Navy revolvers ?

[timothy75]

I've been reading a lot of pre 1900 newspaper articles involving shootings where the author will often claim one of the participants was armed with a large navy revolver but never an army revolver. I got to wondering if maybe at the time all colt percusion revolvers were refered to as navy revolvers? Besides would witnesses or the newspapers take note as to whether the weapon was really a .36 or .44 caliber? Just a hunch but I think I'm onto something possibly. Did the government keep all the 1860's in storage or anything I'm un aware of? Thanks

 

[RON in PA]

The number of 36 caliber revolvers purchased by the US during the Civil War were only a fraction of the 45 revolvers.

Also how far back are the dates on the papers you are reading, if you are talking 1890s they may be referring to Colt revolvers chambered for the 38 Long Colt cartridge starting with the 1889 model, often referred to as Navy caliber.

 

[Misfire99]

I think reporters then are like reporters now. They don't know their bung holes from holes in the ground. So every revolver is a "Navy" because that's all they know.