Is anybody shooting one of these? Any tips on ball size, powder charge, idiosyncrasies?
Highly doubtful.
Original parts for them are a nightmare to locate, and they're 'not' a comfortable weapon to shoot - though I have.
That, coupled with the very real possibility of breakage - keeps these weapons in collections and on display.
Vaya,
Scouts Out!
OK, well I guess I'll figure it out on my own.
Thanks--
The Army purchased 11,384 Savage revolvers between June 20, 1857 and June 10, 1862.
The Navy purchased 1,126 between December 4, 1860 and April 25, 1861.
At war's end, in April of 1865, soldiers were allowed to take their weapons home, after having the value of $8.00 deducted from their pay - only 17 were purchased...
Contrast that against the thousands of Colts and Remingtons purchased after the last shots were fired, and you have a good idea what was thought about that revolver when new and operational.
Vaya,
Scouts Out!
Ahh--sounds like a challenge, then.
I note in the testing phase, before military adoption, there are several comments about the "gas rings" being cracked--either upon receipt from the factory or after firing. I'm trying to figure out what these gas rings were, exactly.
Also interesting to note, when cocked, the cylinder moves forward over the breech end of the barrel, somewhat similarly to the Russian Nagant revolvers. It looks kind of odd when you actually watch the process.
I also haven't figured out exact ball diameter yet, because the mouth of each cylinder is tapered so as to fit over the end of the barrel. I don't want to get anything stuck in the cylinder until I have the nipples out, and it appears I will have to modify a nipple wrench to make it small enough to reach into the recesses where the nipples are seated.
For now I am alternately soaking it in oil and wiping it off/picking a century+ of gunk out of recesses. I guess at least 17 forward-thinking troopers thought it worth the price. Eventually I hope to have an idea of what they saw in this weapon.
--DJ
What they saw was a 'souvenir of wartime service' - and likely put them away them along with their uniforms.
Many, many weapons retired from active service when their soldier did.
They were too convoluted for serious use and weren't ergonomic in the least, and frankly - Colt and Remington made a better product for hard service - as the cracking of the gas ring attests.
What they 'are' is an interestingly-constructed revolver - an 'adult puzzle', if you will - and they're 'different' - but not for any sort of regular use.
By all means - shoot it once in awhile - but be 'deliberate' in the way you handle it when you shoot it.
As I'd mentioned - spares are a nightmare to locate.
Vaya,
Scouts Out!