Tommygunn
Member
I consider that spare cylinder thing a hollywood myth. They would have to fit and tune the cylinder to the revolver, no evidence of spare cylinders being shipped or sold so more than likely would have came from another gun. As you say extra revolvers was the norm for those needing more firepower and there is plenty of documented evidence of that. Clint Eastwood got it right in Josey Wales and not so much with Pale Rider.
Fitting cylinders might be done at the factory. A gentleman I knew (before he unfortunatly died) owned a real Remington New Model Army. The cylinder from my Uberti repro (same caliber) fit and timed perfectly; as well, the cylinder from his real Remmie fit my Uberti just as well.*
I think some presentation sets did have spare cylinders. It was easy enough to do it that way, but otoh, any just random cylinder certainly would need to be fitted-- not something done in the field certainly.
I'm not saying it was common --- probably it was not, and not for military.....I think military contract just called for one complete revolver with related tools (capper, nipple wrench, and such) but just the one cylinder in the gun.
As for movies....I enjoy many westerns, and other genres of film, but I regard them only as entertainment.
*I should note that while the cylinders appeared to cross-fit, no firing was attempted, so it is certainly possible there might have been some degree of a timing problem a eyeball exam could have missed. The gun's owner had never fired it and wished it never to be fired, and I honored that desire --- especially considering that it was a genuine antique and firing it with a "unknown" repro cylinder could have unforseen problems.