Common Guns in the Civil War

The 44 Remington Revolver

During the American Civil War, Remington produced about 130,000 revolvers in 44 caliber as the Model 1858. It had a six shot cylinder and an 8" octagonal barrel.

The Remington is more accurate than the better known 44 Colt 1860. Field experience demonstrates the Remington has between one and a half and twice the effective range of the Colt. Both produce comparable power.

Both were loaded with loose powder and a bare bullet referred to as "cap and ball," or with paper cartridges, and fired with percussion caps.  Loading a cap and ball revolver is from the front of the cylinder.   Reloading an entire six shot cylinder can take several  minutes. The Remington can be quickly reloaded by switching the empty cylinder with a previously loaded one.

The Remington was more quickly converted to breech loading metallic cartridges with several thousand being altered as early as 1868.

The rising interest in the Civil War caused an Italian manufacturer to start making a nearly identical replica in the mid-1950s. The total Remingtons made as replicas may exceed the number of originals.  I bought my Dad a newly made replica from Dixie Gun Works as a gift while I was stationed overseas, where he had been stationed twice before.  We still have it, and as a testament to the ruggedness of the Remington design, it still shoots very well.

For more information, consult "Flayderman's Guide To Antique American Firearms" by Norm Flayderman, or "Colt Conversions" by Bruce McDowell.

Technical Information