1872 U.S. revolver trials

[jimbo555]

I can't find any information about the trials in 1872 that led to the adoption of the Colt saa. What was Colts competition?

 

[kBob]

Ezell in his Handguns of the World gives a brief account of Captain John R. Edie's report of December 27 1872.

Apparently there at that point were only three revolvers still in competition.

A new made Colt Richards type open top, tested despite the Army already specifying that it was not interested in the open tops.

The 1873 COlt we call the SAA today.

The S&W #3 Top break with the catch on the top strap.

The SAA was most accurate, had the fewest parts, and was less prone to fouling than the S&W.

Edward C. Ezell's "Handguns of the World " is a well researched heavily illustrated book that should be in all firearms history libraries.

Thanks to your asking about the 1872 Army tests it will no doubt once again haunt my night stand for a week or so.

-kBob

 

[jimbo555]

Thank you KBob for that.

 

[jimbo555]

Was 45 caliber specified or was it open to other calibers?

 

[Nom de Forum]

Edward C. Ezell's "Handguns of the World " is a well researched heavily illustrated book that should be in all firearms history libraries.-kBob

I second that recommendation. Any book with Ezell's name on the cover is worth look.

 

[Cowhide Cliff]

I believe the SAA was originally submitted in 44 Russian or 44 American. I have heard the Army specified a 45 caliber be developed which led to the 45 Colt and 45 Schofield cartridges. Somebody else may be able to verify.

 

[kBob]

The 1872 test involved rim fire cartridges. Colt apparently used a .44 of their own while S&W used the .44 Henry.

Gosh, wouldn't it have been awful to have had a Winchester 66 and a S&W top break holster revolver with the same cartridge in 1872?


-kBob

 

[jimbo555]

It's surprising that there isn't more info online about this trial that led to the adoption of arguably the most famous revolver ever!

 

[Jim K]

The Army did specify .45 caliber, though I have never seen an explanation of the reason. But that decision did throw some egg in the game. In order not to have to do a lot of retooling, Colt had to reduce the rim size, which had ramifications later on in revolvers, and also kept the .45 Colt from being used in rifles because of its poor extraction.

In spite of debates at the time (and still ongoing), there never has been any real advantage to .45 caliber over .44 caliber.

Jim

 

[StrawHat]

From what I recall reading, the Colt revolver was chambered for the 44 Colt cartridge, an outside lubed 45 caliber bullet, (think 22 rimfire bullet). The Army asked for Colts to submit an inside lubed cartridge and Colts merely upped the size of the case to have the bullet fit into rather than onto the case. This is why the Model 1873 Colt is slightly larger than the 1860 or the Richards or Richards Mason conversion revolvers.

Kevin

 

[CraigC]

Yep, w hat he said. The C&B pistols already were .45cal, even though they were referred to as .44's. The .44Colt and .44 rimfire both used a .45cal heeled bullet. The Army wanted an inside lubed bullet seated down into the case like the .44Russian. The 1860 and 1871-1872 "Open Top" was at its limit with the .44Colt and .44 rimfire. The Army also wanted a top strap so William Mason went to the drawing board and the famous Single Action Army was born only a few months later.