Origin of the 4" .38 Service Revolver in the pre-cartridge era.

[perldog007]

Since discovering bp revolvers 2015 I have marveled at how well they work when I put any kind of effort at all into them.
I had always ASSumed that the Balitmore or NYPD 'invented' the .38 caliber service revolver when they went from the 1849 models to the Pocket Police.
I saw the EMF "Captian Schaeffer" and googled to see if this was another 'Andersonville Special' even though that wouldn't matter to me if it was an invention.
https://www.rockislandauction.com/detail/51/1324/colt-1851-navy-revolver-36-percussion
So Captain Schaeffer had a .36 3,5" made for him circa 1856 according to the auction blurb.
Does anyone know of an earlier example of a 4"ish .36 revolver being used by a lawman or private detective / bodyguard?
I'm just thinking that if this man ordered that work it must not have been the only example of this kind of 1855?
Image of EMF replica.

 

[Tommygunn]

I have that replica. I was mildly chagrined to note that the Pietta replica did not follow the original engraving design. The loading lever on the original appears stubbier, if anything -- only adding on to the mystery of how it was loaded.

Hey, it's Pietta. It's also a repro.

When I bought mine from EMF I didn't realize it was replicating an actual, real historic revolver, I bought it for its "cute" factor. I suppose I shouldn't be critical that Pietta didn't make a more precise copy.

It was fascinating to find out the truth behind this , um..... "non" fantasy pistol. Thanks for the post & link!!!

 

[kBob]

"Patch" Rockwell was Joseph Smith's personal Friend and Body Guard and was cutting short the barrels on Patersons when that is all their was. As a marshal in Deseret before it was taken over by the US Army and renamed Utah he was well known for carrying 1851s cut down. As a Deputy US Marshal after the US kicked the church out of "state government" he continued to carry cut down revolvers in outer coat pockets.

Because of bad press he and the Deseret Marshals and Presidency Body Guards were called the Mormon Avengers and BP revolvers cut down like Rockwell's are still called by that name.

So there was at least one lawman using cut down Colts before that one.

-kBob

 

[Ephraim Kibbey]

Avenging Angels

 

[perldog007]

I had heard of the avenging angles and cut down barrels. Wonderig when people started having them built to 4" with .36 and full size frames. btw I think the avenging angels are simply cool. The 4" bbl from the factory fascinates me as it would become standard.
*Edit, Although the original lists as .35" with a really stubby lever.
I am guessing that the .36 pocket models were just answering a demand seen by people cutting down pattersons, navy, and army revolvers, ordering a few like Schaeffer?