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Colt Army Model 1860

Last Updated on Tuesday, 21 July 2009 14:45 Written by Administrator Thursday, 02 July 2009 12:39

The Colt Army Model 1860 was a .44 calibre revolver that was used extensively during the American Civil War. It was employed as a sidearm by infantry, artillery troops and the cavalry. More than 200,000 units of the revolver were manufactured from 1860 to 1873.

The Colt Army Model 1860 revolver had a six-shot cylinder and could fire both round lead balls and cone-shaped projectiles. The bullet was powered by means of a 30 grain black powder charge that was ignited by a percussion cap. The percussion cap used fulminate of mercury which would explode on impact igniting the black powder charge. The revolver could fire round lead balls with a muzzle velocity of 750 feet per second.

The revolver was accurate up to distances of 75 to 100 yards. The main customer of the manufacturing company—Colt’s Manufacturing Company was the United States Government and more than 127,000 units were bought by the Government to be issued to the troops. The Confederate States, on the other hand, preferred the “Navy” version of the revolver.

The revolver was loaded from the muzzle end i.e. from the front. A measured quantity of black powder was poured into the chamber from the muzzle and then a lead shot was placed and seated firmly using the loading level. Pre-made paper cartridges were also used. These contained the correct quantity of black powder along with the lead ball. After loading the cartridge, a small hole has to be made to place the percussion cap. Either way, loading the revolver was a lengthy process.

Very variants of the Army Model 1860 were produced. However, a 7.5-inch barrel version of the revolver was manufactured in limited quantities and was known as the “Texas Model”. It came to be known so because a number of these variants were shipped to Texas after secession.

After the American Civil War ended, large number of these guns were taken home by the troops and found their way into general circulation. The number of guns in circulation didn’t reduce the demand for the gun. In fact, it even stimulated the demand because the effective opponent to the revolver was the revolver itself.

Thus, even after the war Colt’s manufacturing company continued manufacturing the gun and supplying it the frontiersmen. Colt’s revolvers continued to be at the top of the firearms revolution and deserve their place in history.