Colt Army Model 1860

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Colt Army Model 1860

Country of origin:	USA
Operation:	Revolver
Action:	Cap and Ball
Cartridge:	Paper-wrapped .44 caliber
Length:	14 inches
Height:	5.25 inches
Width:
Weight (Empty):	2 pounds, 11 ounces
Barrel:	8 inches
Magazine capacity:	6 rounds
Magazine type:	cylinder

The Colt Army Model 1860 was a revolver in usage during the American Civil War. It was mostly favored as a side arm by infantry and artillery officers. Manufactured from 1860 through 1873, more than 200,000 were made. The weapon was a single action, six shot weapon accurate up to 75 yards.

The Colt .44 “Army" Model was one of the most widely used revolvers of the Civil War. This was the revolver of choice for officers, artillerymen, and cavalrymen. The Colt .44 had a six-shot, rotating cylinder. It fired a lead ball propelled by a charge of black powder ignited by a brass percussion cap that was struck by the hammer. When fired, balls had a muzzle velocity of about 750 feet per second.

Loading is a somewhat lengthy process. A measured amount of black powder is poured into a chamber. Next a lead ball is placed at the opening of the chamber and seated by firmly pressing it in with the loading lever. Today most shooter place a wad between balls and powder, or pack grease at the mouth of each chamber to prevent powder in one chamber from being ignited when another is fired. For convienience some shooters used premade paper cartridges. These cartridged consisted of a pre measured load of powder and a ball wrapped in flammible paper. To load one only had to slip the cartridge in the chamber, seat the ball with the loading lever, and break open the paper wrapper by poking a small stick or needle through the fire hole at the back of the chamber. Finally, a percussion cap is placed on the hole, called a nipple, at the end of the chamber. At the time that this gun was manufactured, it cost the army around $20 per gun, which was rather expensive for the time. The "Army" revolver is to be distinguished from the "Navy" revolver, not only by calibre and by year of manufacture, but also that the "Army" revolver has a hexagonal barrel (while still cylindrical inside) and that the "Navy" revolver has a cylindrical barrel throughout.