was single action widely preferred in the 19th century?

[Bubba613]

Ed McGivern in Fast& Fancy Revolver Shooting repeatedly seems to argue with people who advocated single action shooting, even of double action revolvers. So I imagine there were a sizeable number of people who did. The pre-war Smiths had horrible long DAs, maybe there just for emergencies.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

The point is also often made that DA revolvers were finicky and difficult to work on.

Strike "finicky" and insert "fragile." Early DA revolvers were by no means as robust as modern DAs. And that affected their popularity.

Another point was the technique of shooting DA had not be developed yet. Few people believed you could shoot well in DA.

And even after DA technique was developed and people were trained, the statistics show cops with DA revolves typically managed only one hit in a cylinder full.

 

[MrAcheson]

In the US they were. I don't think anyone has mentioned cartridge conversions yet, either. I'd wager that the most common revolvers in the Old West were actually cap-and-ball revolvers or cartridge conversions of the same. Large numbers of C&B revolvers were available after the Civil War because of the Civil War. Soldiers could buy their personal arms or they may just have battlefield trophies/pickups. Conversions would have soon followed for those that wanted them.

 

[Driftwood Johnson]

Howdy Again

As I mentioned earlier, I had a chance to examine a Double Action Remington a few days ago. Here is a link to a page advertising a similar gun, to show what it looked like. Note, this is not the gun I saw, but it is the same model.

http://www.collegehillarsenal.com/shop/product.php?productid=752

If you look very carefully, you can see the backing plate on the cylinder. It is knurled on the edge. To load or reload, the cylinder is removed. Then the backing plate is removed. It is held in alignment by a single pin pressed into the cylinder which protrudes through the backing plate, exactly the same way the modern R&D conversion cylinders work. Unlike the R&D cylinders, which have a separate firing pin for each chamber, there is a slot cut in the plate for the nose of the hammer to fit through and strike the rim of the 38 Rimfire ammo.

Very interesting piece.

 

[MCgunner]

I don't think I've ever heard that said about SAAs. I've never shot a gun that felt more natural.

+++1 The Colt Navy is a natural pointer, too. I believe the SAA got its grip from the Navy, I've read that somewhere. I don't have a SAA, a clone would be nice and I will get sometime. I own 2 Blackhawks, a '58 Remmy, a brass frame 5" navy, an Old Army (Ruger) and a brass framed .31 Remington pocket model. I think I want a steel frame Navy perhaps next, a 5" sheriffs would be nice, then maybe a SAA clone. I'll wait on the Navy a while, might catch Cabelas in another sale.

 

[MachIVshooter]

since the 1850s or so, there have been a number of double action revolvers that came and went as it seemed they werent all that popular for one reason or another, and it seems single actions were common throughout the 1910s

Eh, the double action began to gain in popularity in this country in the 1880s with the S&W (1st model double action .44) and Colt (Frontier) offerings. Of course, the top break design, while very fast to reload, isn't terribly strong. Meanwhile, the Colt, though able to fire more powerful rounds, still had to be loaded like a single action. But by the turn of the century, viable swing-out cylinder DA revolvers were being produced. They quickly became the dominant law enforcement sidearm, and remained so basically until the mid-1980s. The S&W revolver really hasn't changed much since the 1903 hand ejector, either.

Europeans, of course, favored double actions long before we did. But they also typically chambered much less powerful cartridges, and weren't usually subjected to the kind of abuse guns endured on the American frontier. So a more complex system with smaller moving parts wasn't as taxed, and the much more established landscape of Europe, civilization-wise, meant that having the guin serviced wasn't so burdensome. Can you imagine having your one and only revolver fail on you hundreds of miles from the nearest gunsmith, when you're travelling in a carriage or cart moving at an average speed less than a typical walking pace?

This, of course, is why the shotgun was really the gun that won the west. It was simple, robust, versatile and stone axe reliable. The lever action rifle and single action revolver got the hollywood glamour, but the shotgun was what really got it done back then.

 

[CraigC]

I believe the SAA got its grip from the Navy, I've read that somewhere.

Yep! I just wish the 1860 Army grip frame had been offered on more sixguns. It is by far the most comfortable for me. Like a Navy/SAA, only with enough room for your pinky.

 

[snooperman]

I also like the 1860 army grip. The EMF, Italian import, Great Western 11 "Alchimista", in 45 Colt is popular with the local Cowboy action shooters here in the deep South where I live and out West too. I do not have one but have shot them and they are a fine gun with that 1860 grip. I have been thinking about one lately in 45 Colt, my favorite cartridge. Italian maker Pietta makes it and the action is great.

 

[snooperman]

New for 2011, is the new "Alchimista" with a lower hammer that is wider as well. Take a look, as Santa is coming and I think that is what I want from my wife in 45Colt of course. Snoop