That's why the cavalry trooper also carried a breechloading carbine, a lot easier load a carbine while mounted instead of changing a cyclinder in the middle of a fight
1858 vs 1860...
- Thread starter kodiakjack
- Start date
That's why the cavalry trooper also carried a breechloading carbine, a lot easier load a carbine while mounted instead of changing a cyclinder in the middle of a fight
Brutus
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
What you say makes more sense than fiddling with a cap & ball sixgun. I also find it kind of hard to believe the government would order spare and individually timed second cylinders with the 1858.
I have an 1860 with a brass frame and open top with 8" barrel. No issues; and accuracy really surprised me. I load mid range. Biggest complaint is the nipples; they are a bit too squared off for the Remington caps I am using, so I get a couple mis-fires from each loading. They always fire the second try, so I am certain that the caps are not seating right. New nipples are on the to-do list.
Don't let the brass frame scare you off; my revolver is plain, but beautifully blued, fit and finish are excelent, and the sights are dead on. First time out, 2" at 10 yards; less than 4" at 20. Fire and smoke are so much fun!!
Don't let the brass frame scare you off; my revolver is plain, but beautifully blued, fit and finish are excelent, and the sights are dead on. First time out, 2" at 10 yards; less than 4" at 20. Fire and smoke are so much fun!!
fingers284
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Alberta Cowboy Ranges
I have read a couple of historical references to my post (one was a specific book on civil wartime Remington pistol use) and was also reiterated to me in person by the Curator of the Cody Firearms museum when he certified my 1858 Rem ( as much as he could with only photo's & my description) as a "civil war relic that was one of 300 guns returned to Remington after the war and metal cartridge converted ". It has the recoil plate & .46 rim fire cylinder with the "Rollin White" patent # still visible. another interesting point he made during the authentication process, when I mentioned my gun has a lot of "metal peening " marks on the side. his comment was that "that just solidifies the authentication as a cavalry gun that had considerable saddle mile use". It seemed that those big long barreled revolvers where uncomfortable to carry holstered for the untold miles of a movement so the troopers tied them with a lanyard of some kind to the hook on the McClelland saddles that were there for carbine hanging , consequently they banged against each other for countless hours. He claimed that any Remington pistol of that era that didn't have the damage probably was a staff officers gun that seldom left a tent box.
I've been on a horse for hundreds of miles when I was a kid and, like Brutus couldn't feature having to manipulate a re-load at a gallop....but then I've never been in a running gunfight, run out of shots in a muzzle loader at a full gallop LOL
Last edited:
You should consider getting a set of Treso nipples from Track of the Wolf, I use them on my CAS revolvers and they work like a charm. You can get Slixshot nipples too, but they’re a lot more expensive and I doubt they’re any better than the Tresos.
Brutus
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
I thought Treso out of Colorado has been out of business at least two years now? Am I wrong perhaps ??
Lee Enfield
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Republic of Alberta
That person needs a new job, and to stop reading "historical fiction" novels...
Incompetence at the Cody Museum is disappointing.
Pretty typical of museum staff these days - a university degree, and no actual competence in the subject matter that they deal in.
Here is a quick overview:
http://john1911.com/remington-1858-cartridge-conversion/
Fyi this info was robbed from the mcdowell cartridge conversion book
https://www.amazon.ca/Study-Conversions-Other-Percussion-Revolvers/dp/0873414462
Last edited:
Brutus
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Peter Schiffers book Civil War Revolvers discounts the possibility of spare & correctly timed extra cylinders on Ordnance Board issue for calvary troopers.
Certainly Mosby's Raiders of the Confederacy were well known for carrying multiple revolvers for continuous firepower until expended.
Myself I have never actually seen a calvary troopers issue belt with an extra pounch for that mystery cylinder. And you think about it that spare loaded and capped cylinder would be darn hazardous to a troopers midsection and horse until expended in the heat of battle.
I have seen some antique Remington's with a spare timed cylinder but in every instance it was a spare cylinder for metallic cartridges as the optional cylinder. Not a bad idea for a new frontier settler on the Santa Fe trail.
I put forth this was a post civil war development for a well heeled private gun owner.
Certainly Mosby's Raiders of the Confederacy were well known for carrying multiple revolvers for continuous firepower until expended.
Myself I have never actually seen a calvary troopers issue belt with an extra pounch for that mystery cylinder. And you think about it that spare loaded and capped cylinder would be darn hazardous to a troopers midsection and horse until expended in the heat of battle.
I have seen some antique Remington's with a spare timed cylinder but in every instance it was a spare cylinder for metallic cartridges as the optional cylinder. Not a bad idea for a new frontier settler on the Santa Fe trail.
I put forth this was a post civil war development for a well heeled private gun owner.
Maybe you're right, I've been calling them Treso's but it looks like it's Track of the Wolf's house brand:
https://www.trackofthewolf.com/List/Item.aspx/64/1
They definitely work!
I attend the North South Skirmish Association National's every year (except covid killed it this year) near Winchester, Virginia and the handgun of choice for competition
is the 1858.
This goes for competative regiment's that have a choice, as some do not (wanting to keep historically correct) they either used a 1858 or the Colt.
The video is NSSA, but not taken at National's.
If you're into this, drop by the Spring or Fall National's, you will think you died and where in heaven.
It's as close as you will ever hear to what the sound n smell of powder of the Civil War was like.
Best of all, they are not shooting blanks!!!!!
They also have many vendors.
Bring cash$$
One or two guys on the line at once!!
is the 1858.
This goes for competative regiment's that have a choice, as some do not (wanting to keep historically correct) they either used a 1858 or the Colt.
The video is NSSA, but not taken at National's.
If you're into this, drop by the Spring or Fall National's, you will think you died and where in heaven.
It's as close as you will ever hear to what the sound n smell of powder of the Civil War was like.
Best of all, they are not shooting blanks!!!!!
They also have many vendors.
Bring cash$$
One or two guys on the line at once!!
Last edited:
fingers284
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Alberta Cowboy Ranges
Individually timed wouldn't even be a consideration in war-time manufacture as it is for subsequent commercial sales markets. Those cylinders would be built in a jig identical to each other and used with no further criteria except an inspection by the U.S. milit. procurement inspector of the day.
The open-mouthed forcing cone would insure a workable gun well within martial needs of the time.
Brutus
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
I don't claim to be an expert. But Peter Schiffers book "Civil War Revolvers" does not make any reference to your theory.
Have a good one.
