SciFiJim
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I was watching an old John Wayne movie the other night "El Dorado". One of John Wayne's sidekicks was using a rifle with revolver works. Can anyone identify the rifle? Are they still available?
Would like help identifing an old western movie rifle.
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Johnny Guest
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Revolving longarms
I don't recall the particular longarm in the movie you mention, SciFiJim. I'll have to watch for it. In all probablilty, it was one of the later Colt's sidehammer models, of which the Model 1855 was the most numerous, perhaps 17,000 in several variants. It was produced right into 1864, though by that time, Colt's was heavily involved in production of more standard arms -- single shot muskets and revolvers -- for use in the War for the Liberation of the Southern Confederacy.
There were about 1,850 of the Paterson-produced longarms, including some 200 shotguns. Some 280 revolving rifles and carbines were officially purchased by the Republic of Texas. It is highly probable that the majority of the rest also went to buyers headed for, or already on, the various frontiers.
(Figures from R. L. Wilson's book, COLT An American Legend.)
Certainly Sam'l Colt, a very astute businessman, kept up with the competition. The Henry rifle entered production in 1860, and except for the limitations of its low-powered cartridge, was a superior arm to the revolving long guns. Except for the larger caliber examples, the latter were obsolete by the time of Colt's death in 1862.
Being technically obsolete, however, does not render a fine arm useless. A satisfied user with an old firearm in good condition will not automatically discard it in favor of something new. There is nothing inconsistent about a revolving rifle or shotgun remaining in active use well into the cartridge era.
Are they still available?
From time to time, modern production, "old style" revolving carbines have been offered. I hesitate to call them "reproductions" or "replicas," in that most of them were never produced in the 1800s. These have mostly been Colt or Remington-style percussion revolvers furnished with longer barrels and a shoulder stock affixed in place of the handgun grip frame and trigger guard. I'm pretty sure I've even seen examples based on the Peacemaker/SAA cartridge revolver types. This is distinct from the normal handguns with provisions for a detachable shoulder stock.
I realize, this is probably more information than you wanted.
Best,
Johnny
I don't recall the particular longarm in the movie you mention, SciFiJim. I'll have to watch for it. In all probablilty, it was one of the later Colt's sidehammer models, of which the Model 1855 was the most numerous, perhaps 17,000 in several variants. It was produced right into 1864, though by that time, Colt's was heavily involved in production of more standard arms -- single shot muskets and revolvers -- for use in the War for the Liberation of the Southern Confederacy.
There were about 1,850 of the Paterson-produced longarms, including some 200 shotguns. Some 280 revolving rifles and carbines were officially purchased by the Republic of Texas. It is highly probable that the majority of the rest also went to buyers headed for, or already on, the various frontiers.
(Figures from R. L. Wilson's book, COLT An American Legend.)
Certainly Sam'l Colt, a very astute businessman, kept up with the competition. The Henry rifle entered production in 1860, and except for the limitations of its low-powered cartridge, was a superior arm to the revolving long guns. Except for the larger caliber examples, the latter were obsolete by the time of Colt's death in 1862.
Being technically obsolete, however, does not render a fine arm useless. A satisfied user with an old firearm in good condition will not automatically discard it in favor of something new. There is nothing inconsistent about a revolving rifle or shotgun remaining in active use well into the cartridge era.
Are they still available?
From time to time, modern production, "old style" revolving carbines have been offered. I hesitate to call them "reproductions" or "replicas," in that most of them were never produced in the 1800s. These have mostly been Colt or Remington-style percussion revolvers furnished with longer barrels and a shoulder stock affixed in place of the handgun grip frame and trigger guard. I'm pretty sure I've even seen examples based on the Peacemaker/SAA cartridge revolver types. This is distinct from the normal handguns with provisions for a detachable shoulder stock.
I realize, this is probably more information than you wanted.
Best,
Johnny
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