extra capped cylinder

I do Civil War re-enacting also, and I just have a SS cylinder for my colt that I load with balls. I have it swapped out for night time thugs. I use the SS to let me know that that is the one with balls, for safety. I like the peace of mind a loaded revolver gives me, especially now with all of the anti-flag idiots !

Just sayin'...if I was faced with a pack of 12 wolves, I wouldn't want to have to take the time to swap out cylinders!

Carry two heavy revolvers ( and a spare cylinder, if you want), but also have a BIG, Sharp knife - in case of misfires, or a dropped cylinder.

And get real good at firing those revolvers with both hands at the same time.

I wouldn't at all mind having a double barrel along, either.

Richard/Grumpa

The flame, smoke and concussion from a nice dbl barrel BP shot gun would likely stop what ever was occurring immediately....and a good chance a uninformed cop would be taking some "loaded" (second barrel)evidence along to the station a bit later on :shocked2: So remember guys, if PP is done with a BP shotgun make sure to give em both barrels....save a cop ya know :grin: ff

pinemarten said:

well...I walk outta the woods to my cabin from blinds that are as much as 3 miles through the hills. I know its about slim-ta-no chance of fightin' off a wolf pack these days. But, I know of at least to bear hunters who have been treed by wolves up here in the past few years. Their tracks are often in mine on the way back. The largest pack I've seen had 12....same as my revolver and an extra cylinder!

Daniel

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wow- that's a boatload of canine bad guys! we don't have wolves here in Vermont (I am given to understand that the last were killed back in the twenties) ... I'd be more worried about the two legged pests in my woods, but that's a rant for another day. I guess the question is, do wolves work like gangs: shoot the closest one and ask, "Who's next?" or are you committed to a last-man-standing scenario once you're decisively engaged?

Khufu said:

as for self defemce, I think a '58 in todays world would be less useful than a saber. Sabers never run out of bullets.

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Is that a joke?? 1858s have the same caliber and nearly the same muzzle energy as a 45 automatic in the standard loading (not +P).

MSW said:

pinemarten said:

well...I walk outta the woods to my cabin from blinds that are as much as 3 miles through the hills. I know its about slim-ta-no chance of fightin' off a wolf pack these days. But, I know of at least to bear hunters who have been treed by wolves up here in the past few years. Their tracks are often in mine on the way back. The largest pack I've seen had 12....same as my revolver and an extra cylinder!

Daniel

Click to expand...

wow- that's a boatload of canine bad guys! we don't have wolves here in Vermont (I am given to understand that the last were killed back in the twenties) ... I'd be more worried about the two legged pests in my woods, but that's a rant for another day. I guess the question is, do wolves work like gangs: shoot the closest one and ask, "Who's next?" or are you committed to a last-man-standing scenario once you're decisively engaged?

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I called PETA and they assured me that today's wolves are docile animals and will never bite a human being or domesticated livestock! :rotf:

csaduck said:

My great great grandfather was a pony express rider, and he had 4 extra cylinders for his colt to fire and swap out when shooting at Indians. Gun and cylinders were passed down thru the family till my dad fell on hard times and sold it. But he used to tell me all about gramps stories.

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I was under the impression that Pony Express Riders did not carry guns as they wanted to ride as fast and lite as they could. Am I wrong on this matter as I may be.

I guess I was misinformed. The Pony Express Rider did carry a revolver.

It says......
The mochila could hold 20 pounds of mail along with the 20 pounds of material carried on the horse. Included in that 20 pounds were a water sack, a Bible, a horn for alerting the relay station master to prepare the next horse, and a revolver. Eventually, everything except one revolver and a water sack was removed, allowing for a total of 165 pounds on the horse's back

Everybody always lists the guns purchased by the federal Gov't. And they only type out the quantity, and say no cylinders were purchased.
I think they need to take the time to dig around and look for the spare parts purchase, since guns were broken, damaged and taken back for repair. I bet in those orders and purchases were many "spare" cylinders.

Not to repeat myself but today we have a bag of balls, powder flask, some lube or wads. We reload that way. We then tend to think that was how percussion revolvers were used at the time. Next we wonder about fast reloading and then get into the spare cylinder issue.
Reloading with a flask and a bag of bags, etc. certainly WAS DONE and I'm not arguing it wasn't but in the military records try finding what an issued powder flask during the Civil War looked like or what container pistol balls were carried in. I've never found any such items although the Southern forces may have used such. By and large percussion revolvers were used with combustible ammunition. NOW REMEMBER I am not saying flasks and balls were not used- all the cased Colt sets had spaces for balls and a flask but it probably ought to be remembered that combustible ammunition was very common.
Western lawmen did it both ways- you could get more powder in the chamber loading from a flask so they started out with that but then carried a box or two of combustibles for back up.
I think Hickok when Sherriff of Abilene or some other town sent the town fathers a bill for ammunition used in target practice- about 6,000 rounds of combustibles. They weren't pleased with the bill. That was from one of the DeRosa books.
Any how, the spare cylinder- it's just my feeling but I think it is more of a modern day re-enactment thing. As has been pointed out, there is very little evidence Colt or Remington manufactured spare cylinders to be used as a back up. Frank James wrote about picking up a spare cylinder so some documentation but by and large, my take is that it was not very common.

I spoke the cold honest facts in my Post#1542416
above. This is not hearsay or from a book. This is real life (or death) the was it was on a daily basis from my family. Multiple pistols and cylinders meant the difference in if you rode back or were carried back from engagement. Later after the war during the Indian campaigns, it was the same and again during their law enforcement. Back then it was a LOT more than occasional they were just up against only one or two, it was usually from a few to "a gang". Hence the term Outlaw Gang. Faster reloads and more guns available was anyway you could make it happen!

The army may not have "issued" cylinders or have records of purchase but the boys bought, carried & used their own cylinders, extra pistols and shotguns. Lawmen did what they think they needed to do and that was more pistols or cylinders.
That's the way it was till the Winchester's, Henery's and Peacemakers were VERY available. Take it or leave it.......

I'll load a few photo's later.

Capt. Thomas

Poor Private said:

Everybody always lists the guns purchased by the federal Gov't. And they only type out the quantity, and say no cylinders were purchased.
I think they need to take the time to dig around and look for the spare parts purchase, since guns were broken, damaged and taken back for repair. I bet in those orders and purchases were many "spare" cylinders.

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Given the exceptional amount of research (both in quality and quantity) done over the 50 - 75 years by many researchers of the first order as well as by passionate collectors, I would say it's been done and that large quantities of extra revolver cylinders would have been mentioned. More than once. If it happened, it would be a well known known fact by now. There are no records of them being issued by the military either and there would have been if it had happened, the Federal government is funny about that and always has been.

Look these boys over............







They seem to feel that more was needed than what the quartermaster handed em'. Any bets on how many of the other men in their collective outfits did the same? (Tip, every one of them that could scrounge them from the field, beg, borrow or win at playing cards to afford getting extras!)

Take it or leave it, even though cylinders and certainly extra whole pistols were not "issued"
the boys did what they had to do and indeed DID carry them. Extra cylinders were carried in blouse pockets, the pistols in several belt holsters, saddle holsters and very frequently just hanging from lanyards around the neck.

Capt. Thomas

Oh, yeah. Or picked up from the photographers prop table, a common practice when having their picture taken off duty.

There is only one standard issue type revolver shown in the three portraits, that being what appears to be a Colt M1851 in possession of the fellow in the second picture, and it has a stock, a rare item indeed in the military since they were tested by Ordnance and found to be dangerous to use because of the side flash from the cylinder/barrel gap burning the shooter and they were useless (in the way) when used by mounted cavalry. All others are civilian small caliber pistols that could have been the soldiers' "spares" or, more likely, were owned by the photographer for when one of his clients wanted to look a little more ferocious than usual.

The photos are very interesting and there is no doubt that they are original and taken during the period, but the first one brings a smile to my face. Have you ever tried to ride a horse with 4 revolvers stuck in your belt like that? Much less use them. Sorry, no offense meant, maybe the young fellow kept them in a saddle bag or in the unit transport in the rear. And I do find it interesting that none of the three seem to have the standard issue holsters required to carry the Colt or Remington revolver they were issued.

If we thought of it, they thought of it. It may not have been authorized or "documented" but human nature is what it is, and is what it was then. Lots of "field expedient" measures are taken that are against orders or not by the book, and therefore are not "properly documented" (unless your looking for trouble from your superiors)

Just because its not written on paper somewhere doesn't mean it didn't happen. Talk to a vet of a recent conflict and, even as overly regulated as they are now compared to then, you'll likely hear about improvisation that is not "written down" anywhere.

It may not have been as effective or efficient to carry an extra cylinder as compared to an extra pistol, but you gotta know there were those who did it, for some raison de jour, or just because they could.

In Vietnam I carried a .45 I was not issued. Also 18 magazines plus extra bandoleers of M16 ammo. And once in a while an Sks. Plus extra ammo and what ever my regular share was. If I was in the Civil war I guarantee I would have all the pistols I could carry.

Larry

Well at least a few understand. I don't think some are reading my previous posts. My family fought in the civil war and the information and manual of arms was taught to me by a 92 year old who was taught by his that was there (with his father I might add).

When we were in Iraq, we ditched the M9 and carried .45's as well as ditching the 249 and scrounged up a "locally" procured M60. Heavy yes,
but a joy and serious piece of mind when you need to stop a car at a check point or ventilate a building and what ever may be in it Issued, uh no way in hell, possible problems with command maybe. But I'll fade that heat when it's my men and I's ass hanging out any day of the week and twice on Sunday. Keep doubting and looking for supply records or pointing to things like unissued weapon types etc. when it was well documented that things were in short supply. The average infantry solder below Sgt. was not even issued a pistol, rifle only. So I guess none of them carried pistols since they weren't issued?

Well I know better, so did my great great Grandfather and Uncles. :surrender:

Capt. Thomas

Just a couple days ago i made a cylinder shield for my 1858's cylinder. Used a thin piece of cardboard like on a school notebook and rolled it up to slide over the cylinder and then used duct tape on the sides and the top. Slides on and off very well. About an inch long and and didn't cost anything and i would feel perfectly safe carrying a loaded and capped cylinder with this in my pocket.

You can also buy design cylinder pouches that clip shut , which makes it just as safe as a clipped shut holster aka a civil war one.

I have a cased M1851 Adams in 38-bore (.50 cal) which comes with THREE original serial numbered cylinders, mounted on brass spigots in the case (nipples up). Sold by a Liverpool gunsmiths, so possibly the purchaser was a Sea Captain worried about (a) mutiny (b) pirates or (c) might have been on a slaver.