RetiredUSNChief
Member
I would be curious where you read brass framed revolvers were common in the CSA? Going from memory Spiller & Burr produced maybe 1,500 revolvers and Griswold & Gunnison about 3,500. Add in all the others and you probably have les than 6,000 brass framed revolvers produced in the South during the war. Leech & Rigdon, Rigdon & Ainsley, the Dance Brothers, etc were all iron framed
Compare this to the 125,000 1860 Army's and 100,000 Remmies the Union army purchased. Adding in all the pre war guns, foreign purchases like the LeMat, the pinfire revolvers, Trantner, Adams, etc. I would easily guess there were 350,000 to 500,000 revolvers floating around of which 1% had brass frames. There simply weren't enough to be common
Just before the war started Colt delivered 500 fluted cylinder 1860's to Texas plus many Southern states made pre war revolver purchases. Mosby's men were known to favor 1860 Army's and Bloody Bill Anderson is reputed to have carried 5 or 6 1862 pockets
The South produced some fascinating arms under incredible conditions but their best supplier was the Union army. They were known for stripping prisoners and even the dead for boots, clothes, food, arms, leather gear, and everything else. The fact that they won so many of the early battles in the East gave them the captured cannons, guns, wagons, and often other supplies to carry on. Look at Jackson before 2nd Manassas plundering Pope's supplies or stealing all of Banks wagons in he valley.
(None of this is meant to criticize by the way. In my opinion they waged war against an invading army the best way they could)
My mistake...and likely my misinterpretation of links I've long since read and haven't reviewed recently.
I know that the CSA, being at a disadvantage with respect to small arms manufacturing capabilities, took advantage of whatever they could lay their hands on in battle.
Reviewing some links again:
"This crossing over of weapons from one side to the other, as well as the actual production of the same model handgun in various styles makes it difficult to specifically say one weapon was used by any one side. If there was any one handgun used the most by Union troops it would have to be the Colt models 1851 and 1860 army versions,as well as the Starr revolver. For the Confederate troops it would again be either the Colt models or the Remington model 1858 revolver."
Source: http://www.civilwarhandgun.com/
Perhaps what I'm thinking of was the fact that Griswold & Gunnison was an eminently Southern attempt to manufacture "home-grown" weapons for the war effort, using the materials at hand.
At any rate, this isn't for use as "re-enactment" material, since neither my wife nor I are into that. It's meant to be a gift to my wife, who has recently evidenced an interest in BP guns, for her casual use/entertainment. Being that she's from South Carolina, I figured if I got her one, it should be as representative of her Southern heritage as possible, with respect to common make, model, and caliber.
To that end, I'd appreciate your input.