1986.
Sword, Wiley, Sharpshooter: Hiram Berdan, his famous Sharpshooters and their Sharps Rifles, Andrew Mowbray Inc., 1988.
Whisker, James A., Hartzler, Daniel D. & Yantz, Larry W., Firearms from Europe, Tom Rowe Books, 2002.
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| Posted: Thu Aug 9th, 2007 09:17 pm |
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4th Post |
learjet45
Member
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Thanks alot for the information. I did some more reading and wound up buying a decently accurate(as far as I can tell) replica 1860 Colt Army in steel...no brass except for the trigger guard and around the front of the pistol grip. Thanks again for the information. It was very helpful. Can't wait to go shooting!
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| Posted: Wed Sep 12th, 2007 02:49 pm |
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5th Post |
Bama46
Guest
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lEARJET,
You might also consider the 1858 Remington. Those were also copied by the confederate government using Much more brass than the original. Replicas are available in either Confederate configuration (Brass frame0 or Union (Steel). Tho my sympathies lie with the Confederate version,(I believe it is one of the most beautiful handguns ever produced)mine is the steel version. I bought the "Yankee" gun because I shoot it a lot and steel tends to be stronger than brass which can strech a bit under pressure of shooting.
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| Posted: Wed Sep 12th, 2007 10:06 pm |
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6th Post |
ole
Member
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And, Bama, when reenacting, you can say with a straight face that you took it off a yankee. The Federals were the best source of quality weapons.
ole
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| Posted: Thu Sep 13th, 2007 12:56 am |
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7th Post |
Johan Steele
Life NRA,SUVCW # 48,Legion 352
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Bama46 wrote: lEARJET,
You might also consider the 1858 Remington. Those were also copied by the confederate government using Much more brass than the original. Replicas are available in either Confederate configuration (Brass frame0 or Union (Steel). Tho my sympathies lie with the Confederate version,(I believe it is one of the most beautiful handguns ever produced)mine is the steel version. I bought the "Yankee" gun because I shoot it a lot and steel tends to be stronger than brass which can strech a bit under pressure of shooting.
Bama, I am unaware of a CS effort to copy the Remington, are you possibly referring to the Spiller & Burr which was actually a copy of the Whitney Navy. IIRC there was something like 2000 made between 62-65. Their finish left a lot to be desired but I'm unaware of any complaints to their quality.
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| Posted: Fri Sep 14th, 2007 01:11 pm |
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8th Post |
Bama46
Guest
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Well, now I was certain I was right until I read your post...now I will have to find out.... I do know it is offered as a replica in either brass or steel frame, and maybe I just assumed..awful word, assumed!
And yes, I would tell everyone I took it from the yankee supply depot...from an officer who did not need it any longer...
I do not reenact, but I love shootin smokepoles and the '58 Remington is as accurate as any cap-n-ball pistol I have ever shot
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| Posted: Fri Sep 14th, 2007 03:09 pm |
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9th Post |
Bama46
Guest
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Well I'll be jiggered!
I have searched a number of sites and can find veiled hints that "maybe, perhaps, sorta" some Confederate '58 Remingtons were made, but no one will come out and say it. I really suspect that Johan is right and that the importers, in an effort to create more products to sell made some "Confederate" pieces with brass frames and I looked at one and said "A ha, brass frames are Confederate, thus the Confederates made a version of the '58." What happens when we assume.... there is that damned word again.
I woke up this morning fat, dumb and happy... I am still fat and happy...some might say even dumber..Oh well, there is still hope
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