Savage & North Navy .36

[pohill]

Interesting gun, pretty awkward to hold, not a speed shooter. The ring under the trigger is pulled back to cock the hammer. Releasing the ring after the hammer is cocked moves the cylinder forward and up against the barrel, forming a gas seal. The first pic shows it with a (Pietta) Colt 1860 .44 (same year as the Savage & North)



Note the gap between the cylinder and barrel when the ring is back in the 3rd pic, but it's gone in the 4th pic.

 

[mykeal]

Amazing pictures, very interesting gun.

 

[72coupe]

Very cool! I have never even heard of this before and I have been interested in black powder guns since 1960.

 

[kBob]

Thanks a bunch pohill!

This is one I have only seen in bad photos dwawings and through the glass.

I was unaware that the ring had to be released before the trigger was pulled. Just out of curiosity, does the hammer hall with the ring and trigger both pulled and if so where does it strike. I am asking if a person could discharge the revolver with the cylinder back I guess.

That would be a good reason for its lack of general popularity I would suppose.

-Bob Hollingsworth

 

[pohill]

The hammer cannot be released by the trigger while the ring is pulled back - once the ring is released it's free to fire. When the ring is pulled back, the next nipple/chamber lines up directly under the hammer. There is a half cock for loading, too. It also has a loading lever release screw similiar to a Whitney or even a Ruger Old Army - when you turn the screw halfway, the loading lever assembly is pushed forward by a spring and then is able to be completely removed. There is a pressure plate that forces the cylinder forward that pops out when the cylinder is removed.
The really cool thing about this gun is a removeable side panel that allows you to watch and check the internal workings of the gun.
I'll take it apart and post some more pics.

 

[Voodoochile]

WOW I haven't seen one of these in good pictures like this ever & YOU have one!!!

I did see one in a museum about 30 years ago but of corse it was under a glass & like kBob stated the only other reference that I have seen was either drawings or old pictures of one.

Thank you for sharing, is it your personal piece?

 

[Tomahawk674]

Would you mind telling me (or posting a link to) the history of this revolver, and is the one in the pic a replica, and if so by who?

 

[pohill]

I saw this Savage and North at a store in Maine a year ago for $1800. Recently they dropped the price to $1125, and that was my cue. It's an original - I think the only un-original parts on the gun are the nipples, which is fine with me. It's really in great shape. I'm not a collector but I couldn't let this one go.
This site is pretty informative: (mine is serial number 1021)
http://armscollectors.com/mgs/savage_north.htm

 

[pohill]

This is the gun with the side panel and grips removed. Note the two mainsprings:

 

[kBob]

pohill,

thanks for the quick response and thanks for the great photos!

(Mouse over, right click, select Save Picture as....)

Great purchase. Great sharing.

-Bob Hollingsworth

 

[Jim K]

One interesting facet is that that revolver, along with a few others like the Starr and British Kynoch-Aston is neither a double action or a single action. They are best described as trigger cockers, meaning that the trigger or lever cocks the hammer and revolves the cylinder, but actually releasing the hammer is done by a separate motion or mechanism.

Jim

 

[pohill]

Cocking the hammer with the ring is fast once you get the hang of it. It gives the fingers a workout, though. The gun has no balance like that of a Colt - it's very front heavy and the grip is too small. One thing I did notice is that it's a natural pointer - the tip of the barrel is on the target before my eyes. The sight picture takes some getting used to - you look down the barrel, next to and under the hammer. This one is missing the front sight so that doesn't help.