Revolvers of the old west?

Question

Many old western movies incorrectly show cartridges being used in civil war-era revolvers. I'm guessing the cartridge was pretty common place in the latter part of the 19th century; but when did the old cap and ball guns really get replaced by cartridge firing wheelguns?

Answer 1

Colt demonstrated a conversion in 1869. This was done on a Colt Army 1862. west by 1870. Smith and Wesson had invented the essentially unchanged .22 rim fire round in 1854 but were unable to produce a revolving firearm for it until the expiration of the Colt Patent in1857. There were others of course who did it earlier, where the bewildering forest of interlocking patents did not travel, in Europe I left this mostly with Colt, but there is lots more to know.

!873 is the date for the Peacemaker had new for about $12.00US. A percussion civil war revolver could be had in good shape for about $4,25 and converted for less than half that. reconfigured Colts, either done by local gunsmiths or factory conversion made up most guns going West by 1870.

Answer 2

The Colt and Remington solid frame single action revolvers were the most common used in the old west. Smith and Wesson had a better design, hinged frame that allowed faster reloading, but huge contracts with the Russian government left the firm with little excess production capacity for civilian sales. If a frontiersman could find one, the S&W Schofield revolver in .44 Russian or .45 Long Colt was the preferred sidearm.

Answer 3

Many civil-war revolvers were re-chambered for the new metallic cartridges. It was a fairly simple process, a local gunsmith or even a skilled owner could do it.
The metallic cartridge WAS used in the Civil War: the Henry repeating rifle used the Volcanic .44.
The French LeMat revolver, popular with Confederate officers, also used metallic cartridges.
By the end of the Civil War, with the introduction of the Colt .41, .44 (with loading gate), and .45, metallic cartridges became the standard.
(William Antrim AKA Billy Bonney AKA Billy the Kid, preferred his Colt .41, as it was easily concealed. Contrary to Hollywood, it was illegal to wear firearms inside most towns in the West.)

Answer 4

Smith and Wesson developed the first cartrige pistol circa 1852.

The Colt Conversion were widely used upto the begining of the 20th century.

There are reproduction Colt Conversion and cap and ball pistols pistols that Cowboy Action shooters, history recreators, and your average shooter are using today.

Answer 5

Billy the Kid - used a Colt 45 revolver (now you see him on beer)

Peace Maker - used by lawman.
1873 single action Cattleman

Answer 6

Colt,Remington,Smith And Wesson,Winchester...