Percussion revolvers of the Civil War

Kerry Barlow

Allen Sidehammer Rimfire revolver

Made 1859-1862, Total quantity estimated over 1000 .32 caliber Pocket Pistol,6 shot revolver Walnut grips Blued finish

Allen & Wheelock Lipfire

patented September 7th navy Caliber .36 6 shot cylinder Around 900 produced due to increasing preasure from Smit and Wesson

Marsten 3 barrel derringer

Made from 1864-1872, 3,300 produced

Moore Front Loading Teat Fire

.32 caliber 7 shot revolver

Moore Belt Revolver

32 caliber 7 shot revolver barrel swings to load patent sept 18,1862,total length 11 inchs weight 1 pound 10 ounces

2nd Photo 3rd Photo

Irving

Though marked "Irving" this gun was made by James Reid,

1,350 produced.

Plant Mfg.

Front Loading Revolver, 5&6 shot, several calibers, combination of front loading cartridge or muzzle-loading percussion, thousands made

Slocum Sliding Sleave

5 shot, .32, load through sliding tube on side of cylinder 1000 produced

Sharps 4 Barrel Pepperbox

Made from 1859-1874, thousands made, varied calibers rotating pin fired one barrel at a time

Smith and Wesson Model 1 .22 caliber

Horace Smith and Daniel B.Wesson formed a partnership in 1852 thereby starting the Smith and Wesson company. In 1856 they developed a handgun chambered for a .22 caliber rim fire cartridge known as the Model 1. This revolver was immediately in demand, obviously owing to a huge advantage over other revolvers, pistols and rifles of the day, insofar as it possessed an easily loaded rim fire cartridge. It may have been used as a boot pistol and it was not known if their was enough powder in the small casings to allow a bullet to penetrate the skin. I doubt this myself, the gun could not have been that weak.It did make some noise and may have scared off some, but it is doubtful that anyone was ever killed with such a gun at a long range, up close however it would be deadly. This revolver was probably not used much in the Civil War because of it's small caliber. It certainly was, however available, and in demand throughout the era. 2nd photo

Smith and Wesson Model 2 .32 caliber

Photos and text generously provided by Gary Lowe

Smith and Wesson also produced a 2nd rimfire handgun called the No. 2 "Old Army" S&W. The gun was non-military, but was purchased in large quantities by officers and enlisted men alike during the Civil War. The #2 was a full sized revolver, with 6" barrel and .32 caliber rimfire ammunition, they chambered either .32 short or long cartridges. As it was much more powerful than the #1, it was also much more effective. The gun was nicknamed "Old Army" because of the fact that it was used in the Civil War. Smith & Wesson Number 2 was popular in the Civil War, and afterwards on the frontier. Gen Custer owned a pair, and Wild Bill Hickock carried one the night he was killed. The Smith & Wesson #2 Army, single action, with a 6" Barrel was the most popular secondary pistol carried in the Civil War, Any S&W #2 with a serial number below 35,000 put it well within the range of the war.

Uhlinger .32 Pocket Pistol

10,000 total in several variations, a blatant violation of Smith's patent. They placed several maker names or left guns without maker names.