I just acquired a gun I have been wanting for some time, but was unable to find at the right price, a Savage revolver. About 20,000 were made in Middletown, CT, c. 1861-1863 by the Savage Revolving Firearms Co., founded by Edward B. Savage, under the patents of Simeon North. AFAIK, there was no connection between Edward B. Savage and Arthur Savage of the later Savage Arms Co.
The Civil War gun is often confused with the earlier and much rarer (and more valuable) "figure 8" North & Savage revolver, which it resembles, but it is a different gun.
These are sometimes referred to as "double action" but, like some other revolvers of that era and later, the "double action" actually involves what is called "trigger cocking" wherein one trigger or one part of the trigger is used to cock the gun, while another part is used to fire it. In this gun, the bottom ring of the trigger lever is pulled to the rear, cocking the hammer, pulling the cylinder to the rear about 1/8 inch and out of engagement with the barrel, and revolving the cylinder. The lever is then released, leaving the hammer cocked, and letting the cylinder move forward under spring pressure so the chamber countersink will fit over the forcing cone of the barrel. Then the small trigger in the top of the trigger lever is pulled to release the hammer and fire the gun.
It is a heavy and awkward gun, much more massive and cumbersome than the Colt 1860, which is about the same size, though the Savage is only .36 caliber. They were, not surprisingly, disliked. Army Ordnance turned them down, but Savage exercised influence, and they were ultimately bought by that Army as well as 500 on contract to the Navy, where they would probably have been suitable for boat anchors.
I have not fired it, and probably won't, but it is an interesting piece of history, and uses a system of closing the barrel-cylinder gap that anticipates the Russian Nagant by some 30 years (the Nagant seal is much better, since it uses the cartridge case to effect the seal).
Here are some pics, not too good, but it's late at night.
Jim
The Civil War gun is often confused with the earlier and much rarer (and more valuable) "figure 8" North & Savage revolver, which it resembles, but it is a different gun.
These are sometimes referred to as "double action" but, like some other revolvers of that era and later, the "double action" actually involves what is called "trigger cocking" wherein one trigger or one part of the trigger is used to cock the gun, while another part is used to fire it. In this gun, the bottom ring of the trigger lever is pulled to the rear, cocking the hammer, pulling the cylinder to the rear about 1/8 inch and out of engagement with the barrel, and revolving the cylinder. The lever is then released, leaving the hammer cocked, and letting the cylinder move forward under spring pressure so the chamber countersink will fit over the forcing cone of the barrel. Then the small trigger in the top of the trigger lever is pulled to release the hammer and fire the gun.
It is a heavy and awkward gun, much more massive and cumbersome than the Colt 1860, which is about the same size, though the Savage is only .36 caliber. They were, not surprisingly, disliked. Army Ordnance turned them down, but Savage exercised influence, and they were ultimately bought by that Army as well as 500 on contract to the Navy, where they would probably have been suitable for boat anchors.
I have not fired it, and probably won't, but it is an interesting piece of history, and uses a system of closing the barrel-cylinder gap that anticipates the Russian Nagant by some 30 years (the Nagant seal is much better, since it uses the cartridge case to effect the seal).
Here are some pics, not too good, but it's late at night.
Jim
