The Confederacy recognized the capability of the 1860 Colt Model Army Revolver and produced its own knock-off version of the pistol. It was popular with all troops in the Civil War, but was a favorite weapon of officers, cavalrymen, and artillerymen. The 1860 Colt Model Army Revolver was the most used pistol by Union troops in the Civil War, and regarded as very reliable. At firing, the projectiles of the 1860 Colt Model Army Revolver achieved a muzzle velocity of approximately 750 feet per second.

Sometimes, this pistol would be adapted with a rifle-like shoulder stock, in order to improve steadiness of aiming and accuracy at further distances. The revolver’s fixed sights were usually set at 75 to 100 yards at manufacture, this being the accuracy range of the gun. This pistol was made of iron or steel and had a bronze trigger guard and front strap. When fired, a brass percussion cap struck the hammer igniting a 30 grain black powder charge. A rammer in front of the cylinder was used to load the sidearm. 44 caliber cartridge with a round lead ball or a conical projectile, from an eight-inch barrel using a six-shot revolving cylinder with hammer. The 1860 Colt Model Army Revolver was a cap and ball revolver that fired a. They became known as the New Model Army pistol and the previous 1848 version of the pistol was then called the Old Army Model. From Januthrough Novemthe War Department furnished over 107,156 1860 Colt Model Army Revolvers.

Over 200,000 of the 1860 Colt Model Army Revolvers were manufactured from 1860 through 1873.

Although varied pistols were used in the Civil War, the 1860 Colt Model Army Revolver was the official United States Army pistol. It was a percussion weapon made by the Colt’s Patent Firearms Manufacturing Company in Hartford, Connecticut. Cavalry, artillery, and infantry all used this revolver. The 1860 Colt Model Army Revolver was a commonly used sidearm weapon in the Civil War.

Colt officers model revolver history