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
| Length |
14 Inches |
| Weight |
2 ¾ pounds |
| Caliber |
44 (.451") |
| Bullet Weight |
138 grains |
| Power Charge |
38 grains |
| Muzzle Velocity |
725 feet per second |
| Muzzle Energy |
160 |
|