- Joined
- Dec 19, 2002
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I was fortunate enough today to find a reprint of The Prarie Traveler by Capt. Randolph B. Marcy, US Army. Capt. Marcy's book was published back in 1859 and was used as a guidebook by those seek to blaze westward across the prarie. It was in print for about 40 years and sold for a $1 a copy. No small sum in those days. On pages 139-141 he discusses guns and in particular, the advantage of the heavier caliber Army Colt revolver over the lighter Navy Colt revolver:
"Notwithstanding Colt's army and navy sized revolvers have been in use for a long time in our army, officers are by no means of one mind as to their relative merits for frontier service. The navy pistol, being more light and portable, is more convenient for the belt, but it is very questionable in my mind whether these qualities counterbalance the advantages derived from the greater weight of powder and lead that can be fired from the larger pistol, and the consequent increased projectile force.
"This point is illustrated by an incident which fell under my own observation. In passing near the 'Medicine-Bow Butte' during the spring of 1858, I most unexpectedly encountered and fired at a full-grown grizzly bear; but, as my horse had become somewhat blown by a previous gallop, his breathing so much disturbed my aim that I missed the animal at the short distance of about fifty yards, and he ran off. Fearful, if I stopped to reload my rifle, the bear would make his escape, I resolved to drive him back to the advanced guard of our ecort, which I could see approaching in the distance; this I succeeded in doing, when several mounted men, armed with navy revolvers, set off in pursuit. They approached within a few paces, and discharged ten or twelve shots, the most of which entered the animal, but he still kept on, and his progress did not seem materially impeded by the wounds. After these men had exhaused their charges, another man rode up armed with the army revolver, and fired two shots, which brought the stalwart beast to the gorund. Upon skinning him and making an examination of the wounds, it was discovered that none of the balls from the small pistols had, after passing through his thick and tough hide, penetrated deeper than about an inch into the flesh, but that the two balls from the large pistol had gone into the vitals and killed him. This test was to my mind a decisive one as to the relative efficiency of the two arms for frontier service, and I resolved thenceforth to carry the larger size."
For those who aren't familiar with blackpowder percussion revolvers, the Colt Navy was .36 caliber and the Colt Army .44 caliber.
"Notwithstanding Colt's army and navy sized revolvers have been in use for a long time in our army, officers are by no means of one mind as to their relative merits for frontier service. The navy pistol, being more light and portable, is more convenient for the belt, but it is very questionable in my mind whether these qualities counterbalance the advantages derived from the greater weight of powder and lead that can be fired from the larger pistol, and the consequent increased projectile force.
"This point is illustrated by an incident which fell under my own observation. In passing near the 'Medicine-Bow Butte' during the spring of 1858, I most unexpectedly encountered and fired at a full-grown grizzly bear; but, as my horse had become somewhat blown by a previous gallop, his breathing so much disturbed my aim that I missed the animal at the short distance of about fifty yards, and he ran off. Fearful, if I stopped to reload my rifle, the bear would make his escape, I resolved to drive him back to the advanced guard of our ecort, which I could see approaching in the distance; this I succeeded in doing, when several mounted men, armed with navy revolvers, set off in pursuit. They approached within a few paces, and discharged ten or twelve shots, the most of which entered the animal, but he still kept on, and his progress did not seem materially impeded by the wounds. After these men had exhaused their charges, another man rode up armed with the army revolver, and fired two shots, which brought the stalwart beast to the gorund. Upon skinning him and making an examination of the wounds, it was discovered that none of the balls from the small pistols had, after passing through his thick and tough hide, penetrated deeper than about an inch into the flesh, but that the two balls from the large pistol had gone into the vitals and killed him. This test was to my mind a decisive one as to the relative efficiency of the two arms for frontier service, and I resolved thenceforth to carry the larger size."
For those who aren't familiar with blackpowder percussion revolvers, the Colt Navy was .36 caliber and the Colt Army .44 caliber.