Patterson Colt

I have one Crockett, without the loading lever and made by Uberti. I always load it with the separate loading tool and have no trouble doing so. I shoot it often enough to know it very well. I really like the gun, and the bother that people hear about using them is actually a historical experience for me. Mine groups well, is good for windage and only hits a couple inches high of point of aim. They are a bit more complex compared to the later model Colts when it comes to taking them clear down to the internals, but nothing that can not be handled by anyone familiar with the innards of the later models.

However, the Paterson is a slightly different breed than the common 1851/1860 and the individual that will go about shooting one with a historical mind set will enjoy it exactly for what it is.

Do you know how they re-loaded them on the trail? Did they use that special reloading tool?
And, any idea of what type of holster was used with them?
On the function, I guess what I meant was let's consider the 1851 Navy. The bolt locks up well. The hammer cocks back and the trigger is good. Do your part and very reliable. I have a single shot with a "floppy trigger" that is pc but you sort of have to deal with it. On the Patterson, I guess what I was interested in was how they shot, cock back and the trigger pops out, is the trigger crisp? Does the gun lock up well? Any short comings?

I had a Pietta Patterson.
The hammer spring was way to stiff and the trigger needed a little polishing. After I fixed those issues it shot good.

On the one I had you had to be careful when installing the barrel wedge after loading or the point of impact would be change horizontally. You had to installing the wedge in the same place every time.

It was a fun gun to shoot.

SC45-70

I've never read an detailed info on loading in the field but the pistol only loads with disassembly because of the type of tools supplied with it. The Patersons bought by Texas for the navy and eventually falling into the hands of the rangers were often carried in pairs since the ranger patrols were often limited in numbers. Original holsters would be of the type now called 'slim jims', and are typical of the only type I ever saw that were period. The gun was obviously not an ideal combat arm but they were a surprise when first encountered. They are and were somewhat fragile and their trigger pulls are long and often stiff, but for saving your bacon...they were light years ahead of anything else available at the time. In a way, it's a good thing for revolver developement that Sam Colt accepted worthless Republic of Texas currency and went broke. His next try started something still going on.

Crockett, I have never done any research on how they ( Rangers ) loaded the Paterson on the trail. I have seen many pics of cased sets where the loading tool was included, so I draw the conclusion that the loading tool was available for the civilian market. I can only assume that the same was so for the martial market since I have put forth no effort to comfirm the fact.

As with Wes/Tex, I have only seen a couple of images of holsters that were said to accompany a Paterson. One is of the early flapless style and the other was a resemblance of the early "California" aka "Slim Jim" pattern.

Mine shoots just fine, it cocks back just like other Colt percussion revolvers, except that the backward travel is a bit longer. The trigger pops out quickly just as you begin to bring the hammer back, and the trigger let off is crisp. It locks up solid and is timed just right without having to do any tuning. There are no shortcomings with Uberti's attempt at producing a reproduction. Shortcomings with the original design when compared to later models are; a limit of five shots, slower to load, a smooth arbor with no grooves in which to hold ample lube, odd shaped and bulky grip, a forward angle of the trigger in the downward position that could be uncomfortable to reach for someone with smaller hands, and no recess in the recoil shield to allow access to cap the cones. Instead, on has to access the cones with a capper through the hammer slot, or simply cap them all with the cylinder removed from the arbor.

I pack mine in a belt holter. It's design was inspired from one of the original "California" patterns that I have seen.

Here are a couple of pics of the holster and the revolver. Were the holster not wet formed, and perhaps made a bit roomier, it would more closely resemble the original.

I think Wes/Tex sums it up when asking why the Colt design was the one that came to Dinner & stayed - despite birthing Pains, it was indeed "Light Years ahead of anything else available at the time..."

Thanks to all, really appreciate the information.

Seeing the pictures makes a fella want one! :grin: MD

Speaking of pictures... :grin: I have twice been to the Colt museum in Paterson NJ, and have some pictures of the fine revolvers there. I will try to find the time next week, and figure out how to get the images from my Elph onto this Forum.

Scooby, mind if I steal yous pics for my site?

Grumpa I'd really like copies of your if I could get them emailed or something? I post them on my website have 100's of percussion revolvers pictured by type, most are auction photos

I'll see what I can do. The photos are good, considering they were taken through the glass.
Some historically significant pistols, and it's neat seeing them in the building in which they were made. Other neat stuff there as well including the "Fenian Ram" (1881)- the submarine that was commissioned by the Fenian Brotherhood from John Holland, the Father of the modern submarine.
I'm out of town for a few days, then have to figure how to transfer the photos, but I have been wanting to post them on this Forum for some time, and this thread is now the impetus for me to do so.

Good to hear some people shoot theirs. I have one and I've been putting off shooting it (partially because I suspect the ROs at my range are going to freak at capping it off gun.) I'm thinking it's time though...

You could try reminding them that all modern cartridges are capped before they even come out of the box.

Having a cylinder with the chambers loaded and caps on the nipples is about the same thing as carrying a handful of modern cartridges in your hand if the cylinder is not placed in the gun.

You could load the cylinder, carry it to the bench, place it on the receiver, install the barrel and wedge and you'd be all set.

Well there is some truth to that but caps on nipples are far easier to sustain impact and potential detonation than are primers in modern ammunition flush with the case head. Mike D.

NEVER cap a loaded cylinder outside the revolver, it's just a short barreled pepperbox if you drop it or hit a cap while you are putting it into the frame.

I was laying out my gear to shoot a revolver match a number of years ago when the guy to my imediate left began waving his empty cylinder around and loudy asking if there was a rule against capping his loaded cylinder outside the gun. I allowed that I wasn't sure but if I saw him doing it next to me I would lay the barrel of my Rogers & Spencer up against the side of his head and throw his Remington cylinder in the creek while he was getting back up. I was able to shoot the match in peace and NO I wasn't kidding!

I heard that the cylinder was removed and the ball was pushed in with the cylinder pin

LaBonte said:

Actually there are flintlock revolver pistols (and some long guns) that were made in England and France long before Sam Colt was even born...

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Exactly! I think the story about the ship's wheel is just that, a story. While Sam Colt never claimed to have "invented" the revolver concept, the story was surely invented to divert interest away from the revolvers that preceded his. The Collier design came shortly before Colt and his Paterson.



But this one dates back to 1606. I've seen another dated 1597.



Colt's work would not have been possible if it were not for the invention of the percussion cap.

I found and uploaded the picture I had dated 1597.

hawkeye2 said:

NEVER cap a loaded cylinder outside the revolver, it's just a short barreled pepperbox if you drop it or hit a cap while you are putting it into the frame.

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So how do you recommend loading a Paterson? There's no cutout to add caps once it's assembled.