How Popular Were Single-Shot Pistols Before the Civil War?

[Timthinker]

Contrary to some popular notions, the advent of the Colt revolver in 1836 did not spell the complete and sudden demise of single-shot pistols. Colts were expensive handguns that seemed like gadgets to many people. Indeed, Colt suffered bankruptcy not many years after producing his first revolver, hardly a ringing endorsement for this new firearm type. Yet, Colt's idea eventually became a worldwide success. So, my question is how popular were single-shot pistols in the years immediately preceeding the American Civil War (1861-1865)? I know the civil war and subsequent settlement of the West popularized revolvers, but what was their status before this conflict? Thanks.


Timthinker

 

[Double Naught Spy]

I don't think it is a matter of single shot versus revolver but powder versus metallic cartridge. The reasons why the revolver became so much more popular was the metallic cartridge that made the gun safer, more reliable, more weather resistent, and quicker to reload.

 

[The Bushmaster]

I wonder how many people stuffed their cap and ball revolvers into their holsters just to have one of the balls fall out?

 

[Ed Ames]

Multi-shot pistols were popular long before metallic cartridges. Metallic cartridges weren't common until well after the civil war.

Pepper boxes were out in the early 1830s or so. Before that there were some multi-barrel pistols. Revolvers gradually replaced pepper boxes in the 1850s but weren't too popular before that. By the civil war either would be common though I suspect single-shots outnumbered them greatly. Metallic cartridges didn't come into serious play until 5-10 years after the civil war.

Unfortunately there isn't any real way of answering the question factually. Pepperboxes were extremely common but how would we know the relative popularity without sales records or similar? Most of those were inaccurate (e.g., probate records) or have been lost or destroyed at this point.

 

[Timthinker]

Ed, the U.S. Army adopted a single shot .58 caliber "horse pistol" in 1855, the same year it began official purchases of the 1851 Colt revolver. No doubt, the hand of Jefferson Davis, then Secretary of War and later Confederate president, had something to do with the adoption of that massive handgun. But this incident led me to wonder about the durability of single-shot pistols in the 1850s. During the American Civil War and afterwards, the revolver dominated the handgun world. But it seems the 1850s was the decade of change with smaller revolvers such as the Baby Dragoon and 1851 Colt Navy emerging onto the market. This is why I am curious. Thanks to all.


Timthinker

 

[Old Fuff]

Single shot pistols were popular before, during and after the Civil War. In particular smaller ones that could be concealed and were inexpensive. They were sometimes sold and carried in pairs. Gunmakers making these sort of guns far outnumbered revolver makers during the period in question.

 

[dfariswheel]

Large caliber, single "Horse Pistols" were common before, during, and after the Civil War.
Not everyone could afford OR FIND a revolver, and the single shot was the most common handgun.

Even well after the war, with the revolver in good supply, the US military made a limited use of Remington Rolling Block single shot pistols due to the cartridge loading action.

 

[MechAg94]

What I had heard was that Colt had tried to get military contracts for his early revolvers, but wasn't able to get an substantial sales. I had heard that when he went back into business later, his earlier revolvers had circulated around and out West and had acquired a bit of fame.

I have a book or two on Colt Revolvers and other early guns. I guess I need to read them.

 

[Mike OTDP]

Let me take this from the top....

Prior to about 1840, single-shot pistols were relatively popular. Less so in relation to rifles than today, but most gentlemen had a pocket pistol or two. Military officers had pistols, and standard load for cavalrymen was two pistols in addition to an edged weapon.

Around 1840, the pepperboxes became popular...and in 1849, Colt introduced the Pocket Model. Which revolutionized everything. Compact, reliable, and reasonably accurate. These guns became very popular very fast. By the time of the Great Unpleasantness, the only single-shot pistols left in production were derringers and duelling pistols.

 

[dao]

Revolvers were popular because of their capacity ( 6 shots are better then only one ).

But one shot pistols offered more power ( you could have .58 cal. pistols ).

That's the reason why one/2 shots pistols were still in use even in the 80's.

 

[Timthinker]

I appreciate all the responses to this point. That said, what works on the subject of 19th century handguns would you, our members, recommend that might deal directly or indirectly with this thread? Again, please recall that we are dealing with changes in the firearms industry and their impact on society. Some of the works recommended may answer this thread directly, or so I can hope. Thanks again.


Timthinker

 

[Cosmoline]

Gunmakers making these sort of guns far outnumbered revolver makers during the period in question.

That's my sense of it as well, though it's just a sense. I can't prove it. It's much easier to determine rough numbers of long and short guns after the CW because a few major companies were responsible for most of the rifles and handguns. You can just count up production numbers. When we're talking about local gunsmiths making muzzleloaders, it's just not possible to come up with national numbers.

My sense from reading first person accounts is that handguns and quality rifles were rare and scatterguns quite common. Among the handguns a repeater would be even more rare until well into the 1870's I suspect. One thing I can say with some certainty is that neither Colt nor Winchester won the west. That work was done by unsung folks with simple muskets and scatterguns, and n'ary a brand name between them.

 

[CWL]

People were POOR back then. Pistols were a luxury for the rich or for bandits and n'er do wells. "Regular" folks owned rifles & shotguns to put food on the table.

Any family owning pistols would have kept them through multiple generations, perhaps only spending $ to upgrade from flintlock mechanism to percussion cap. They were carried up-to and after the Civil War because that was all an honest man had available to him.

I'd also like to point out that the epitome of quality handguns during that time were the "dueling pistols" not revolvers. Wealthy gentlemen owned a pair of these for sport, self defense and very rarely for duelling. These guns were considered much more accurate and reliable than the early revolvers.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

In Roughing It, Mark Twain describes the guns carried on the stage coach in his trip to Nevada (in 1861.) His brother, Henry, carried a Colt Navy (uncapped for safety.) "Mister Beemis," their fellow traveller, carried an Allen "pepperbox" revolver, while Mark Twain "was armed to the teeth with a pitiful little Smith and Wesson seven-shooter that shot a ball the size of a homeopathic pill, and it took all seven to make a dose for an adult."

Elsewhere in the book, he discusses firearms and makes it pretty plain that revolvers were common in the west in those days.