Spare Cylinders An Officer Might Carry?

[Dispatch]

During the war, how many loaded cylinders (if any), might an officer have had with him when going into actual combat?

[Michael Comer]

Re: Spare Cylinders An Officer Might Carry?

Mere supposition on my part but I would think none. He has a company, brigade, division etc as his weapon and his job is command and control, not being in a firefight with pistols drawn.

[LibertyHallVols]

Re: Spare Cylinders An Officer Might Carry?

I have never seen any evidence to suggest that cylinders were used as detachable magazines on revolvers during the war. I don't know everything, just saying I've never seen evidence to support it. Until someone convinces me otherwise, I will persist in my belief that it is a Hollywood contrivance.

[J.H.Berger]

Re: Spare Cylinders An Officer Might Carry?

Keep in mind that if an officer carried a revolver it was for mere self defense as Mr Comer stated above an officer's task was not to fight personally against the enemy but lead his men to do so.

[Fred.Lucas]

Re: Spare Cylinders An Officer Might Carry?

I have never seen any evidence to suggest that cylinders were used as detachable magazines on revolvers during the war. I don't know everything, just saying I've never seen evidence to support it. Until someone convinces me otherwise, I will persist in my belief that it is a Hollywood contrivance.

Hollywood can take information out of context that is for sure.

Colt Patersons are the only revolvers that I know of that seem to have had spare cylinders as a factory option

http://www.nrablog.com/post/2009/02/10/Suprise-Colt.aspx

http://bulletin.accurateshooter.com/2011/10/1836-colt-revolver-sells-for-record-977500-price-at-auction/

[LibertyHallVols]

Re: Spare Cylinders An Officer Might Carry?

At what point did commercial pre-packaged rounds appear on the market?

Given that 5-nozzle powder flask shown with those patternsons, it would almost appear that the cylinders were intended to be charged and/or loaded with the cylinder dismounted from the piece. If loading is a long, tedious process with loose ball and powder and must be done with a disassembled pistol, then an extra cylindar might make some sense.

However, by the time of the war, prepackaged rounds were in common use. Loading was simply a matter of drop, ram, repeat, then cap the cones.

[Fred.Lucas]

Re: Spare Cylinders An Officer Might Carry?

Totally agree that cartridges are the way to go for ACW military impressions. Texican's in the 30's & 40's its not so cut and dried.....

[24thVOL]

Re: Spare Cylinders An Officer Might Carry?

I've seen a few pictures of company grade officers carrying only one cylinder box. I've never seen any more on a belt. I will look for the pictures ASAP. The officers seem to be carrying a Remington new army model as well, in both photos.

[Doughboy]

Re: Spare Cylinders An Officer Might Carry?

Jonathan can you post links?
Thanks

[LibertyHallVols]

Re: Spare Cylinders An Officer Might Carry?

With no intent to be disrespectful...

I am highly dubious that pics show "cylinder boxes". An unidentified belt-carried accoutrement worn by a revolver toting soldier/officer does not a "cylinder box" make. I would need to see multiple forms of evidence before I were to believe this practice were undertaken...
- Extant "cylinder boxes" with provenance/documentation proving that was the intended/actual use of the object.
- Orders placed and/or delivered from Colt, Remington, Manhattan, etc. for "a pistol and X extra cylinders".
- A letter from a someone stating that they were doing that practice.
- Some documentation of someone ordering, buying, requesting, or using a "spare cylinder box".

This stuff cropped up around the time "Pale Rider" came out. Since then, I've seen humped up fake "relics" and a lot of "if they'd had it..." kind of talk.

Waiting for proof.
(sound of gauntlet hitting the ground)

[Fred.Lucas]

Re: Spare Cylinders An Officer Might Carry?

Here are 2 more cased Patersons with spare cylinders.

http://www.milsurps.com/showthread.php?t=5750

But like LHV, Id like to see something from later, such as a spare cylinder being offered for sale as a factory option to put such practice in the ACW period.

[24thVOL]

Re: Spare Cylinders An Officer Might Carry?

I'm Looking through my books to find the two photographs. I say they are cylinder boxes because of the shape and size. It is just my opinion, I could be wrong, but I think it is a good guess. I will post links as soon as I find my source. I know that the navy did have a style of cylinder box that held two spare cylinders, but I too would be a little speculative of many, if any foot officers carried them. I look forward to you mens opinions on the photographs when I post them.

[Curt Schmidt]

Re: Spare Cylinders An Officer Might Carry?

Hallo!

One would have to look into the civillian market for paper or foil cartridges.

The Government was slow to act. it was not until 1847 that the Army bought its first Colt revolvers. initially the "Walkers" were intended to be used with loose powder and ball. The 1849 Ordnance Manual did not cover revolver cartridges.

But defects in the powder flasks being used, led to complaints and in 1850, a trial issuance of cartridges was ordered made up by the San Antonio Depot. By 1855 St. Louis Arsenal was in production (Not much demand in a "peacetime" army).
In 1855, Colt got their first order for their own "brand" of cartridges for the Army.
With the War, patents and production of revolver cartridges boomed.

Not relevent to this discussion, but sales of "extra" cylinders do not appear in any numbers until after the War, when the first of the late 60's and early 70's sales of surplus revolvers converted to metallic cartridge sometimes included a percussion (AKA cap and ball) cylinder to allow a customer to go back to paper cartridge if needed or desired.

Curt

[24thVOL]

Re: Spare Cylinders An Officer Might Carry?

Well as I, nor my father, who I asked to search the books at his house, were able to find the photos, I can not provide any light on the subject. I'd have to say that it is better to say that civil war officers did not carry issued, or any commonly at all, boxes for spare cylinders. I'm sorry.

[IowaYank]

Re: Spare Cylinders An Officer Might Carry?

With reasoning such as that we should all have dead animal parts, wrist held percussion cap bands, and a host of other undocumented reenactorisms. While yes, this is a Civil War Living Historians forum, the word historian is still there. There are other such places were less scholarly discussion takes place freely, but the past intent, amd hopefully still today's intent,of the AC is for scholarly, documented discussion.